APHICAIt 


I 


t  Nl 


1Y 

19- 


Hfc 


LIBRAR.Y 

OF    THE.    tx, 

920.077358 
B524- 


W 


I 


IU..  HIST.  SURVEY 


^N 


is 


) 


I   H  K 


Biographical  Record 


OF 


DEWITT  COUNTY, 


ILLINOIS. 


ii^i^LjSTKA'rKi  >. 


77/.'  people  that  take  no  pride  in  the  noble  achievements  of  remote  an,  estors  will  never  in  liievi 
anything' worthy  to  he  remembered  with  priJe  by  remote  generations. ," — Mac  vulay. 


CHICAGi  i 

I  in    S.  I.  Ci  akki    Pi  in  ishing  Company. 
1901 


r 


PREFACE. 


HE  greatest  of  English  historian*.  MACAULAY,  and  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  writers  of  the  present  century,  has  said :  "The  history  of  a 
country  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the  lives  of  its  people.''  In  con- 
formity with  thi>  idea,  the  Biographical  Record  has  been  prepared. 
Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and  taking  therefrom  dry  statistical 
matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few.  our  corps  of  writers  have 
gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their  enterprise 
and  industry,  brought  this  county  to  a  rank  second  to  none  among 
those  comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles  Xo  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  pre-ented  to  an  intelligent 
public.  In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  manv  whose  lives  are  worthy  the  imitation 
of  coming  generations.  It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  povertv,  by  industry  and 
economy  have  accumulated  wealth.  It  tells  how  others,  witli  limited  advantages  for  securing 
an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an  influence  extending  throughout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  It  tells  of  men  who  have  risL-n  from  the  lower  walks  of 
life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have  become  famous.  It  tells  of  those  in 
every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and  records  how  that  success  has  usually 
crowned  their  efforts.  It  tells  also  of  many,  very  manv.  who.  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the 
world,  have  pursued  the  "  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content  to  have  it  said  of  them,  as  Christ 
said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercv — "  Thev  nave  done  what  they  could."  It 
tells  how  many,  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood,  left  the  plow  and  the  anvil,  the 
lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  "  to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was 
restored  and  peace  once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  ot  every 
woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not  be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from 
the  fact  that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  rind  its  way  into  public  records,  and  which 
would  otherwise  be  inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work 
and  everv  opportunity  possible  given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has 
been  written  :  and  the  publishers  tlatter  themselves  that  thev  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with 
few  errors  of  consequence.  In  addition  to  biographical  sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of 
representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume. 
For  this  the  publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Xot  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some 
refused  to  give  the  information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent. 
Occasionally  some  member  of  the  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such 
opposition  the  support  of  the  interested  one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men 
never  could  be  found,  though  repeated  calls  were  made  at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

December,  1901.  The  S.  T.  Clarke  Publishing  Co. 


PART    I. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   INDEX. 


PAGE 

Adair.  C.  K    118 

Adkisson,  Frank 351 

Allan,  Andrew 58 

Allyn,  Edward 14(1 

Amsden.C.  F 313 

i,  S.  M 468 

Argo,  William 201 

Armstrong,  Joseph 308 

Armstrong,  William 168 

Atchison,  C.  W 256 

ir,  1.  N 252 

Baker.  Isaac 260 

s,  J.  A. 312 

Barnett,  \V.  A 307 

Bayless,  1  P 260 

Beatty,  H.  G. 242 

Bell,  David 36 

Bell,  Henrv .     42 

Bell,  [.  E.. 46 

Bentley,  E.  B 378 

Bishop,  C.  W 100 

Black,  Robert HO 

Blome,  J.  H  A 287 

Blue,  Uriah 420 

b,  William 112 

Bowies, Hughes 'U7 

lord,  Charles 170 

Breisford,  William 124 

Brittin,  Newton 228 

Brown,  G.  H 109 

Bryant,  I.  B 145 

Burton,  Richard  R -17 

Butterworth,  John 317 

Byland,  T.C 69 

Cacklev  &  Company 338 

Cackley,  Jacob  F... 142  , 

Cacklev,  John  G 114 

Cantrail,  James I7"> 

Cardiff.  W.  11    444 

Carter.  S.  K 365 

Cash.  S.J 395 

Chapin.  S.  A .77 

Clearwaters,  Reuben 101 


PAGE 

Clearwaters,  Wesley 174 

Cuffman.J.  W..... 112 

Cumming,  R.  V 132 

Cunningham,  Francis 296 

Cunningham,   I.  M 121 

Curl,  f.  A   ..." 416 

Danison,  Edward 37'.' 

Davenport,  Hugh     4o.", 

Davenport,  Jeremiah 194 

Davis,  A.  1  " 233 

Davis,  J.  K 7o 

Davis,  Remus IriO 

1  >.   Boise,  Lafayette 340 

De  Land,   I.  1-  ' 64 

Dietrich,  Joseph 301 

Dix.  J.  F. 711 

Donahue,  Hon.  Michael 93 

Doqling,  Rev.  M.  A 130 

1  'owning,  C.  D 278 

Edwards,  Samuel  A 30 

Ellington,  Isaac 398 

Ellis,  J.I 131 

Evans,  /.  W 

F'.wing,  Thomas '.'4 

Ford,  Peter 441 

Fosnaugh,  I.  A 295 

Foster,  John   W 287 

Fruit,  E.  W 146 

Fuller,  John 122 

,G    D       374 

Gideon,  C.  R. 275 

■.denning,  Charles,  Y.  S. . .  387 

ly,  I.  K 239 

Graham,  Capt.  J.  D 128 

Griffith,  Harvey  378 

<  Inner.  G.  W. 249 

Haldeman.  [acob    B   38 

Hallowan,  Philip 4_>1 

Hamimll,  J.  \\ 324 

Harrison,  E.  G.  F 234 


PAGE 

Harrold,  F.  I".   11:; 

Harrold,  W.  S 334 

Hart,  fuhn   -Just 

Hansock,  W.  II 369 

Helmick,  Elihu  422 

Helmick,  G.W 282 

Helmick,  Nathaniel 304 

Hickman,   Warren    

Hill,  R.  P 407 

Hirst.  James 336 

Hoffman,  I'  rederick 311 

Holmes,  S.  E   462 

Hougham.J.  \V   -.'411 

I  li useman.  Isaac  F _'l 

Hubbell,  John   F 152 

Huffman,  A.  W 273 

Huffman,  G.  F 100 

Huffman.  S.  G 471 

Hughes  Brothers 43;i 

Hughes.   William    134 

Hume,  J.  H 135 

Hunt,  I'.   E 377 

Hurd.  Charles 181 

Hyde,  G.  W.,  M.  D 136 

Ingham,  Judged.  K 18 

James,  Criah 

Johnson,  Mrs.  Lydia  M 

Johnson,  N.  P  310 

Johnston,  W.  W 

-.  C\rus 261 

[ones,  |ohn  M 165 

5,  J.  Q.  A   446 

-.  I.  W.  and   John B6 

-.  Preston 4'i4 

Killough,  |ohn 319 

Kirby,  W.  G UJ 

Kirk",  I.  M 173 

Rtrk.O.  1 60 

Kissack.John  314 

Lane,  Alvis  H 219 

Lane,  Elbert  D 59 


INDEX. 


Lane,  Tillmon. 
Lane,  \V.  B.... 
LaTeer,  J.  D.. 
Lemon,  R.  A. . , 
Lighthall.G.L 


PAGE 

288 

,.  342 

.  225 

..  46a 

.  469 


Myers,  VV.  H. 


Lisenby,  J.  A  4.">:t 

Litsinberger.G.  A 429 

Long,  William 251 

Maddox,  J.  T 29 

Maddox,  T.  M 326 

Magill,  Henry It'. 

Magill,  Henry  A 54 

Magill,   Robert 4:1 

Magill,  Samuel  32 

Magill,  William 23 

Marsh.  Robert 161 

Martin,  S.  H :t70 

Mason,  John' 143 

Mason, Truman 825 

Mav,  Francis   lid 

McCord,  C.  W 82 

McCord,  I.  H 329 

McCuddy.  (  .  II   ISO 

\1.  Farland,  W.  H   281 

McHenry,  A.  I) 4oi 

Mcintosh,  E.  E  177 

McKinney,  A.  T 396 

Mi  Murry,  \V.  C 226 

M.  Null.  S.  J    120 

Metzger.  William 231 

Miller,  Arthur   F 66 

Miller,  A.   K HO 

M  iller,  Benjamin 52 

Miller,  T.  H 129 

Montgomery,  A.  II    ^7 

Moody,  C.  E 145 

Moore,  Arthur ;;::'> 

Moor.-.  Blish 181 

Moore,  «.  lifton  H 9 

Moore,  (i.  W 202 

Moon-,  J.  G 152 

Morrison,  |.  M 451 

Morrow.  |.  L 

Murphey,  L.R 470 

Murphey,  W.  W 77 

Murray,  W.  M   47»; 

Myers,  Samuel L39 


N'agelv,  Aaron.. 
Nelson,  P.  P.... 
Newell,  S.  E. 
Newman,  A.  E. . 


PAGl 

.   134 

.  858 

433 

.  455 

.   184 


Parker,  A.  U    37t> 

Persinger,  W.  M 348 

Peters,  A.  M 108 

Phares,  J.  A 241 

Phares,  W.  M 166 

Pinkerton,  F.  E 820 

Porter,  Dr.   Edward ]o4 

Porter,  f.  G.,   M.  I) 282 

Price,  James  H 

i  hi.  in, 1,1,  Henry 119 

Randall.  W.  11 254 

Ready,  Capt.  |.  W 398 

Robb,  Eli  H..' 294 

Robii,  [oseph  ....  '_'7i'. 

Rogers,  W,  o 316 

Ross,  K.  H   4<il 

Rudaville,  G.  1)  397 

Rutledge,  Mrs.  Mary :|k 

Rutledge.W.  | ' 181 

Rybolt,  II.  C, 417 

Sampson,  W.  M ,.  168 

Samuel,  T,  H 200 

Saveley,  I    II    265 

Schenck,  David 68 

Scott,  CM   2:.:; 

Scott,  M.  P  802 

Shepherd,  F.  C 283 

Shue.  Austin  .R   Bl 

Shoe,  |ohn 67 

Smith,  G.  W 108 

Smith,  ( >rson  J 183 

Snell,  Col.  Thomas .  156 

Spainhour,  II.  C 263 

Spell,  ri,     I  liumas 10* 

Staymates,  Byron  F II 

Story,  W.  M    346 

Strange,  James  P '24 

Summerville,  John 7- 


PAGE 

Swan,  Malco'm 41!» 

Swigart,  Carl 420 

Swigart,  Mrs.  Catherine 65 

Swigart,  E.  C ::7.", 

Swisher,  I.  F 472 

Taylor,  W.  II   285 

Taylor,  W.  M 259 

Thomas,  Isaac  W US 

Thorp,  James  W 1  ."> 

Thorpe,  W.  H 57 

Thurber,  Isaac  C   176 

Trenkle,  Mrs.  Caroline 213 

Tuggle,   |ohn 169 

Turner,  A.  A 288 

Turner.   Dennis   360 

Turner,  William  T 44 

Tyler,  A.  [.,  Ml) 195 

1  v  In,  John  1L,  M.  I) 189 


Vance,  Mrs.  Franklin. 


875 


Wagner,  H.  J 271 

WaJden,  Maris 215 

u  aiker,  Charles  87 

Walker,  Judge  Robert 148 

Warner,  Hon,  John 26 

\\  eedman,  1  reoi  ge 3.r>4 

\\  ee.lnian.  Mrs.  Mary  J l.r>K 

w  eld,  William .'.    i.r.4 

Wetzel  I,  George  3ii7 

Whitehead,  I.  II   888 

Whitehead,  [.  Q 217 

Wightwick,  John     210 

W  illiams,    \lbert  C. 228 

Williams,  S.  D  868 

Williams,  W.  C HMO 

Willson,  P.  K       356 

Wilson,  Andrew 244 

Wilson.  Mrs.  Martha   196 

Wilson    Peter 220 

Wolf.  Philip 440 

« 

Young,  Mrs.  Mary  A 198 

Ziegler,  lacob  13 

Zorger.C.  K 864 


° CONTENTS 


'..V'/.-- 


INDEX  TO  FART  II. 


Compendium  of  National  Biography. 


Biographical   Sketches  of  National  Celebrities. 


PAGE 

Abbott,    Lyman     144 

Adams,  Charles  Kendall 143 

Adams,  John 25 

Adams,  John  (juincy 61 

Agassiz,  Louis  J.  R 137 

A Ig-er,  Russell  A 173 

Allison,  William  B 131 

Allston,  Washington 190 

Atgeld,  John  Pefer 1 4' » 

Andrews,  Elisha  B 184 

Anthony,  Susan  B 62 

Armour,  Philip  D 62 

Arnold,  Benedict 9 1 

Arthur,  Chester  Allen 168 

Astor,  John  Jacob 139 

Audobon,  John  Jacob 166 

Bailey,  James  Montgomery...  177 

Bancroft,  George T4 

Barnard,  Frederick  A.  P 179 

Barnum,   Phineas  T 41 

Barrett,  Lawrence 1 56 

Barton,  Clara 209 

Bayard,  Thomas  Francis 200 

Beard,  William  H 196 

Beauregard,  Pierre  G.  T 203 

Bt-i-c  her.  Henry  Ward 26 

Bell,  Alexander  Graham 96 

Bennett,  James  Gordon 206 

Benton,  Thomas  Hart ■>'■'• 

Bergh.  Henry 160 

-tadt,  Albert 191 

Billings,  Josh 166 

Blaine,  James  Gillespie 2*2 

Bland,  Richard  Parks 196 


PAGE 

Boone,   Daniel 36 

Booth,  Edwin "'1 

Booth,  Junius  Brutus 177 

Brice,  Calvin  S 1-1 

Bmoks,   Philips 130 

Brown,  John 51 

Bmwn,  Charles  Farrar 91 

Brush,  Charles  Francis 133 

Bryan,  William  Jennings 158 

Bryant,  William  Cullen 44 

Buchanan,  Franklin 195 

Buchanan,  James  128 

Buckner,  Simon  Boliver 188 

Buniette,  Robert  J 103 

Burr.  Aaron     Ill 

Butler,  Benjamin  Franklin....  24 

Calhoun,  John  Caldwell 23 

Cameron,  James  Donald 141 

Cameron,  Simon 141 

Cammack,  Addison li'7 

Campbell.  Alexander 180 

Carlisle,  John  G 133 

Carnegie,  Andrew   73 

Carpenter,  Matthew  Hale 173 

Carson,  Christopher  (Kit).  ...      36 

Cass,  Lewis 110 

Chase,  Salmon  Portland 65 

Childs,  George  W   

Cboate,  Kufus 207 

Chaflin,  Horace  Brigham 107 

Clay.   Henry 21 

Clemens,  Samuel  Langhorne.       88 

Cleveland,   Grover 174 

Clews,  Henry 153 


PAGE 

Clinton,  DeWitt 110 

Colfax,  Schuyler 13!* 

Conkling,  Altred 32 

Conkling,  Roscoe 82 

Cooley,  Thomas  Mclntyre...  14" 

Cooper,  James   Fenimore 58 

Cooper,  Peter 37 

Copely,  John  Singleton 191 

Corbin.  Austin 205 

Corcoran,  W.  W 196 

Cornell,  Ezra 161 

Cramp, William Is'' 

Crockett,  David 76 

Cullom,  Shelby  Moore 116 

Curtis,  George  William 144 

Cushman,  Charlotte 107 

Custer,  George  A 95 

Dana.  Charles  A B8 

"Danbury  News   Man" 177 

Davenport,  Fanny 106 

Da\  is,  lefferson 24 

I  )ebs.  Eugene  V 132 

Decatur,  Stephen 1"! 

Deering,  William 198 

Depew,  ihauncey  Mitchell...  209 

Dickinson,  Anna 108 

Dickinson,  Hon  M 139 

1  tingle)  .  N<   *<■!).  Jr '21'. 

I  loooell)  .  Ignatius 161 

Douglas,  Stephen  Arnold. . . . 

Douglass,    Frederick 4:: 

Dow.Neal 108 

Draper,  John  William 1-4 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS— PART  1 1 


PAGE 

Drexel,  Anthony  Joseph 124 

Dupont,  Henry 198 

Edison,  Thomas  Alva 55 

Edmunds,  George  F 201 

Ellsworth,  Oliver 168 

Emerson,  Ralph  Waldo 57 

Ericsson,  John 127 

Evarts,  William  Maxwell v'-' 

Farragut,  David  Glascoe 80 

Field,  Cyrus  West 178 

Field,  David  Dudley L26 

Field,  Marshall 59 

Field,  Stephen  Johnson 216 

Fillmore.  Millard 118 

Foote,  Andrew  Hull 176 

I  oraker,  Joseph  B 1 1" 

Forrest,  Edwin 92 

i  rank  lin,  Benjamin 18 

I-  remont,  fohn  Chai  les '-"■' 

Fuller,  Melville  Weston 168 

Fulton,  Robert 

,  I.\  man  J 71 

Gallatin,  Albert 11'-' 

Garfield,  lames  A 163 

Garn  ii,  [ohn  Work 200 

( ;,u  i  ison,  William  Lloyd 50 

Cat.  s,  Horatio  ' 10 

Galling,  Rii  hard  [ordan 116 

[enry  203 

<  iibl S,  l  animal  James 209 

Gilmon  .  Tain,  k  Sarsfield 77 

( iirard,  Stephen 187 

b,  John  H 181 

i  .1.  jay ■'- 

Gordon,  John  B 215 

( .lam.  i  1}  sses  S  155 

Gray,  Asa 

Gray,  Elisha 149 

ley,  Adolphus  W 142 

Greeley,  Horace 20 

Greene,  Nathaniel 69 

Gresham,  Walter  Quintin 183 

Hale,  Edward  Everett 79 

Hall,  Charles  Francis 167 

Hamilton,  Alexander SI 

Hamlin,  Hannibal 214 

Hampton,  Wade  192 

Hancock,  Winfield  Scott 146 

Hanna,  Marcus  Alonzo 169 

Harris,  Isham  G 214 

Harrison,  William  Henry C 

Harrison,  Benjamin 182 

Harvard,  John 129 

Havemeyer,  John  Craig 182 

Hawrhorne,  Nathaniel 185 

Hayes,  Rutherford  Birchard..  .   157 
Hendricks,  Thomas  Andrew. .  212 

Henry,  Joseph 105 

Henrv,»  Patrick 83 

Hill, David  Bennett 90 

Hobart,  Garrett  A 213 

Holmes,  Oliver  Wendell 206 

Hooker,  Joseph 52 

Howe,  Elias ISO 

Howells,  William  Dean 104 


PAGE 

Houston,  Sam 120 

Hughes,  Archbishop  John 157 

Hughitt,  Marvin 159 

Hull,  Isaac 169 

Huntington,  Collis  Totter 94 

Ingalls,  John  James 114 

[ngersoll,  Robert  G 85 

Irving,  Washington 33 

Jackson,  Andrew 71 

Jackson,  "  Stonewall  " 67 

Jackson,   Thomas  Jonathan 67 

jay,  John 89 

Jefferson,  Joseph 47 

I  -  it  •  rson,  Thomas 34 

[obnson,  Andrew 145 

Johnson,  Eastman  202 

Johnston,  [oseph  Ei  cleston... .     85 

[ones,  James  K  . 171 

i,  [ohn  Paul !'7 
ones,  Samuel  Porter 115 

Kane,  Elisha  Kent 125 

Kearney,  Philip 210 

Kenton,  Simon I  -• 

Knox.  John  Jay 184 

Lamar,  Lucius  Q.  C 201 

Landon,  Melville  1> 109 

Lee,  Robert  Edward 

Lewis,  Charles  B 193 

Lincoln,  Abraham   185 

Livermore,  Mar)  Ashton Til 

I  ...  ke,  I  >a\  nl  Ross 172 

in,  John  A 26 

i.  II, .w,  lleiu\  Wads  worth  87 

I  i,    James 56 

Lowell,  lames  Russell lot 

Mackay,  [ohn  William 148 

Madison,  lames 42 

Marshall.  John 1"'''. 

Mather.  Cotton 164 

Mather,  lm  n  ase  168 

Maxim,  Hiram  S 194 

Mil  Ii  Han,  Georgi    Brinton.. . .     47 

Mc(  oi  mil  k,  <  vrus  Hall 172 

Mel  tonough,  ( I  nomas..  .   167 

McKinley,  w  illiam 217 

Meade,  ( ieorge  '■  iordon 75 

Medill,  Joseph 159 

Miles.  Nelson  A 17,; 

Miller,  Cincinnatus  Heine 218 

Miller,   loaijuin 218 

Mills,  Roger  Queries 211 

Monroe,  lames 54 

Moody,  Dwight  L 207 

Moran,  Thomas   98 

Morgan,  John  Pierpont 208 

Morgan,  John  T 216 

Morris,  Robert 165 

Morse,  Samuel  F.  B 124 

Morton,  Levi   P 142 

Mortpn,  Oliver  Perry 215 

Motley,  John  Lathrop . .   130 

"Nye,  Bill" 59 

Nye,  Edgar  Wilson 59 


PAGE 

O'Conor,  Charles 1  *7 

( ilney,  Richard 138 

Paine,  Thomas 147 

Palmer,   |ohn  M 195 

I'm  khurst,  Charles  Henry 160 

'■  Partington,  Mrs." 202 

Peabody,  <  ieorge 17ti 

Peek,  George  W IOT 

ivitr. ,  William  A 164 

Perkins,  Eli 109 

Perry,  Oliver  Hazard !»7 

Phillips,  Wendell 80 

Pierce,  Franklin 122 

Pmgiee,  ii,,. ten  S 212 

Plant,  lb  ins  Ii 192 

Poe,  Edgar  Allen 69 

Polk,  James  Knox 102 

1  orter,  I  (avid  1  (ixon 68 

Ton.  r,  Noah    93 

Prentii  e,  Geoi  ge  i  lenison,  . ,  119 

Presi  .'it,  William  Ilicklmg. .  ..  96 

Pullman,  Geoi  ge  Mortimer.  ..  121 

I,  M 198 

Matthew  S 171 

Randi  ,1  ph   1  dmund 186 

Read,  Thomas  Buchanan 132 

Ree.i.   Thomas  Bra<  kett 208 

Rei.l.  Whitelaw 149 

Roai  h.  John   190 

Rockefeller,  John  Davison...,  195 

Root,  ( Jeoi  ge  I  rederick 

Rothermel,  Peter  T 118 

Rutledj . ,  [ohn 57 

21 1 

ifield,  John  McAllister 199 

Si  Iiui  :,  Carl     201 

Si  ott,  Thomas  Alexander 204 

Si  ott,  Winfield 79 

Seward,  William  Henry  ....  44 

Sharon,  William 165 

Shaw.  Henry  W 166 

Sheridan,  Phillip  Henry 40 

Sherman,  I   bai  l(  -  K 87 

Sherman,  [ohn 86 

Shillaber,  Benjamin  Penhallow  202 

Sherman,  William  Tecumseh..  80 

Smith,  Edmund  Kirby 114 

S.nisa,    [ohn  Philip 60 

Spreckels,  Clans 159 

Stanford,  Leland 101 

Stanton.  Edwin  McMasters...  17'.l 

Stanton,  Elizabeth  Cady 126 

Stephens,  Alexander  Hamilton  32 

Stepheiison.Aill.il    Ewing...    .  141 

Stewart,  Alexander  T 58 

Stewart,  William   Morris 213 

Stowe,        Harriet        Elizabeth 

Beecher  66 

Stuart,  James  E.  B 122 

Sumner,  Charles 34 

Talmage,  Thomas  DeWitt     . .  60 

Taney,"  Roger   Broo'.~        129 

Taylor,  Zachary 108 

Teller,  Henry  M 127 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS— PART  J 1 


i  \.  i 

a,  Nikola 193 

Thomas,  George  H ','■'• 

Thomas,  Theodore 172 

Thurman,  Allen  G 90 

Thurston,  John  M 166 

Tilden,  Samuel  J '<■ 

Tillman,  Benjamin  Ryan 11;* 

Toombs,  Robert 

"  Twain,  Mark  " 

.  John   98 

Van  Buren,  Manin ".  ■ 

Yanderhilt,  Cornelius  35 

Vail.Alfred 154 

Vest,  <  ieorgc  Graham 214 


PAGE 

Vilas,  William  Freeman 140 

Voorhees,  Daniel  Wolsey 95 

\\  .iitc,  Morrison  Remich 125 

Wallace,  Lewis 199 

Wall.uk,  Lester 121 

Wall. iik. John  Lester 121 

Wanamaker,  Mm 89 

Ward,  "Artemus" '.'1 

Washburne,  Elihu Benjamin. .  189 

U  ashington,  George 17 

Watson,  Thomas  E 178 

Watterson,  Henry 76 

Weaver,  lames  H 123 

Webster,  Daniel 19 


PAGl 

Webster,  Noah 

Weed,  Thurlow  91 

West,  Benjamin 1 1  r. 

Whipple,  Henry  Benjamin. . . .  161 

White,  Stephen  V 162 

Whitefield,  ('■(-..rye 150 

Whitman,  Walt r.'T 

Whitney,  Eli 120 

Whitney,  William  Collins 92 

Whittier,  John  Greenleaf 67 

Willard,  Frances  E 133 

Wilson,  William  L 

Winchell,  Alexander 17 

Wmdom,  William 138 


PORTRAITS  OF  NATIONAL  CELEBRITIES. 


PAGE 

Alger,  Russell  A. in 

son,  William  B 99 

Anthony,  Susan  B 

Armour,  Philip  D 151 

Arthur.  Chester  A 81 

Barnum,  Phineas  T 117 

her,  Henry  Ward 27 

Blaine,  lames  G 151 

Booth,  Edwin 63 

Bryan,  Wm.  J 63 

Bryant,  William  Cullen 

Buchanan,  James 81 

Buckner,  Simon  B 16 

Butler  Benjamin  F 151 

Carlisle.  John  G 151 

Chase,  Salmon  P 16 

Chi)  W 99 

Clay.  Henry 81 

Cleveland,  Grover 45 

Cooper,  Peter 99 

Dana,  Charles  A 151 

Depew,  Chauncey  M 117 

Douglass,  Fred 

Emerson,  Ralph  Waldo 27 

Evarts.  William  M 99 

Farragut,  Com.  D.  G 185 

Field,  Cyrus  W 63 


PAGE 

Field.  Marshall 117 

Franklin,  Benjamin 63 

Fremont,  Gen.  John  C 16 

Gage,  Lyman  J 151 

eld,   lames  A 45 

Garrison,  William  Lloyd 63 

t  ieorge,  Henry 117 

Could,   [ay.      99 

Grant,  Gen.  I.  S 185 

Greeley,  Horace - 1 

Hampton,  Wade 16 

Hancock,  Gen.  Winfield  S 

Hanna,  Mark  A   117 

Harrison.  Benjamin 81 

Hayes,  R.  B 45 

Hendricks,  Thomas  A 81 

Holmes,  Oliver  W 151 

Hooker,  Gen.  Joseph 16 

I ngersoil,  Robert  G 117 

I  rving,  Washington J7 

Jackson,  Andrew 4". 

Jefferson,  Thomas 45 
ohnston.  Gen.  J.  E 16 

Lee,  Gen.  Robert  E 185 

Lincoln,  Abraham 81 

Logan,  Gen.  John  A 16 

Longfellow,   Henry  W 185 


PAGE 

Longstrc-t,  Gen.  James 16 

Lowell.  James  Russell 27 

McKinley,  William L"> 

Morse.  S.  F.  B 

Phillips,  Wendell 27 

Porter,  Com.  D.  D 185 

Pullman,  George  M 117 

Quay,  M.  S 

Reed,  Thomas  B 151 

Sage,  Russell   117 

,  Gen.  Winfield 185 

Seward,  William  H 45 

Sherman,  John 99 

Sherman,  Gen.  W.  T 151 

Stanton,  Elizabeth  Cady J7 

Stowe.  Harriet   Beecher -J  7 

Sumner,  Charles   45 

Talmage,  T.  DeWitt 63 

Teller.  Henry  M 

Thurman,  Allen  G 81 

Tilden,  Samuel  J 117 

Van  Buren,  Martin 81 

Yanderbilt,  Commodore 99 

Webster,  Daniel 27 

Whittier,  John  G 21 

Washington,  George A  5 

Watterson,  Henrv. 63 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


CLIFTON  II.  MOORE. 

In  one  of  his  most   eloquent   orations 

Charles  Sumner  said  "peace  hath  her  vic- 
tories no  less  renowned  than  war."  It  was 
the  victories  of  peace  which  were  won  by 
Clifton  11.  Mi  ii>re.  a  man  distinguished  for 
his  remarkable  husiness  ability  ami  sagacity, 
however,  through  the  channels  of  legitimate 
business  transactions,  in  which  he  gained 
wealth  ami  at  the  same  time  commanded  in 
unusual  degree  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
his  fellow  men.  During  a  long  and  suc- 
cessful business  career,  characterized  by  en- 
terprise, he  ever  maintained  an  enviable 
reputation  for  the  highest  honor  and  prin- 
ciple, and  no  unworthy  dee<l  or  word  ever 
linked  itself  with  his  name,  ami  no  citizen  of 
Illinois  made  better  or  more  unostentatious 
use  of  his  accumulations.  He  is  entitled  to 
high  place  of  honor  among  the  representa- 
tive men  of  this  section  of  the  state,  for  at 
all  times  his  life  was  manly,  his  actions  sin- 
cere, his  honesty  unquestioned. 

Mr.  Moore  was  born  m  Kirklaml.  Lake 
county,  Ohio,  October  jo.  [817,  the  eldest 
son  of  Isaac  and  Philena  (Blish)  Moore, 
whose  family  numbered  eight  -mis.  His 
father  was  born  at  the  old  family  homestead 
in  Saratoga  county.  New  York,  January  31, 
J  704.    and    was    of    English    lineage.      The 


grandfather.  John  Moore,  according  to  the 
family  tradition,  was  one  of  a  large  number 
of  sons  and  daughters,  and  when  only  about 
six  years  old  was  left  an  orphan,  the  family 
at  that  time  residing  near  the  boundary  line 
between  Maryland  and  Delaware.  He  was 
reared  by  an  uncle  of  the  name  of  Hyde  un- 
til sixteen  years  of  age.  when  he  entered 
military  service,  and  tor  about  ten  years  was 
largely  engaged  in  lighting  Indians.  He  en- 
listed for  service  in  the  Revolutionary  war 
when  the  yoke  of  British  oppression  had  be- 
come intolerable  and  the  colonists  had  re- 
solved to  sever  all  allegiance  with  the  mother 
country,  and  served  throughout  the  entire- 
contest.  He  was  at  Fort  Stanwux  when  it 
was  beseiged  by  St.  Leger  with  his  British 
and  Indian  troops,  and  was  with  General 
Washington  at  Yorktown  at  the  time  Corn- 
wallis  surrendered,  which  surrender  virtu- 
ally ended  the  war.  Returning  to  his  home, 
he  found  that  his  brothers  had  all  removed. 
either  to  Virginia  or  Kentucky.  John 
Moore  was  a  man  of  tine  physique  and  of 
great  powers  of  endurance,  and  was  thus 
well  equipped  to  meet  the  hardships  of  pio- 
neer life.  He  reached  the  ripe  "1.1  age  of 
ninety-five  years,  and  was  laid  to  his  final 
rest  in  ( ieatiga  county,  (  >hiO. 

Uaac  Moore,  his  son,  the   father  of  our 
subject,   became   a    very   successful   busim 


10 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


man.  although  little  qualified  by  educational 
privileges.  His  natural  ability,  however, 
was  very  great,  and  as  the  years  advanced 
he  became  a  prosperous  farmer.  In  i8n  he 
removed  to  Kirkland,  <  mio,  in  company  v\  ith 
his  parents,  an  unmarried  sister  and  three 
married  sisters  and  their  husbands  There 
amid  the  scenes  of  pioneer  life  he  estab- 
lished his  home  and  accumulated  a  comfort- 
able ci  unpetence.  I  te  passed  his  last  days  in 
the  In  >me  of  his  son  Clifton,  in  DeWitl  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  dying  on  the  9th  of  October, 
1882,  when  almost  ninety  years  of  age.  lie 
had  be«  n  three  times  married.  His  first  wife 
was  the  mother  of  our  subject,  and  they  bad 
eight  children.  Mrs.  Moore  was  a  native  oi 
Massachusetts  and  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Phebe  (Skinner)  Blish,  who  were 
Welsh  descent,  the  ancestrj  of  the  family 
being  traced  back  to  Abraham  Blish,  a  na- 
if Wales,  who  came  to  America  in  1637. 
Mrs.  Moore  was  born  in  [796,  and  departed 
this  life  Max   1  (.,  1832. 

Under  the  parental  roof  Clifton  11. 
M01  e  spent  his  childhood  days,  and  in  the 
district  sch<  n  1-  near  his  hi  me  began  hi--  edu- 
cation, which  was  later  supplemented  by  a 
course  of  study  pursued  under  the  direction 
a  prominent  clergyman  of  Bedford,  Ohio. 
lie  later  became  a  student  in  Paynesville, 
<  )hio,  and  in  the  \\  estern  Reserve  Teachers' 
Seminary  at  Kirkland.  Well  equipped  with 
a  liberal  education,  he  then  started  out  in 
life,  determined  to  make  the  most  of  his 
opportunities  and  to  gain  success,  lie  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  Geauga  and  Cuyahoga 
counties.  Ohio,  and  then  determined  to  try 
his  fortune  in  a  more  western  district.  In 
the  spring  of  1839  he  followed  the  star  of 
empire  on  its  westward  way.  arriving  at 
Pekin.  Illinois,  with  a  cash  capital  of  less 
than  five  dollars.  But  this  counted  littli  to 
the  young  man  of  resolute  spirit,  possessed 


of  health  and  energy.  lie  soon  secured  a 
school,  and  while  engaged  in  teaching  spent 
his  time  outside  of  the  schoolroom  in  read- 
ing law  with  the  firm  of  Bail)  &  Wilmot, 
being  admitted  ti  1  the  bar  in  [84  1 . 

In  August  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Moore 
arrived  in  Clinton,  being  the  first  lawyer  to 
establish  an  office  here,  and  through  many 
years  he  maintained  his  place  as  the  first 
lawyer  of  the  city,  not  only  by  reason  oi  his 
seniority  in  years  of  practice  hut  also  on  ac- 
count of  his  skill  as  a  practitioner  and  his 
abilit)  as  a  counsellor,  llis  knowledge  of 
law  was  comprehensive  and  exact,  and  it 
soon  became  known  that  his  devotion  to  his 
clients'  interest  was  proverbial  and  that  he 
prepared  his  cases  with  the  greatest  care  and 
precision.  He  won  his  first  suit  and  after- 
ward many  others  of  much  importance,  even 
though  he  met  in  forensic  combat  such  dis- 
tinguished lawyers  as  Abraham  Lincoln, 
Judge  David  Davis  and  others.  The  only 
office  which  he  ever  filled  was  also  on  the 
line  of  his  professii  m.  ha\  ing  in  1 871 1  served 
as  a  member  of  the  constitutional  conven- 
tion  of  the  state,   m   which   body   he  left   the 

impress  "i  his  strong  mind  and  profound 
al  knowledge  upon  the  organic  law    of 
the  ci  mmi  nwcalth. 

At  an  earlj  day  Mr.  Moore  also  began 
investing  in  land,  and  in  this  was  long  .asso- 
ciated with  fudge  David  Davis,  they  to- 
gether owning  at  one  lime  thirty  thousand 
acres.  His  investments  were  at  first  small, 
hut  proving  profitable,  he  wisely  again  in- 
vested the  monej  thus  gained  in  other  land, 
and  in  due  course  of  time  he  won  wealth 
that  classed  him  among  the  millionaires  of 
the  state.  Ilis  business  judgment  was 
rarely,  if  ever,  at  fault,  and  his  savings  were 
so  judiciously  placed  that  he  never  failed  to 
realize  on  an  investment.  1  le  was  exceed- 
ingly considerate  of  his  tenants,  and  never 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1 1 


asked  of  them  more  than  one-third  of  the 
cmp.  or  three  dollars  and  a  half  per  acre. 
So  long  as  they  proved  themselves  honest 
and  industrious  they  were  never  asked  to 
give  p — essions,  and  some  "t"  them  remained 
Upon  his  farms  for  from  ten  to  twenty  years 
or  more.  At  his  death  one  of  them,  who 
had  occupied  a  farm  for  twenty-two  ye 

i:  "1  have  lost  the  best  friend  1  ever 
had."  What  higher  tribute  of  praise  could 
be  given? 

While  deeply  engrossed  with  his  busi- 
ness cares,  he  was  in  his  home  an  ideal  hus- 
band and  father,  kind,  considerate  and  lov- 
ing, and  lie  erected  for  his  family  one  of  the 
finest  residences  in  this  section  <•{  the  state. 
It  stands  in  the  midst  of  a  most  attractive 
lawn  adorned  with  walks,  drives,  shade  trees 
and  flowers,  and  one  of  its  most  attractive 
features  is  the  library  which  fills  two  ro  ms 
and  ;s  one  of  the  finest  collections  of  books 
in  any  home  in  the  entire  -tate.  It  contains 
many  rare  and  interesting-  old  volumes 
well  as  the  mi  ire  standard  wi  «ks.     The  1 

i  for  the  mind  was  all  that  found  its  way 
there,  and  he  had  every  reason  to  be  proud 
of  his  splendid  collection  of -books,  the  con- 
tents of  which  were  very  familiar  to  him. 
He  was  a  man  of  scholarly  attainments  and 

E  irded    his    books    as    among    his    b 
friends. 

Mr.  M<  ore  first  married  Mi-s  Elizabeth 
Richmond,  the  wedding  taking  place  Aug- 
ust   14.    [845.     The  lady   was  a   native  of 

indaigua,  New  York,  and  a  daughter  of 
Hiram  Richmond,  later  of  Tremont,  Taze- 
well county.  Illinois.  Four  children  were 
born  unto  them  but  only  one  i-  now  living. 
Arthur,  who  is  extensively  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Mrs.  M,,ore  died  May  30,  1872,  and 
on  the  26th  of  July.  1X74.  Mr.  Moore  wed- 
ded Miss  Rose  Onstein,  a  native  of  North 
Amherst,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  George 


ami  Rosanna  1  Ruble)  Onstein,  the  former 
of  German  de-cent  and  the  latter  of  Scotch 
and  German  lineage.  The  father  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  became  a  fanner  of  Lor- 
aine  county.  Ohio,  and  died  in  hi-  seventieth 
year,  while  his  wife,  also  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  -tate.  passed  away  at  the  age  of 

enty-five.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children.  Mr.  Moore  was  called  to 
his  final  reward  April  29,  [901,  after  a  brief 
illness  of  only  five  days. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Moore  was 
always  a  Republican,  and  could  undoubtedly 
have  won  high  political  honors  had  he  cared 
for  such  advancement,  but  he  preferred  to 
dev<  ite  his  time  and  attentii  in  t>  1  his  law  prac- 
tice and  his  property  interests.  He  was  1 
member  ^-r  DeWitt  Lodge,  No.  Si.  F.  & 
A.  M..  and  his  life  was  in  harmony  with  the 
principles  of  the  craft  which  recognized  the 
brotherhood  of  mankind.  He  recognized 
his  duty  to  his  fellow  men  and  was  chari- 
table, generous  and  sympathetic.  He  con- 
tributed with  free  hand  to  the  upbuilding  of 
churches  and  schools  and  was  a  ready  as- 
sistant  to  all  measures  which  he  believed 
would  promote  the  welfare  of  hi-  adopted 
county.  In  manner  he  was  dignified  and 
quiet,  but  his  friendship  was  sincere  and  un- 
changing, and  everywhere  he  was  -p<  ken  of 
in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  esteem. 
Fearless  in  conduct,  honorable  in  action  and 
stainless  in  reputation,  the  life  1  f  this  man 
wa-  -i  beneficent  influence  in  DeWitt  county, 
and  his  example  is  one  well  worthy  of  emu- 
late 'ii. 


BYRON  F.  STAYM.V: 

Professor  1'..  1".  Staymates  i-  one  of  the 
influential  citizen-  of  Clinton,  a  conspicu- 
ous figure  in  the  business,  literary  and  so- 
cial   life  of   the  city,   exerting   a   strong   in- 


12 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


fluence  in  support  of  all  progressive  meas- 
ures for  the  public  good.  A  man  of  splendid 
intellectual  endowment,  broad  minded  and 
viewing  with  comprehensive  glance  the  needs 
of  the  community,  he  advocates  all  that  tends 
to  the  general  welfare  and  is  accounted  one 
of  the  valued  residents  of  Clinton.  As  an 
earnest  advocate  of  the  Illinois  Fireman's 
Association  he  has  established  a  reputation 
that  is  not  confined  to  the  limits  of  the  state, 
but  as  the  statistician  of  thai  organization 
he  has  established  an  acquaintance,  not  only 
throughout  the  United  States,  but  his  name 

is  well  known  in  many  ol  the  cities  oi  Eu- 
1 i  ipe 

Professor  Byron  F.  Staymates  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  Buckeye  state,  his  birth  ba\  ing  oc 
curred  in  Huntsville,  October   i.   [852,  and 
is  a  son  of  Hiram  I..  Staymates.  who  settled 

in  Texas  township.  DeWitl  county,  in  1856. 
One  year  later  he  removed  to  (reek  town- 
ship, where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land  known  as  the  /imnni 
man  farm,  on  which  he  continued  to  reside 
until  [882.  This  farm  he  has  greatly  im- 
proved and  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation, lie  also  owns  considerable  prop- 
erty in  Barnett  township.  Since  [882  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  Clinton,  where  he  now 
lues  retired  from  active  labor.  His  success 
in  life  is  due  entirelj  to  his  own  efforts,  as  he 
had  nothing  to  start  on  and  that  which  he 
has  accumulated  has  been  hv  his  own  hard 
labor,  and  he  is  to-day  accounted  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  the  county.  llis  birth 
occurred  in  Licking  count).  Ohio,  where  lie 
was  born  on  the  3d  clay  of  October,  [819, 
a  son  of  Peter  Staymates.  who  was  a  son  of 
Phillip,  who  emigrated  to  this  country  prior 
to  the  Revolutionary  war.  in  which  he  took 
a  prominent  part,  being  a  major  in  the  Amer- 
ican army.  After  the  close  of  this  memor- 
able war  he  received  a   errant   of   land   near 


Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  In  1808  he  was 
called  to  his  final  rest  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven  vcais.  and  his  remains  are  interred  at 
Greensburg,  that  state,  where  he  passed  his 

last  days. 

The  Slav  mates  family  is  of  German  ori- 
gin, the  name  formerly  being  spelled  Stein- 
met/,  and  Phillip  was  the  first  to  locate  in 
this  country.  I  lis  descendants  later  settled  in 
Ohio,  where  they  became  early  settlers  and 
where  most  of  them  died. 

The  marriage  of  Hiram   P.  Staymates, 

our  subject's  father,  with  .Miss  Charlotte 
Westbrook,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Ohio, 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children,  name- 
ly: Byron  F.  and  Elmer,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased.      Mrs.    Staymates  died  at   the  age  of 

sixt)  four  years. 

\s  before  stated,  our  subject  was  born 
in  Ohio,  where  he  resided  until  he  was  four 
years  of  age,  when  he  was  brought  to  this 
county  by  his  parents,  lie  received  a  good 
common  school  education  in  the  Creek  town- 
ship schools,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
teaching  for  a  short  time.  In  [865  he  en- 
tered the  Wesleyan  University  at  Blooming- 
ton,  where  he  was  graduated  six  years  later 
as  Bachelor  and  later  as  Master  of  Arts.  I  le 
then  took  up  the  study  of  law  in  the  Wes- 
leyan  Paw  School  and  later  was  a  professor 
in  an  academy  at  Smith's  Grove,  Kentucky, 
which  position  he  held  for  one  year.  At  the 
expiration  of  this  period  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  where  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  but  soon  after  he 
was  compelled  to  leave  the  city,  owing  to 
the  yellow  fever  scourge.  We  next  find  him 
located  in  Texas  for  a  short  time  and  from 
there  he  went  to  the  republic  of  Mexico,  but 
owing  to  a  serious  failing  of  the  eyesight  he 
was  compelled  to  return  home  and  abandon 
all  professional  work  for  a  number  of  years. 
In    iSSii   be   tilled   the   position   of   assistant 


THE   RI(  (GRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


'3 


editor  of  the  Greensburg,  Pennsylvania, 
Record,  and  during  the  Black  and  Beaver 
campaign  of  that  year  he  became  actively 
identified  with  the  political  interests  of  the 
state  as  a  speaker  and  writer  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability.  It  might  be  well  to  men- 
tion here  that  since  187(1  he  has  spoken  and 
upheld  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party 
in  every  campaign.  Going  extensively 
through  the  state  at  the  demands  of  the  man- 
rig  committees. 

In  [889  he  took  an  active  part  in  the 
formation  of  the  Illinois  Firemen's  Associa- 
tion, and  has  held  the  office  of  statistician 
since  it-  organization.  In  this  work  Mr. 
Staymates  has  taken  more  than  an  ordinary 
interest,  and  his  work  along  this  line  de- 
mands more  than  a  mere  mention.  In  Jan- 
nary.  iSSS.  the  Illinois  Fireman's  Associa- 
tion was  formed  in  the  city  of  Clinton  and 
at  its  tenth  annual  convention,  which  was 
held  in  Clinton  January  [3,  [899,  Mr.  Stay- 
mates  read  a  paper  in  which  he  reviewed  the 
work  of  the  organization  since  its  forma- 
tion. In  detail  he  showed  how  it  hail  grown 
from  a  weak  association  of  only  a  few  mem- 
bers to  one  of  the  Strongest  and  largest  in 
this  country.  He  reviewed  its  work,  it- 
meetings  during  the  past  ten  years,  and  in 
clo-ing  his  remarks  said:  "This  is  hut  an 
imperfect  narrative  of  the  first  decade  of  the 
Illinois  Fireman's  Association.  One  of  the 
results  has  been  the  early  complete  organiza- 
tion of  the  tire  service  of  Illinois;  another  to 
raise  its  proficiency  ami  efficiency  in  the 
noble  work  of  wealth  saving  to  a  laudable 
free.  What  the  first  association  has  saved 
Illinois  the  uncounted  millions  have  not  yet 
been  shown.  Of  the  grant  ten  years  we  can 
say   Finis  coronal  opus." 

When  the  National  Fireman's  Associa- 
tion was  formed  in  [897,  Mr.  Staymates  was 
by  the  representatives  of  twelve  state  a- 


ciations  chosen  secretary  and  later  was  elect- 
ed corresponding  secretary  and  in  [900  rep- 
resented both  the  Illinois  and  National  holl- 
ies at  the  great  Parisian  World's  Congi 
oi  Fire  Engineers,  spending  several  mouths 
in  Europe,  and  .  .11  his  return  he  read  an  elab- 
orate report  before  the  convention  in  this 
Country.  In  his  report  he  showed  his  ability 
a-  an  observer  and  his  paper  abounded  in 
observations  of  the  European  system  of  tire 
lighting. 

In  1893,  at  the  World's  Columbian  Ex- 
position, he  was  chosen  by  the  Illinois  Board 
of  Commissioners  as  a  superintendent  of 
the  natural  history  exhibit  and  also  lectured 
on  the  subjects  of  fish,  forestry  and  s,  ,ils, 
all  of  which  has  engaged  his  attention  for 
many  years.  Since  then  he  has  lectured  at 
many  farmers'  institutes  in  central  Illinois, 
and  has  also  gained  a  wide  reputation  as  a 
contributor  to  the  daily  papers. 

Mr.  Staymates  has  also  made  a  close 
study  of  languages  and  is  a  proficient  talker 
in  German,  Spanish  and  French.  During 
the  convention  of  the  Pan-American  Con- 
vention of  Firemen,  which  was  held  at  the 
Pan-American  Exposition  in  [901,  he  served 
as  chairman  of  the  program  committee, 
which  position  he  tilled  with  much  credit. 

Space  will  not  permit  us  to  go  into  fur- 
ther detail,  hut  such  in  brief  outline  is  the 
personal  history  of  our  subject.  lie  has 
gained  an  enviable  reputation  and  no  bi- 
ography of  the  leading  men  of  DeWitl  coun- 
ty would  he  complete  without  mention  of 
Professor  I'..  F.  Staymates. 


JACOB  ZIEGLER. 


No  foreign  element  has  become  a  more 
important  part  in  our  American  citizenship 
than  that  furnished  by  Germany.     The  em- 


14 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


igrants  from  that  land  have  brought  with 
them  to  the  New  World  the  stability,  enter- 
prise and  perseverance  characteristic  of  their 
people  and  have  fused  these  qualities  with 
the  progressiveness  and  indomitable  spirit  of 
the  \\  est.  Mr.  Ziegler,  m  >\v  i  me  of  the  prom- 
inent farmers  of  DeWitt  county,  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  this  class. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  hern  in 
the  province  of  I'ermanse,  Bavaria,  Ger 
many,  November  14.  1K44,  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Louisa  (Gebhart)  Ziegler,  both  natives 
of  the  same  province  as  himself.  In  [852 
Jacob  Ziegler.  with  his  wife  and  family,  set 
sail  from  Havre,  France,  in  a  French  sailing 
vessel,  which  consumed  forty-two  days  be 
tween  that  port  and  Xew  York  City.  Land 
ing  at  Castle  Garden,  the  family  went  im- 
mediately to  Brown  county,  <  mio,  where  the 
father  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  and  engaged  in  its  operation  for  five 
years.  At  the  end  of  thai  time  he  sold  out 
and  removed  to  McLean  county.  Illinois. 
locating  in  Normal  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  laud. 
1  le  engaged  in  operating  this  farm  for  many 
years  and  died  there  after  reaching  the  ripe 
old  age  of  ninety-eight  years.  I  lis  wife  had 
preceded  him  some  years  before,  being 
eighty-six  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her 
death. 

To  Jacob  Ziegler,  Sr.,  and  wife  were 
horn  eighteen  children,  of  whom  nine  arc- 
still  living,  as  follows:  Maria  is  the  wife 
of  F.  1 '.  Bohrer  and  resides  in  Bloomington, 
Illinois:  Louisa  is  the  widow  of  Peter  Kline 
and  makes  her  home  in  Farmer  City,  Illi- 
nois; Louis  has  been  a  merchant  of  Spokane. 
Washington,  for  many  years;  Kate  married 
Louis  llaney  and  they  reside  in  Springfield, 
Illinois;  Jacob,  our  subject,  is  next  in  order 
of  hirth ;  Sophia  is  the  wife  of  Herman 
)  lazenw  inkle,   a    business    man     of     Storm 


Lake,  Iowa;  Fredericka,  widow  of  Henry 
Kunsch,  is  a  resident  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa; 
Charles  is  a  farmer  of  Pocahontas  county, 
Iowa;  and  Eva,  the  youngest  living  child,  is 
the  wife  of  Louis  Lowentrout,  who  is  en- 
gaged  in  business   in    I Woo:.iington,    Illinois. 

Our  subject  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Germany,  and  after 
coming  to  America  attended  the  district 
schools  of  Brown  county,  Ohii  for  a  short 
tune,  mil  as  Ins  lather  was  in  limited  cir- 
cumstances and  there  were  many  mouths  to 
feed,  his  education  has  been  principally  re- 
ceived through  reading  and  observation  in 
later  years.  Lip  to  the  time  he  was  twenty- 
six  years  of  age,  Jacob  Ziegler  remained  at 
home,  giving  his  labor  and  time  to  his  fa- 
ther. In  the  spring  of  [870,  having  seen  his 
father  comfortably  located  upon  his  own 
farm  in  Normal  township,  our  subject  made 
arrangements  with  Judge  David  Davis,  of 
Bloomington,  to  rent  one  .  if  his  farms  in  I  >e- 
W'itt  county,  consisting  of  eighteen  hundred 
acres  of  land.  With  hut  two  hundred  dol- 
lars in  capital,  he  commenced  his  life  labors 
and  for  eleven  years  he  gave  his  time  and 
attention  to  farming  ami  stock  raising  on  a 
large  scale.  After  meeting  with  good  suc- 
cess for  a  few  years,  cholera  got  among  his 
hogs,  ami  out  of  a  herd  of  eighl  hundred, 
six  hundred  SUCCUmbed  to  tin-  disease.  Noth- 
ing daunted  by  his  ill  fortune.  Mr.  Ziegler 
began  anew,  and  in  the  fall  of  [88]  pur- 
chased three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  on  section  I.  'Texas  township,  which 
was  under  cultivation,  but  not  improved. 
This  farm  Mr.  Ziegler  has  converted  into 
one  "I  the  most  desirable  places  in  the  coun- 
ty, erecting  a  beautiful  country  home  at  a 
cost  of  seven  thousand  dollars,  which  is  sup- 
plied with  all  modern  conveniences. 

On    the    20th  of   December.    1877.   Mt. 
Ziegler  was  united   in  marriage  with   Miss 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


15 


Annie  Elizabeth  Simpson,  a  native  of  -Mi- 
ami county.  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry 

and  Annie  (Hartsock)  Simpson,  also  na- 
tives of  <  >hio,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1855. 
Mr.  Simpson  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years,  while  his  wife  was  one  year  younger 

at  the  time  of  her  death.  Mrs.  Ziegler  was 
the  youngest  "t  three  children  horn  to  her 
parents. 

Two  children  have  heen  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ziegler:  Wilfred  I.,  horn  October  jo. 
1878,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Springfield  Busi- 
ness College,  hut  is  now  attending  the  State 
University  at  Champaign.  Illinois;  Jacob 
Frank,  horn  February  25,  [882,  is  attending 
the  high  school  in  Clinton.   Illinois. 

Mr.  Ziegler  gives  his  attention  almost  ex- 
clusively to  stock  farming,  raising  and  feed- 
ing cattle,  hogs  and  sheep  for  the  market, 
preferring  to  sell  his  grain  on  the  hoof.  1  [e 
has  ever  heen  an  advocate  of  all  measures 
calculated  to  advance  the  moral  or  material 
welfare  of  his  adopted  county.  He  was 
chairman  of  several  important  committees 
and  general  manager  of  the  Chautauqua  As- 
sociation of  Clinton  for  [901,  and  was  in- 
strumental in  promoting  the  organization  of 
the  same.  He  was  also  one  of  the  promoters 
of  the  VVeldon  Springs  park,  which  has  heen 
under  his  direct  supervision  ever  since.  For 
fifteen  year-  Mr.  Ziegler  was  president  and 
superintendent  of  the  DeWitt  County  Fair 
Association,  and  to  his  personal  efforts  is 
due  the  prosperous  condition  of  the  same. 
While  superintendent  he  advocated  and  suc- 
ceeded in  having  built  the  water  works  at  the 
fair  grounds,  even  before  the  city  of  Clinton 
had  them.  Mrs.  Ziegler  and  her  oldest  son 
are  members  of  the  (Jniversalist  church  of 
Clinton,  lit-  is  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge, 
chapter  and  commandery  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity at  Clinton,  and  he  ever  endeavors  t<  > 
live  up  to  the  tenets  of  the  order. 


In  politics  Mr.  Ziegler  is  a  stanch   Re- 
publican,  and   has   been   a   member   of   the 

county  central  committee  for  many  years. 
In  the  fall  of  [889  he  was  elected  to  the 
state  legislature,  serving  two  years  in  that 
body.  As  a  public  spirited  and  progressive 
citizen,  he  has  given  his  support  to  all  m< 
ure-  for  the  public  good  and  his  life  lias  heen 
such  as  to  command  the  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  con- 
tact, either  in  public  or  private  life. 


JAMES   W.   THORP. 

The  farming  interests  of  Harp  township 
are  well  represented  in  James  W.  Thorp, 
who  has  spent  almost  his  entire  life  in  De- 
Witt  county,  ami  is  numbered  among  its 
most  enterprising  and  successful  agricult- 
urists. He  was  horn  in  Fall  River,  Massa- 
chusetts. June  <>.  1S4S.  and  is  of  English  de- 
scent. His  father.  Joseph  Thorp,  who  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  in  Wapella,  was 
born  in  Lancaster'shire.  England,  in  [826, 
and  about  1 S47  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Holmes,  a  native  of  the  same  shire  and  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Holmes.  In  1N47  they 
emigrated  to  the  new  world,  sailing  from 
Liver] 1  on  an  American  vessel,  the  Niag- 
ara, which,  after  a  voyage  of  five  weeks  and 
three  days,  landed  them  in  New  York  in  July 
of  that  year.  They  first  settled  in  Fall  River, 
Massachusetts,  where  the  father  worked  in  a 
cotton  mill,  and  after  thoroughly  mastering 
the  business  was  made  overseer  of  a  factory 
at  Shirley,  that  state.  Coming  west  in  [856, 
he  located  permanently  in  DeWitt  county. 
He  purchased  land  in  Wilson  township  and 
successfully  engaged  in  farming  there  for 
nine  years,  though  he  had  had  no  previous 
experience  in  agricultural   pursuits  and  did 


i6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


not  even  know  how  to  harness  a  horse.  Sell- 
ing his  farm  of  eighty  acres  at  the  end  of 
that  time,  he  bought  two  hundred  and  forty 
aero  in  I  [arp  b  w  nship,  of  w  hich  sixty  acres 
had  been  broken  and  a  small  house  and  barn 
erected  thereon.  lie  lias  since  purchased 
other  property  and  now  owns  four  good 
farms,  aggregating  mx  hundred  acres,  lie 
continued  to  engage  in  farming  and  stock 
raising  until  [898,  when  he  removed  to  Wa- 
pella  and  has  since  lived  a  retired  life,  en- 
joying a  well  earned  rest.  lie  is  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  but  has 
declined  honors  along  political  lines.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  are  highly  respected 
and  esteemed  by  all  who  know  them. 

James  \V.  Thorp  was  quite  young  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  an  their  removal 
t"  this  county,  and  he  is  indebted  to  its  dis- 
trict schools  for  his  educational  advantages. 

lie  attended  school  in  winter  until  about 
twenty  years  of  age  and  during  the  summer 
months  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his 
labor  upon  the  home  farm,  remaining  un- 
der the  parental  roof  until  twenty-three,  lie 
then  purchased  ninety-five  acres  of  partially 
improved  land  in  Harp  township  and  has 
since  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count with  marked  success,  lie  has  erected 
good  and  substantial  buildings  upon  his 
place,  has  set  out  an  orchard  and  ornamental 
trees,  and  has  made  many  other  improve- 
ments, which  add  greatly  to  the  value  and  at- 
tractive appearance  of  the  farm.  lie  has 
also  h.  night  nn  ire  land  and  now  owns  a  quar- 
ter section,  and  besides  this  he  operates  other 
tracts  to  the  amount  of  si\  hundred  acres. 

<  >n  the  27th  of  September,  [877,  Mr. 
Thorp  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  Alice  Nelson,  who  was  horn  in  Sanga- 
mon county.  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Louis  and  Abbie  (Guard)  Nelson.     The  fa- 


ther was  horn  in  Norway  and  was  a  young 
man  when  he  came  to  this  country,  hut  the 
mother  was  a  native  of  Indiana.  ( )f  the  four 
children  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thorp  one 
died  in  infancy.  The  Others  are  Claude,  now 
attending  the  Clinton  high  school;  Nelson; 
and  Irvin. 

Mr.  Thorp  is  public  spirited  and  pro- 
gressive, and  does  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote those  enterprises  which  he  believes  will 
prove  of  public  benefit.  lie  :s  now  serving 
as  treasurer  of  the  Prairie  (enter  Telephone 
I  ompany,  hut  he  has  never  cared  for  po- 
litical office.  By  his  ballot  he  supports  the 
men  and  measures  of  die  Republican  party, 
and  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  its  suc- 
cess. Religiousl)  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  church  and  steward  of 
the    sanie.       Mis    wife    is   also   a    member   of 

that   church. 

— •-•-• 

HENRY   MAGILL. 

Clinton  has  been  the  home  ami  scene  of 
labor  of  many  men  who  have  not  only  led 
lives  that  should  serve  as  an  example  to 
those  who  come  after  them  hut  have  also 
been  of  important  service  to  their  city  and 
state  through  various  avenues  of  usefulness. 
Among  them  must  he  named  Henry  Magill, 
who  passed  away  on  the  5th  of  February, 
[883,  after  a  life  of  industry,  and  rich  in 
those  rare  possessions  which  only  a  high 
character  can  give.  For  many  years  he  la- 
in red  with  all  the  strength  of  a  great  nature 
and  all  the  earnestness  of  a  true  heart  for 
the  advancement  of  the  county  of  his  adop- 
tion, and  when  he  was  called  to  his  final 
rest  his  best  monument  was  found  in  the 
love  and  respect  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lived  for  so  many  years. 

A  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  state, 


<4-„i(L^ 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


'9 


his  birth  occurred  in  Middlebury,  Vermont, 
in   1832,  his  parents  being  Hugh  and   Eliza 
Magill,  who  emigrated  to   America  from  the 
north  of  Ireland  about  [816.      They  took  up 
their  abode  upon  a  farm  in  Vermont  and 
there    the    following  named  children   were 
born   unto  them:      William:    Samuel:    Re- 
becca   E.,    who    married  C.  11.  Carpenter; 
Henry;  Mary  Ann.  who  was  called  Mollie 
and  became  the  wife  of  Nixon  Denton;  and 
Robert.      In  1S41  the  parents  removed  with 
their  family  to  Malone,   New  York,  where 
the  father  was  engaged  in  business  as  the 
owner  of  a  large  cotton  manufactory  and  a 
eral   store.      In  his  undertaking  he  met 
with  splendid  success  and  refused  an  offer 
of  eighty  thousand  dollars  for  his  mill  prop- 
erty, but  there  came  a  time  when  by  tire  he 
lost  all  and  was  left  a  poorer  man  than  when 
he  arrived  in  Malone,  for  though  his  prop- 
erty had  been  insured,  the  insurance  com- 
pany swindled  him  out  of  the  entire  amount. 
In  [851  he  went  westward  to  Michigan  City, 
Indiana,  where  s<  *  n  afterward  he  was  ji lined 
by  his  family.     There  Hugh  Magill  took  a 
contract  for  grading  and  tiling  the  roadbed 
of    the    Michigan    Central    Railroad    from 
Michigan  City  to  Chicago,  in  which  venture 
he  was  joined  by  his  sons.     When  the  work 
had   been   successfully  executed  he  and   his 
s'>n  William  went  to  Bloomington,   Illinois, 
in  February,   [853,  and  took  a  c  ntract  for 
the  building  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road from  Bloomington  to  Lexington,  under 
the  firm  name  of  the   Emery-Magill  Com- 
pany, and  later  they  built   sixteen   mile-  of 
the  Illinois  Central   Railroad   from   Bloom- 
ington to  Hudson.     The  four  soii>  became 
partners  in  their  father's  business  and  ex- 
tended their  field  of  operations,  opening  a 
large  general  store  in   Bloomington,  which 
was  managed  by  Samuel  and  Henry  Magill. 


while  William  and  Robert  assisted  the  father 
in  the  execution  of  the  contracts. 

In  [854  the  family  removed  to  Clinton, 
bringing  with  them  a  Mock  of  merchandise 
ti-om  the  Bloomington  store.     In  [855  they 

sold  the   HI nington  -ton-  to  Mr.   Emery 

and  bought  out  the  firm  of  Phares  &  Shorer, 
at  Clmt'  n.     This  \\  a-  the  beginning  of  the 
extensive  business  s,,  long  successfully  con- 
ducted by  the   Magill   Company,  consisting 
of     the     brothers     William.     Samuel     and 
I  lenry.     In  the  same  year  the  firm  1  »f  Magill. 
Denton  &  Company  took  a  contract  to  build 
a   portion   <i   the    Dubuque  &   Sioux   City 
Railroad.      In   [858  the  linn  of  Mason,  Ma- 
gill.   Dent'  11  i\   G  mpany  built  a  large  part 
of  the  Minneapolis    &    St.     Raul     Railroad. 
The  same  year  the  firm  of  Magill  &  Com- 
pany began  business  as  dealers  in  >t>  ck,  in 
addition   to  their   operation-  along  mercan- 
tile lines.      Each  of  the  br<  thers  had  the  su- 
perintendence of  a  certain    portion    of    the 
business,  which  he  successfully  managed  and 
thus  added  to  the  general  capital.      William 
and  Robert  had  charge  of  the  purchase 
stock,  while  Samuel  and  I  lenry  were  in  con- 
trol 1  f  the  business  in  the  city.      Every  dol- 
lar which  they  had  and  every  acre  of  land 
which   was  purchased   went    into  a  common 
fund,    and    by    keeping    their    capital    thus 
united  they  were  enabled  to  carry  on  busi- 
ness  1  n  a  large  scale  and  with  greater  pros- 
perity. 

Henry  Magill  possessed  rare  tact  and 
business  judgment,  and  as  a  financial  man- 
ager he  had  but  few  equals  in  this  part  of 
the  state.  His  brother  generously  attrib- 
uted much  of  the  success  of  the  firm  of 
Magill  &  Company  to  him  and  hi-  splendid 
executive  ability  and  keen  discernment.  For 
some  time  the  brother-  owned  but  little  laud. 
preferring  to  use  their  capital  in  enterprises 


20 


Till-     BIOGRAPHIC  \L    RECORD. 


that  would  bring  quicker  returns,  but  with 
their  usual  foresight  they  saw  that  it  was 
only  ;•  question  of  time  when  DeWitt  county 
farms  would  he  very  valuable.  Accord- 
ingly, they  In  night  new  land  when  oppor- 
tunity offered,  and.  retaining  possession  ol 
these,  they  have  seen  some  of  them  more 

than  double  in  value.  They  owned  several 
thousand  acres  of  the  finesl  land  in  the  coun- 
ty, all  of  which  is  under  a  very  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  improved  with  all  the 
modem  accessories  and  conveniences  found 
upon  model  farms,  in  the  year  1870  Ma- 
gill  X'  Company  graded  the  roadbed  and  fur- 
nished and  placed  the  ties  and  irons  for  the 
Gilman,  Clinton  &  Springfield  Railroad  from 
Clinton  to  Gilman,  ami  Henry  Magill  was 
largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  benefits 
of  this  road  f'  r  Clinton,  lie  was  also  ac- 
tive in  raising  the  money  toward  securing 
the  h  cation  1  1  the  machine  simps  here,  and 
thus,  directly  and  indirectly,  he  contributed 
in  large  measure  to  the  substantial  upbuild- 
ing and  improvement  oi  the  city. 

On  the  death  of  Robert  Magill,  in  [874, 
his  share  of  the  property  was  withdrawn 
from  the  Ihmiic^  for  the  use  of  his  widow 
and  children  and  the  remaining  bn  theis  or- 
ganized under  the  name  .if  Magill  Brothers. 
This  lirm  also  had  an  equal  interest  in  the 
hanking  house  of  John  Warner  &  Company. 
Whatever  the)  became  interested  in  pn 
a  profitable  venture.  Although  thej  came 
to  the  west  in  verv  limited  financial  circum- 
stances, within  thirty  years  they  were 
wealth)  men.  having  control  of  mammoth 
business  enterprises.  The  secret  of  their 
pn  sperity  is  short  and  simple.  It  resulted 
from  indefatigable  and  honest  effort,  sup- 
plemented by  almost  unerring  judgment  in 
business  transactions.  They  belonged  i" 
that  class  of  representative  American  citizens 
who.    while    promoting    individual     success. 


also  contribute  in  large  measure  to  the  gen- 
eral prosperity  and  welfare,  and  Clinton  is 
indebted  in  large  measure  to  their  efforts  in 
her  behalf.  They  erected  here  a  tine  three- 
story  brick  hotel,  yet  known  as  the  Magill 
House,  and  they  gave  generously  to  every 
enterprise  which  would  benefit  the  city  along 
material,  social,  educational  and  moral  lines. 
Although  they  were  not  memhers  of  "the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  they  were  most 
liberal  contributors  to  the  fund  for  the  erec- 
11  n  of  the  h(  nise  1  >f  W(  'iship.  The  firm  ever 
sustained  an  unassailable  reputation  for 
honesty  in  all  trade  transactions,  and  the 
w  1  ird  1  <i  any  1  >ne  1  >i  the  hi''  tthers  vv  as  as  g<  .1  mI 

as  his  bond,  and  that   was  as  g 1  as  gold. 

Rarel)  have  brothers  worked  together  in 
such  perfect  harmony:  the  ability  and  enter- 
prise of  the  one  seemed  to  round  out  and 
make  symmetrical  that  of  the  others,  and  in 
close  companionship  they  continued  their 
labors  with  mutual  pleasure  and  in',  lit. 

Although  he  led  an  extremely  bus)  hie, 
the  interest  of  Henry  Magill  centered  in  his 
home  and  family.  All  of  his  efforts  were 
put  forth  that  he  might  add  to  their  a  mfort 
and  happiness.  I  le  was  married  .  11  the  loth 
■  f  February,  \Xy>.  to  Mis>  Malissa  F. 
Bowren,  a  native  of  Winchester.  Kentucky, 
and  a  daughter  of  Alfred  Bowren.  She  is 
a  most  estimable  lady,  who  to  her  husband 
was  ever  a  faithful  companii  n  ami  In  1;  mate. 
The  graces  .if  true  womanhood,  the  culture 
of  a  nature  essentially  refined  have  made  her 
most  highly  esteemed  by  all.  and  in  her  im- 
mediate circle  of  friends  she  is  greatly  loved. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Magill  were  horn  the 
following  named  children:  llattie  Eliza, 
widow  of  Charles  Finney  Amsden;  Harry 
Alfred;  and  M.  Gertrude,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  IX 
M<  ore,  a  dentist  of  Decatur,  Illinois. 

A  man  of  strong  character  and  forceful 
individuality.   Mr.   Magill's  life  was  guided 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


by  high  principles,  his  example  and  influence 
were  felt  by  all  with  whom  he  was  associ- 
ated.    His  judgment  was  safe  and  reliable, 

pinions  were  just  and  his  sympathy 
sure.  His  was  the  controlling  mind  in  the 
business  enterprise  of  the  firm,  yet  there  was 

irit  of  domination  in  any  of  his  rela- 
tions with  his  brothers.  He  had  no  aspira- 
tions for  political  honors  or  office  and  could 
rarelv  be  induced  to  take  part  in  public  af- 
fairs. The  only  position  he  ever  filled  was 
that  of  school  director,  and  he  accepted  that 
only  when  he  was  led  to  see  that  he  might 
do  better  service  for  the  school  when  in  the 
office  than  out  of  it.  Every  measure  cal- 
culated for  the  public  good  received  bis  en- 
d  irsement,  and  substantial  aid  was  given  to 
all  practical  movements  for  the  general  wel- 
fare. In  manner  he  was  entirely  free  fn  in 
ostentation,  and  the  character  of  the  individ- 
ual was  the  only  thing  which  influenced  his 
friendship  inviolable.  When  once  his  con- 
fidence and  friendship  were  given  they  were 
given  for  always  unless  he  found  that  dis- 
honor sundered  the  tie.  T<  i  his  family  he 
was  most  tenderly  devoted.  Purchasing  the 
old  Cushman  home,  he  enlarged  and  remod- 
eled the  residence  and  in  that  the  family 
pass  1  seventeen  happy  years.  He  then  re- 
moved it  to  its  present  site  on  North  Mon- 
r  e  street,  and  on  the  site  where  it  formerly 
stood  he  erected  a  very  handsome  residence. 
in  which  bis  widow  still  resides — one  of  the 
most  beautiful  homes  in  the  entire  county. 
The  home  is  surrounded  by  spacious 
grounds  adorned  with  beautiful  shade  trees 
and  beautified  by  the  arts  of  the  landscape 
gardener.  Here  Mr.  Magill  spent  hi-  last 
days.  For  almost  three  years  prior  t"  his 
death  be  had  suffered  fn  m  ill  health,  but 
change  of  climate  and  medical  skill  proved 
ineffectual.     He  was  honored  and  esteemed 

tily  for  his  splendid  business  ability  hut 


also  for  his  many  manly  virtues  and  genu- 
ine worth. 

"llis  life  was  gentle,  and  the  elements 
So  mixed  in  him  that  Nature  might  stand  up 
And  sav  to  all  the  w  <  >rld,  'This  was  a  man.'  ' 


ISAAC  1".   HOUSEMAN. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  an  influential 
business  men  of  farmer  City  is  Isaac  F. 
Houseman,  vice-president  of  the  Old  First 
National  Bank.  He  was  born  near  Monti- 
cello.  Piatt  county.  Illinois.  March  25,  [849, 
and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  P.  and  Elizabeth 
1  Fisher)  Houseman,  and  grandson  of  Isaac 
F.  and  Elizabeth  Houseman.  The  grand- 
father, who  was  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser 
by  occupation,  died  when  over  eighty  years 
of  age.  In  his  family  were  seven  children, 
two  sons  and  rive  daughters,  the  former  be- 
ing Joseph  and  Isaac  F.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  born  in  Xew  London.  Ohio,  and 
in  early  life  removed  to  Piatt  count}-.  Illi- 
nois, where,  as  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser. 
he  was  meeting  with  good  success  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  October  26, 
1854,  when  be  was  forty-six  years  of  age. 
His  home  was  in  Goose  (.'reek  township, 
that  county.  His  wife  died  111  [860,  at  the 
age  of  forty-four  years  and  five  months,  and 
the  remains  of  both  were  interred  in  Fisher 
cemetery.  Champaign  county.  They  bad  a 
family  'of  nine  children,  namely:  Abigail 
M..  wife  of  C.  I..  Mi  mroe;  John,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years;  Emily  M..  wife 
of  \V.  P.  Shaffer;  Prances  .1-'..  wife  >>\  John 
Withers:  William,  who  wedded  Mary  free- 
love:  Lydia  A.,  deceased  wife  of  W.  A. 
Steen;  James  Ward,  a  resident  of  Kansas; 
Isaac  P.  our  subject:  and  Charles  (.'..  who 
married  Kate  Wright. 


22 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Being  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age,  our 
subject  lias  made  his  own  wav  in  the  world 
unaided.  He  first  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  then  engaged  in  teaching  until 
he  had  earned  enough  to  pay  his  wax 
through  the  Wesleyan  Institute  at  Bloom- 
ington,  Illinois,  His  time  was  practically  de- 
voted to  school  teaching  from  [868  until 
1884,  when  he  was  male  assistant  cashier 
of  the  (»lil  First  National  Bank  at  Farmer 
City,  with  which  he  has  since  been  connect 
ed  in  an  official  capacity. 

This  bank,  which  is  one  "t"  the  best  -1 
the  county,  was  organized  June  1.  \>>~-\.  with 
a  capital  stoek  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  the 
officers  being  James  11.  Harrison,  president; 
Cary  Burford,  vice-president ;  and  I..  I'«.  I 
win.  cashier;  while  the    stockholders    were 
s    Burford,  James  II.   Harrison,  Robert 
(  >.  Crawford,  Samuel  I'..  Erwin,  George  W. 
Herrick.    Andrew   M.  Cumming,  David  Eel- 
ley.      William     W.     Murphy,     William     C. 
Wrathbun,  W.  G.  Cochran,  R.  E.  Moreland, 
George  W.  Snook  and  William  Latham.     In 
1NS4     Mr.    Harrison    resigned,  and   R.  O. 
1  rawford  served  a--  president  two  years,  be 
ing  succeeded  by  Jacob  B.  Lewis,  at  which 
time  A.  M.  Cummings  was  elected  vice  pres- 
ident.    On  the  i>t  of  January,  [886,  R.  O. 
iwford  was  elected  president  ;  T.  II.  Slick, 
vice-president;  J.    11.    Harrison,  cashier,  and 
I.  F.  Houseman,  assistant  cashier.  The  next 
change  made  in  its  officers  was  January   1. 
1891,  when  Mr.  Harrison  was  succeeded  by 
('..    \V.   Chisholm   as   vice-president.      Up   t.i 
the  expiration  of  the  charter   in    iS<>4.   the 
cashiers  of  the  hank  were  L.  B.  Erwin,  until 
January    1.    1S75 :  William   Young,  the  fol- 
lowing year:  A.   F.   Davison,  the  next;  and 
F.  J.  Miller  from  the  1st  of  January.   [877, 
until  the  1st  of  January.   [886,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.   Harrison,  and  in    [887  he 
was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Houseman.    The  hank 


was  reorganized  as  the  OKI  Erst   National 
I  lank  of  Farmer  City,  January  1.  [894,  with 
a  capital  stock  of  sixty-live  thousand  dollars, 
the  officers  being  R.  ( ).  Crawford,  president; 
Jacob  Swigart,  vice-president;    and     I.     F. 
Houseman,   cashier,    and    D.    L.    Fuller,   as- 
sistant cashier.     On  the  death  of  Mr.  Craw- 
ford,   in    August   of   that   year,   he   was   suc- 
ceeded by  Mr.  Swigart,  and  our  subject  was 
elected  vice  president  and  D.  L.  Fuller,  cash- 
ier.    The  stockholders  of  the  new  organiza- 
tion  are    1.    F.    Houseman.    II.    II.    Gilmore, 
R.  ( >.  Crawford,  Morton  Kent.  Gus  Levy, 
M.  T.  Mace.  Jacob  Swigart,  F.  IV  Sangster,         ^ 
James  Jacks,,u.  John  McDonald,  <rr±-  Bur-  -V' 
ford.   Hirum  Doner,   Dr.   M.   Mclnty're,   D. 
W.    Richards,  T.    L.    [jams,  John   Watson, 
lames    Watson.    G.    Watson    and    David    L 
Fuller,      The  hank  is  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
1 1,  ,11  and  n,  ,\\  has  a  surplus  1  if  eight  tin  msand 
dollars.       The    original    hank   building    was 
built  of  brick  with  a  very  substantial  vault, 
which     was     entirely     unharmed     when     the 
building  was  burned  in  [879.     It  was  at  on 
rebuilt,  and  is  a  good  brick  structure,  twen- 
ty-two bj  eighty-eight  feet,  and  two  stories 
in    height.       It    is    located   on    the   corner   of 
Main  and  Green  street,  which  was  formerly 
the  sue  of  William  Young's  residence. 

Mr.  Houseman  was  married.  December 
7.  [875,  to  Miss  tiara  I..  Weedman,  a 
daughter  of  Isaiah  Weedman,  who  was  a 
representative  of  one  of  the  prominent  and 
successful  early  families  of  this  section  ol 
the  state.  By  this  union  were  horn  two  chil- 
dren :  ( iuy  Weedman.  who  is  now  a  student 
in  pharmacy  at  the  Northwestern  University 
at  Chicago;  and  Ruth  Elizabeth,  aged  four 
\ears.  Mrs.  Houseman  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  and  leading  ladies  of  the  city.  The 
family  have  an  elegant  home  on  John  street, 
and  besides  this  property  Mr.  Houseman 
owns  business  property  in  Farmer  City.     He 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


?3 


i-  a  member  of  Farmer  City  Lodge,  No.  710. 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  past  master; 
Farmer  City  Chapter.  No.  175.  R.  A.  M.: 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  East- 
em  Star  Chapter  of  the  same  order.  They 
are  also  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  steward 
for  twelve  year-.  Politically  Mr.  House- 
man is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 
His  strict  integrity  and  honorable  dealing 
in  business  commend  him  to  the  confidence 
nf  all :  his  pleasant  manner  wins  him  friends  : 
and  he  is  one  of  the  popular  and  hi  mured 
citizens  of  Farmer  City. 


WILLIAM  MAGILL. 

The  subject  of  this  review  needs  no  spe- 
cial introduction  to  the  readers  of  this  vol- 
ume, but  the  work  would  be  incomplete  with- 
out the  record  of  his  life.  No  man  in  De- 
Witt  county  lias  been  more  prominently 
identified  with  its  commercial  and  agricult- 
ural interests  1  >r  has  taken  a  more  active  part 
in  its  upbuilding  and  development. 

A  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  state. 
Mr.  Magill  was-  born  in  Middleburv.  Ver- 
mont, September  8,  1823,  and  was  a  son  of 
Hugh  and  Eliza  Magill.  who  emigrated  to 
America  from  Ireland  about  1816.  Our  sub- 
ject was  the  eldest  of  their  six  children,  the 
others  being  Samuel;  Rel>ecca  F.,  wife  of  C. 
H.  Carpenter:  Henry:  Mary  Ann,  wife  of 
Nixon  Denton:  and  Robert.  The  family 
lived  on  a  farm  in  Vermont  until  1841.  when 
they  removed  to  Malone,  New  York,  where 
the  father  carried  on  a  large  cotton  manu- 
factory and  a  general  store.  There  he  met 
with  excellent  success  in  business  until  his 
property  was  all  destroyed  by  tire,  and  as  the 
insurance  company  swindled  him  out  of  his 


insurance,  he  lost  everything.  In  1851  he 
went  to  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  and  took  a 
contract  for  grading  and  tiling  the  roadbed 
of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  from  that 
place  to  Chicago,  in  which  venture  he  was 
joined  by  his  son-.  Being  the  oldest  -on. 
Wiliam  Magill  sought  employment  im- 
mediately after  his  father's  property  in  New 
York  was  burned,  and  he  early  developed  ex- 
ceptional business  and  executive  ability. 
When  the  work  on  the  Michigan  Central 
Railmad  was  completed  he  and  his  father 
went  to  Bloomington,  Illinois,  in  February, 
[853,  and  took  a  contract  for  building  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  from  that  place 
to  Lexington,  under  the  linn  name  of  Fm- 
erv-Magill  Company,  and  later  they  built 
-ixteen  miles  of  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road from  Bloomington  to  Hudson.  The 
four  sons  became  partners  in  their  father's 
business  and  extended  their  field  of  opera- 
tions, opening  a  large  general  store  in 
Bloomington,  which  was  managed  by  Sam- 
uel and  Henry,  while  William  and  Robert 
as-isted  the  father  in  the  execution  of  the 
contracts. 

After  spending  six  years  in  Blooming- 
ton, William  Magill  came  to  Clinton,  where 
the  brothers  opened  a  store,  but  subsequent- 
ly sold  1  mt  to  Mr.  Emery  and  purchased  the 
stock  of  Phares  &  Shorer.  This  store  they 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Magill 
Company,  consisting  of  the  brothers.  Will- 
iam. Samuel  and  Henry.  In  1855  the  firm  of 
Magill.  Denton  &  Company  took  a  con- 
tract to  build  a  portion  of  the  Dubuque  & 
Sioux  City  Railroad,  and  in  1S5S  the  firm  of 
Mason.  Magill.  Denton  &  Company  built  a 
large  part  of  the  Minneapolis  &  St.  Paul 
Railroad.  In  the  latter  year  the  firm  of  Ma- 
gill &  Company  began  dealing  in  stock,  and 
having  a  special  liking  for  that  branch  of 
the  business.    William    Magill    gave   his    at- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tention  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life 
to  farming  and  stuck  buying,  in  which  he 
was  assisted  by  his  brother  Robert,  while 
Samuel  and  Henry  had  control  of  the  busi- 
ness in  the  city.  Every  dollar  which  they 
had  and  every  acre  of  land  which  was  pur- 
chased went  into  a  common  \\u\A,  and  by 
keeping  their  capital  thus  united  they  were 
enabled  to  carry  on  business  on  a  large  scale 
and  with  greater  prosperity.  Foreseeing  the 
n^e  in  value  of  DeWitt  county  property, 
they  bought  land  quite  extensively,  and 
owned  several  thousand  acres  of  the  finest 
land  in  the  county,  all  of  which  is  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  improved  with 
all  the  modern  accessories  and  conveniences 
found  upon  model  farms.  The  brothers  were 
also  interested  in  the  banking  house  of  John 
Warner  &  Company,  at  Clinton,  and  met 
with  remarkable  success  in  all  their  under- 
takings. <  'u  coming  to  the  west  thej  w 
in   limited   circumstances,   hut    within   thirty 

s  were  wealthy  men  and  their  prosperity 
a    just   reward   fur  their  cli  Se  appli 
cation  to  business,  and  well-directed,  em 
effi  irts. 

Mr.  Magill  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Sims,  a  daughter  <>t  Simon  and 
Christianna  (Lambert)  Sims.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and  a 
son  of  James  and  Margaret  i  Wilson)  Sims, 
the  former  i  if  whom  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
four  years,  the  latter  at  th<  I  sixty. 
Simon  Sims  was  manager  of  mines  in  Scot- 
land, hut  on  coming  to  America  he  settled  in 
Franklin  county.  New  York,  and  turned  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  died 
when  over  sixty  years  of  age,  hut  his  wife, 
who  was  of  German  descent,  died  young. 
Their  children  were  Isabel,  Margaret,  Jane, 
lames.  Christiana,  Jennette  and  Mary.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Magill  were  married  in  Malone, 
New  York,  and  became  the  parents  of  the 


following  children:  (  1  )  Eliza  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three  years.  (2)  Christiana 
is  the  wife  of  James  Belknap,  of  Manchester. 
Iowa,  and  they  have  three  sons:  Frank, 
William  and  Bernard.  (3)  Henry  died  in 
infancy.  (4)  William,  a  farmer  oi  Man- 
chester. Iowa,  married  Lou  Kates  and  has 
one  daughter,  Mary.  (5)  Mary  Isabel  is 
the  wife  of  Frank  Phares,  of  Clinton,  and 

the)  have  two  children.  Hugh  and  Day.  (6) 
Hugh,  a  resident  of  Clinton,  married  Anna 
Carroll  and  they  have  four  children :  Hugh 
Goodbreak,  Carroll,  Norme  and  Hon.  (7) 
Callie  is  the  wife  of  J.  J.  Pentley,  of  Man- 
chester. Iowa,  and  they  have  five  children. 
Madge,  Mazie,  tiara.  Joseph  and  Beatrice. 
Mr.  Magill  owned  a  beautiful  home  one 
mile  east  of  Clinton,  where  he  died  Septem- 
ber 19,  1883,  but  his  wife  has  since  removed 
to  (  'lint on.  where  in  [899  she  erected  a  hand- 
some modern  residence.  She  still  owns  con- 
siderable property,  and  in  the  management 
of  her  affairs  has  displayed  excellent  judg- 
ment and  good  business  ability.  Mr.  Magill 
never  aspired  to  office,  1ml  was  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party,  and  ever 
cheerfull)  gave  his  support  to  those  enter 
prises  that  tend  to  public  development.  His 
name  was  a  synonym  for  honorable  business 
dealing  ;  he  was  always  mentioned  as  one  ol 
the  invaluable  citizens  of  the  county,  and 
among  her  leading  and  representative  men 
his  name  should  he  among  the  foremost. 


JAMES  P.  STR  VNGE. 

One  of  Waynesville's  most  honored  and 
highly  respected  citizens  is  James  I'. 
Strange,  who  has  now  laid  aside  all  husiness 
cares  and  is  living  a  retired  life.  He  was 
horn    in    this   county   on   the    1 8th   of   June, 


Till-.    I'.K  (GRAPHICAL    RED  IRD. 


-^5 


[840,  and  is  a  worthy  representative  of  a 
prominent  pioneer  family.  His  father,  John 
S.  Strange,  was  born  near  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, where  his  ancestors  located  at  an  early 

<lay.  and  there  Ik-  grew  ti  1  manh 1  ami  mar- 
ried a  Mi--  Robinson.     In  [829  he  came  t" 

Illinois  and  located  in  what  i-  now  DeWitt 
Count)',  where  he  pre-empted  and  later  en- 
tered t\V0  hundred  and  forty  acres,  which  he 

broke  and  transformed  into  a  good  farm. 
becoming  one  of  the  most  thrifty  and  sub- 
stantial agriculturists  of  his  community. 
His  first  wife  died  about  [838,  and  he  sub- 
sequently married  Miss  Nancy  Scott,  a  na- 
tive of  Tennessee,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
Scott,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settler-  of 
this  county.  Mr.  Strange  died  here  in  [856, 
and  his  wife,  who  survived  him  for  some 
year-,  passed  away  on  the  lXth  of  March. 
[867,  both  being  laid  to  rest  in  Rock  (reek 
cemetery.  Waynesville  township. 

James  I'.  Strange,  of  this  review,  is  the 
oldest  in  a  family  of  seven  children.  -i\  -mis 
and  one  daughter,  all  of  whom  reached  years 
of  maturity,  and  five  of  the  sons  are  still  liv- 
ing and  are  residents  of  Illinois.  He  passed 
the  day-  of  his  6byhood  and  youth  under  the 
parental  roof,  and  was  educated  in  the  home 
school.  After  hi-  father's  death  he  took 
charge  of  the  farm  and  later  purchased  the 
interests  •  if  the  1  ither  heirs,  and  still  1  iwns  the 
old  home  place,  where  he  lived  for  half  a 
century.  He  erected  thereon  a  good  house 
and  barn,  and  made  many  other  improve- 
ment-, and  throughout  his  active  business 
life  successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising.  Having  acquired  suffi- 
cient capital  to  enable  him  to  spend  the  re- 
mainder -4  his  life  in  ease  and  quiet,  he  re- 
moved to  Waynesville  in  the  spring  of  1  s.  > ■> 
and  built  a  large  modern  residence — one  of 
the  best  in  the  town,  lie  was  one  of  the 
tir-t  st,  ,ckh'  ilders  and  is  now  a  director  of  the 


Waynesville  Bank,  one  of  the  substantial 
moneyed  institutions  of  the  county,  which 
was  organized  in  [892  and  has  a  capital 
stock  of  twenty  five  thousand  dollars. 

Mr.  Strange  was  united  in  marriage  I  >< 
cember  3,  [863,  with  Miss  Nancj  Smoot, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  this  state,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Henry  Smoot.  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  a  pioneer  of  DeWitt  county. 
She  died  in  tSj_>,  leaving  one  son,  Arthur, 
at  home  with  his  father,  lie  was  for  eleven 
years  in  the  railway  mail  service  of  the  Lake 
Erie  &  Western  Railroad.  Mr.  Strange  was 
again  married  in  this  county.  September  [9, 
[878,  hi-  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Mary  Booth,  who  grew  to  womanhood  in 
Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  Booth, 
one  of  the  early  settler-  of   DeWitt   county. 

Politically  Mr.  Strange  supports  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
has  taken  quite  an  active  ami  influential  part 
in  local  politics.  He  was  elected  and  served 
as  township  collector  three  year-;  supervisor 
one  year  ;  assessor  ten  consecutive  year-  :  and 
commissioner  of  highways  thirteen  years. 
1  >n  coming  to  Waynesville  he  was  oppointed 
postmaster  under  President  Cleveland,  and 
acceptably  filled  that  office  for  four  years. 
He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  vill 
board  six  years  and  president  of  the  -ante 
one  term,  and  while  living  mi  the  farm 
served  twenty-four  year-  as  school  director, 
and  al-o  as  clerk  and  president  of  the  district 
a  part  of  the  time.  He  has  held  some  office 
continually  since  [871,  and  his  public  duties 
have  always  been  most  faithfully  and  satis- 
factorily performed.  Religiously  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  socially  he  belongs  to  Prairie  State 
Lodge,  No.  104.  I.  (  ).  (  ).  ]•'..  in  which  he  has 
rilled  all  the  chairs  and  is  past  grand  and 
past  district  deputy.  He  has  also  represent- 
ed his  lodge  in  the  grand  lodge  three  or  four 


26 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


times,  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  Wayne 
Lodge,  No.  172.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  is 
now  serving  as  secretary,  while  both  he  and 
his  wife  belong  to  the  Eastern  Star  and  Re- 
bekah  lodges.  They  are  well  known  through- 
out this  section  of  the  county,  and  it  is  safe 
in  say  thai  no  couple  in  the  community  have 
im  ire  friends. 


HON.  JOHN  WARNER. 

There  may  be  found  in  almost  all  Ameri- 
can communities  quiet,  retiring  men,  who 
never  ask  public  office  or  appear  prominent 

in  public  affairs,  yet  who,  nevertheless,  exert 
a  widel)  fell  influence  in  the  community  in 
which  they  live  and  help  to  construct  the 
proper  foundation  upon  which  the  social  and 
political  world  is  built.  Such  a  man  is  the 
I  Inn.  John  Warner,  of  Clinton,  who  for 
more  than  a  half  century  ha--  resided  in  De- 
Witt  county.  He  lias  been  an  important 
factor  in  business  circles  and  his  popularity 
is  well  deserved,  as  in  him  are  embraced  the 
characteristics  of  an  unbending  integrity, 
unabating  energy  and  industry  that  never 
flags,  lie  is  public  spirited  and  thoroughly 
interested  in  whatever  tends  to  promote  the 
moral,  intellectual  and  material  welfare  of 
Clinton,  and  with  its  growth  has  been  iden- 
tified from  the  time  when  he  came  to  the 
county  and  found  Clinton  a  little  village  of 
less  than  one  hundred  inhabitants,  lie  is 
now  the  president  of  the  John  Warner 
Hank,  hut  this  represents  only  one  branch  of 
his  various  actn  ities. 

Mr.  Warner  was  horn  in  Rockingham 
county.  Virginia,  July  24.  [819,  a  son  of 
David  and  Catherine  (Kettner)  Warner. 
The  Warner  family  is  of  German  lineage 
and  was  founded  in  Pennsylvania  at  an 
early  period  in  the  development  of  that  state. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of 


the  Keystone  state,  and  throughout  his  en- 
tire life  he  followed  farming.  Removing 
to  the  Old  Dominion,  he  there  married  Cath- 
erine Kettner,  whose  birth  occurred  in  the 
same  house  in  which  her  son  John  was  horn. 
When  the  latter  was  fifteen  years  of  age  the 
parents  removed  with  the  family  to  Henry 
county.  Indiana,  where  the  father  purchased 
a  farm,  which  he  continued  to  cultivate  for 
a  long  period.  lie  died  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty years,  his  wife  having  passed  away  a 
few  years  previously.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children,  of  whom  John  was 
the  third  in  order  of  birth,  and  the  only  one 
who  ever  came  to  DeWitt  countv. 

John  Warner  spenl  the  first  fifteen  years 
of  his  life  in  the  state  of  his  nativity  and 
then  became  a  resident  of  Indiana.  I  lis  ed- 
ucational privileges  were  those  afforded  by 
the  common  schools,  hut  instruction  was 
given  him  in  both  English  and  German.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  upon  his  busi- 
ness career  as  a  clerk  in  the  dry  goods  store 
of  Conner,  Stephenson  i\-  Company,  at  Alex- 
andria. Indiana.  In  1839,  after  Struggling 
for  three  years  through  the  hard  times  which 
followed  the  financial  panic  of  1837,  the 
linn  was  compelled  to  discontinue  business 
and  Mr.  Warner  was  thus  left  without  em- 
ployment. Me  then  began  the  study  of 
medicine  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Car- 
mine, at  Anderson,  Indiana,  who  directed 
his  reading  for  about  eighteen  months,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  the  Doctor  departed 
this  life.  Mr.  Warner  then  continued  his 
studies  at  leisure  months  while  engaged  in 
teaching  school,  the  winter  season  being  de- 
ited  to  that   profession. 

In  November,  1X40,  Mr.  Warner  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cynthia  Ann 
Gardner,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Gardner,  a 
farmer  of  Middle-town.  Indiana,  and  in  the 
Spring  of  the  following  year  they  removed 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


t"    DeWitt    county,    Illinois.      Unto    them 
were    born    four    children,  namely:     Ves 
pasian,  who  is  now  congressman  from  the 

thirteenth  district  of  Illinois:  Mrs.  Flora 
Mace,  a  resident  of  New  York  City;  Mrs. 
Minnie  Mettler.  of  Chicago;  and  Arabella, 
at  home.  After  practicing  in  the  count) 
a  year  Dr.  Warner  took  up  his  abode  in  the 
village  of  Clinton — a  mere  hamlet,  where  the 
work  of  progress  and  upbuilding  had  hardly 
been  begun.  Here  he  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  for  twelve  years,  on  the  ex- 
piration of  which  period  he  abandoned  his 
profession.  This  was  in  the  year  1S52.  In 
1848  he  had  been  elected  clerk  of  the  cir- 
cuit court,  and  had  discharged  his  duties  in 
a  prompt  and  commendable  manner.  On 
ceasing  to  practice  medicine  he  engaged  in 
dealing  in  real  estate  and  in  conducting  a 
mercantile  business  until  1861.  Then  in 
[867,  in  company  with  Henry  Magill.  J.  R. 
Warner  and  Lawrence  VVeldon,  he  embarked 
in  the  banking  business  in  Clinton,  under  the 
firm  name  of  John  Warner  &  Company. 
Operations  have  since  been  carried  on  under 
this  name,  although  Mr.  Warner  is  now  the 
only  surviving  member  of  the  original  firm. 
The  institution  of  which  he  is  the  president 
has  weathered  many  financial  panics,  stand- 
ing strong  before  the  storm,  the  confidence 
and  support  <<i  the  public  increasing  year 
by  year.  The  bank  is  uniformly  acknowl- 
_-.d  to  he  one  of  the  most  reliable  moneyed 
concerns  in  this  part  of  the  state,  it-  officers 
and  stockholders  being  men  of  unquestioned 
business  ability,  worthy  of  the  highest  trust. 
Politically  Mr.  Warner  ha-  been  a  Re- 
publican since  the  organization  of  the  party. 
In  fact  before  its  establishment  he  advocat- 
ed Republican  principles  and  attended  tin- 
meeting  held  in  Bloomington,  where  views 
were  set  forth  which  were  afterward  em- 
bodied   111    the    Republican     platform.        He 


has  labored  earnestlj   for  good  government, 
both   local   and   national,   and  believes   thai 

not   the  least   of  man's  duty   is   hi-   exen 
of  his   right   of   franchise  in   support   of  the 
men  and  measures  that   he  thinks  will   b 
advance   the   general   good.      In   the   winter 
of    1854-5   he  was  a  member  of  the   llln 
legislature  and  stood   fearless  and  strong  in 
defense    of    whatever     he    believed     to    be 
right.      When   the   slavery   question   and   its 
extension  involved  the  country  in  Civil  war. 
he  volunteered   for  service  in   April,    [81 
raised  a  company  in  DeWitt  county  and  as- 
sisted   in   organizing  the   Forty-first     R< 
ment   of   Illinois,   of   which   be   was   elected 
major.      He    participated    in    the   battles    of 
Fort  Henry.  Fort  Donelson  and  Shiloh,  and 
at  the  last  named,  after  the  death  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel  Tupper,  who  had  command 
of  the  regiment.   Major  Warner  was  com- 
missioned  lieutenant-colonel.       In     Septem- 
ber.  1862,  however,  on  account  of  illness,  he 
was  obliged   to  resign. 

There  has  been  no  movement  started  in 
DeWitt  county  for  the  public  benefit  that 
has  sought  and  not  received  his  aid  and  co- 
operation. He  has  been  foremost  in  every 
good  work,  and  no  citizen  deserves  more 
honorable  mention  in  a  volume  of  tins  char- 
acter than  John  Warner.  His  business  life 
is  one  of  strictest  honesty.  Strong  and 
fearless  in  action  and  stainless  in  reputation 
the  people  among  whom  he  has  so  [ong  re- 
sided rejoice  in  his  honors  and  successes 
and  an  enumeration  of  the  distinguished 
men  of  the  county  would  be  incomplete 
without  his  life  history. 


JOSEPH   T.  M  \hl>(  ).\. 

Prominent  among  the  prosperous  and 
substantial  citizens  of  Harnett  township  is 
Joseph  'I'.  Maddox,  who  owns  and  operates 


30 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  valuable  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  on 
section  19.  He  is  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful stock  dealers  in  the  county,  and  has  found 
that  branch  of  his  business  quite  profitable. 
A  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born  in  Logan 
county,  on  the  15th  of  January.  1X4S,  and 
is  a  son  of  Thomas  M.  Maddox,  who  is  rep- 
resented on  another  page  of  this  volume. 
Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  old  home- 
stead farm  in  DeWitt  count)',  and  acquired 
his  education  in  the  local  schools.  lie  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  aboul  thirty 
years  of  age  and  obtained  a  good  practical 
knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits. 

Mr.  Maddox  was  married  in  Logan 
county,  October  [6,  [878,  tO.Miss  Mary  C. 
Curry,  who  was  horn  in  Gibson  county.  In- 
diana, hut  was  reared  and  educated  in  Logan 
couut\.  Illinois.  Her  father,  W.  ( '.  Curry, 
is  now  .1  resident  of  Beason.  The  children 
born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife  are  Elmer, 
who  is  now  assisting  his  father  in  the  opera- 

of  the  hi  ime  farm  ;  Estella  Maud  and 
Dora  Elizabeth,  both  at  home;  and  one  son, 
\\  ho  dud  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Maddox  located 
on  the  farm  where  lie  now  resides,  having 
pi  cv  ii  >usly  purchased  twi  1  hundred  acres,  and 
to  that  amount  he  has  since  added  until  he 
now  has  four  hundred  acres  of  well  im- 
proved and  valuable  land.  His  large  and 
pleasant  residence  is  surrounded  by  a  good 
set  "f  outbuildings,  and  everything  about 
the  place  indicates  the  thrift  and  enterprise 
of  the  owner.  He  has  two  Other  farms,  one 
in  Atlanta  and  the  other  in  Waynesville 
townships,  aggregating  two  hundred  and 
seventy  acres,  and  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
State  Bank  of  Clinton.  Throughout  his 
business  career  he  lias  been  interested  in  live- 
stock, ami  feeds  many  head  of  cattle  and 
hogs  for  market  annually.  He  also  breeds 
Percheron   draft    horse-   and    standard   bred 


roadsters,  and  as  a  breeder  has  an  enviable 
reputation  throughout  this  section  ol  the 
state.  Starting  out  in  life  for  himself  with 
no  capital,  his  record  is  one  well  worthy  of 
emulation  and  contains  many  valuable  les- 
sens of  incentive,  showing  the  possibilities 
that  are  open  to  young  men  who  wish  to 
improve  every  opportunity  for  advancement, 
lie  is  a  man  of  good  business  ability  and 
sound  judgment,  and  to  his  own  well-direct- 
ed efforts  is  due  his  success  in  life. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Mad- 
dox has  always  supported  the  Democratic 
party  and  its  principles,  and  has  taken  quite 
an  active  part  in  local  politics.  He  served  as 
county  supervisor  from  Barnett  township 
for  nine  consecutive  years,  with  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his 

JtituentS,  was  chairman  of  the  finance 
committee  and  a  member  of  various  other 
committees.  He  has  ;iK. ■  1  ecu  a  delegate 
to  the  countv  and  congressional  conventions 
of  his  partv,  and  has  exerted  considerable 
influence  in  public  affairs.  Fraternally  he  is 
a  member  of  Wayne  Lodge,  X".  [72,  I'.  & 
A.  M 


SAMUEL  A.  EDWARDS. 

Samuel  A.  Edwards,  proprietor  and  pub- 
lisher of  the  Kenney  Gazette,  is  a  native  of 
Whiteside  county,  Indiana,  and  was  born  on 
November  _'_'.  [868,  and  lived  in  his  native 
place  until  lie  was  seven  years  of  age.  He  is 
a  son  of  Samuel  and  I.avina  (Norris)  Ed- 
wards, both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ohio, 
and  the  father  was  a  farmer  all  his  life.  He 
came  to  Illinois  at  an  early  date  and  rented 
land  in  Woodford  county,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  for  some  years.  Then  he  moved 
to  White  count),  Indiana,  where  lie  fanned 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  on  Novem- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3i 


her  25,  1875.  His  wife  died  in  1872  and 
she  was  buried  at  the  home  place  in  Indi- 
ana. She  was  the  mother  of  nine  children, 
only  three  of  whom  are  living,  two  boys  and 
one  girl. 

After  the  death  of  his  father  our  sub- 
ject was  bound  out  to  a  farmer  of  Wood- 
ford county,  near  Roanoke,  and  here  he  re- 
mained for  about  five  years.  This  man 
would  not  send  our  subject  to  school  and  the 
young  hoy  had  such  a  desire  for  learning 
that  he  resolved  to  start  out  in  life  for  him- 
self and  be  free  to  do  as  he  wished  with  re- 
gard to  attending  school.  With  this  idea  in 
view  he  came  to  W'apella.  where  his  eldest 
sister  resided,  and  worked  out  by  the  month, 
attending  school  in  the  winter  at  Elm  Grove 
school  in  Barnett  township.  It  is  wonder- 
ful how  much  education  can  he  obtained  un- 
der difficulties,  for  this  young  fellow  with  so 
few  advantages  studied  so  hard  whenever  he 
could  that  by  the  time  he  was  seventeen  he 
had  secured  a  certificate  to  teach.  Xever 
was  anyone  so  proud  of  a  medal  conferred 
upon  him  as  was  our  subject  when  he  ob- 
tained permission  to  impart  the  information 
he  had  worked  so  hard  for.  to  others.  In 
the  spring  of  1885  he  commenced  to  teach 
ami  continued  in  this  line  until  1890.  and  by 
that  time,  although  still  so  young,  he  was 
principal  of  the  schools  of  DeWitt,  Illinois. 
In  1890,  [891,  [892  and  1893  he  was  prin- 
cipal of  the  schools  at  Kenney.  During  all 
these  years  his  active  mind  was  constantly 
assimilating  information,  and  in  addition  to 
his  various  duties  he  read  law  with  the  well- 
known  firm  of  Munson  &  Mitchell,  of  Clin- 
ton, ami  after  two  years  of  hard  study  he 
graduated  from  the  Dixon  Normal  School 
in  1895  and  received  honors  in  literature  and 
other  lines.  He  also  served  as  superintend- 
ent of  the  Mt.  Pulaski  city  schools  during 
1895-6,  hut  was  compelled  to  abandon  teach- 


ing on  account  of  ill  health.  Few  people 
could  have  stood  the  strain  this  ambitious 
young  man  put  upon  himself,  teaching  all 
day  and  spending  the  greater  part  of  the 
night  gather  together  more  information. 
Feeling  the  necessity  of  taking  better  care  of 
himself  he  embarked  in  newspaper  work, 
which  his  extensive  studies  had  admirably 
fitted  him  for.  and  in  March,  1897,  he  found- 
ed the  Gazette  and  has  continued  it  ever 
since,  building  up  an  excellent  circulation 
and  making  it  a  popular  paper  with  all 
class,.-,  anil  the  organ  of  his  party  in  that  lo- 
cality. Mr.  Edwards  is  an  easy,  fluent  writer. 
His  knowledge  of  current  events  is  almost 
unbounded  and  his  command  of  language 
such  as  to  make  his  editorials  play  a  promi- 
nent part  in  the  management  and  de- 
velopment of  local  affairs.  In  addi- 
tion to  being  a  fluent  writer.  Mr. 
Edwards  is  a  good  business  manager 
and  exhibits  his  executive  ability  in  the 
conduct  of  the  affairs  of  the  Gazette,  while 

his  staff  is  particularly  g 1.     In  politics  he 

is  a  Democrat  and  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  party  leaders.  Since  locating  in  Kenney 
he  has  served  as  town  clerk  to  the  entire  sat- 
isfaction of  not  only  his  constituents,  but 
also  the  city  in  general.  I  low  ever,  his  many 
duties  and  his  ever-absorbing  love  of  read- 
ing and  study  keep  bint  from  giving  as 
much  of  his  time  and  attention  to  public  mat- 
ters as  his  patriotic  spirit  would  lead  him  to. 
Socially  he  is  an  active  member  of  the  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows,  Kenney  Lodge.  No 
Z57. 

On  November  23,  [898,  Mr.  Edwards 
was  married  at  Mt.  Pulaski,  Illinois,  to  Miss 
Mayme  Lynn,  a  native  "i"  Illinois  and  the 
charming  and  accomplished  daughter  of 
John  \\ .  Lynn,  who  is  a  prominent  retired 
farmer  now  residing  at  Mt.  Pulaski,  Illinois. 
Mr.   Lynn  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 


32 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  but  recently 
moved  to  Mi.  Pulaski,  whore  he  is  surround- 
ed by  the  comforts  of  life  his  own  industry 
has  provided  for  him,  and  he  enjoys  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards  are  very  pleasant 
and  intellectual  young  people,  whom  it  is  de- 
lightful to  meet.  Their  friend-  are  num- 
bered 1>\  legions,  and  they  are  leader-  in  the 
social  life  of  Kenney.  Possessing  in  marked 
degree  as  they  do  the  requisites  of  true  hos- 
pitality, their  home  is  often  a  |.le:i-ant 
gathering  place  for  friend-,  and  no  social 
event  is  complete  without  their  presei 


SAMUEL  .MM. 11.1. 


Samuel    Magill,  deceased,  did  as  much 
to  promote  the  commercial  activity,  advance 

the  general  welfare  and  secure  the  material 
development  of  Clinton  as  probably  any 
other  individual.  As  a  business  man  he 
was  enterprising,  energetic  and  always 
abreast  of  the  times,  and  was  rewarded  by 
an  ample   fortune. 

Mr.  Magill  wa-  horn  in  Middlehury. 
Vermont,  on  the  14th  of  July.  1826,  and 
was  a  -on  of  Hugh  and  Eliza  Magill,  who 
emigrated  to  America  from  the  north  of 
Ireland  about  [816  and  settled  on  a  farm 
in  the  Green  Mountain  -tale.  Their  chil- 
dren were  William;  Samuel:  Rebecca  E., 
wife  of  C.  II.  Carpenter;  Henry:  Mary  Ann. 
wife  of  Nixon  Denton;  and  Robert.  In 
[84]  the  parent-  removed  with  their  family 
to  Malone,  New  York,  where  the  father 
was  engaged  in  business  as  the  owner  of  a 
large  cotton  manufactory  and  a  general 
store.  In  his  undertakings  he  met  with 
splendid  success  and  refused  an  offer  of 
eighty  thousand  dollar-  for  his  mill  proper- 


ty, hut  there  came  a  time  when  by  tire  he 
lost  all.  and  was  left  a  poorer  man  than 
when  he  arrived  in  Malone.  for  though  his 
property  had  been  insured  thei  nsurance 
company  swindled  him  out  of  the  entire 
amount.  In  [851  he  went  westward  to 
Michigan  City.  Indiana,  where  -0011  after- 
ward he  was  joined  by  his  family.  There 
Hugh  Magill  took  a  contract  for  grading 
and  tiling  the  roadbed  of  the  Michigan  Cen- 
tral   Railroad    from   Michigan   City   to  Chi- 

o,  m  which  venture  he  wa-  joined  by  his 
-on-.      When   the   work   had   been   succ< 
fully  executed  he  and  hi-  son  William  went 
to  Bloomington,  Illinois,  in  February,  1853, 
and    took   a   contract    for   building   the   Chi- 

■  &  Alton  Railroad  from  Bloomington 
to  Lexington,  under  the  linn  name  of  the 
Emery-Magill  Company,  and  later  they 
built  sixteen  mile-  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  from  Bloomington  to  Hudson. 
The  four  sons  became  partners  in  their  fa- 
ther'- business  and  extended  their  field  of 
operations,  opening  a  large  general  store  in 
Bloomington,  which  wa-  managed  by  Sam- 
uel and  Henry  Magill,  while  William  and 
Robert  assisted  the  father  in  the  execution 
of  the  contrai  t-. 

In  [854  the  family  removed  to  Clinton. 
bringing  with  them  a  stock  of  merchandise 
from  the  Bloomington  -tore.  In  1855  they 
sold  the  Bloomington  -tore  to  Mr.  Emery 
and  bought  out  the  firm  of  I 'hare-  &  Shorer 
at  Clinton.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the 
extensive  business  so  long  successfully  con- 
ducted by  the  Magill  Company,  consisting 
of  the  brothers,  William.  Samuel  and  Hen- 
ry. In  the  same  year  the  firm  of  Magill, 
Denton  &  Company  took  a  contract  to  build 
a  portion  of  the  Dubuque  &  Sioux  City 
Railroad.  In  iN;S  the  firm  of  Mason,  Ma- 
gill, I  teuton  &  Company  built  a  large  part 

the    Minneapolis   &    St.    Paul   Railroad.. 


SAMUEL   MAGILL. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


35 


The  same  year  the  firm  of  Magill  &  Com- 
pany began  business  as  dealers  in  stock,  in 
addition  t"  their  operations  along  mercan 
tile  lines.  Bach  of  the  brothers  had  the 
superintendence  of  a  certain  portion  of  the 
business,  which  he  successfully  managed 
and  thus  added  to  the  general  capital. 
William  and  Robert  had  charge  of  the  pur- 
chase of  st,,ek.  while  Samuel  and  Henry 
were  in  control  of  the  business  in  the  city. 
Every  dollar  which  they  had  and  every  acre 
of  land  which  was  purchased  went  into  a 
common  fund,  and  by  keeping  their  capital 
thus  united  they  were  enabled  to  carry  on 
business  on  a  large  scale  and  with  greater 
prosperity. 

I'Cr  some  time  the  brothers  owned  but 
little  land,  preferring  to  use  their  capital 
in  enterprises  that  would  bring  quicker  re- 
turns, hut  with  their  usual  foresight  they 
saw  that  it  was  only  a  question  of  time  when 
DeWitt  county  farms  would  he  very  valu- 
able. Accordingly  they  bought  new  land 
when  opportunity  offered  and  retaining  pos- 
session of  these  they  saw  some  of  them 
more  than  double  in  value.  They  owned 
several  thousand  acres  of  the  finest  land  in 
the  county,  all  of  which  is  under  a  very 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  improved  with 
all  the  modern  accessories  and  conveniences 
found  upon  a  model  farm.  In  the  year  [870 
Magill  &  Company  graded  the  roadbed,  and 
furnished  and  placed  the  ties  and  irons  for 
the  Gilman,  Clinton  &  SpVingfield  Railroad, 
from  Clinton  to  Gilman.  On  the  death  of 
Robert  Magill,  in  1*74.  his  share  of  the 
property  was  withdrawn  from  the  business 
for  the  use  of  his  widow  and  children,  ami 
the  remaining  brothers  organized  under  the 
name  of  Magill  Brothers.  This  linn  also 
bad  an  equal  interest  in  the  banking  house 
of  John  Warner  &  Company.  Whatever 
they  became  interested   in  became  a   profit- 


able venture.  Although  they  came  to  the 
west  in  very  limited  financial  circumstam 

within  thirty  years  they  were  wealthy  men. 
having  control  of  mammoth  business  inter- 
prises.  The  secrel  of  their  prosperity  is 
short  and  simple.  It  resulted  from  inde- 
fatigable and  honest  effort,  supplemented  by 
almost  unerring  judgment  in  business  tran- 
sactions. They  belonged  to  that  class  of 
representative  American  citizens,  who.  while 
promoting  individual  success,  also  contrib- 
ute in  large  measure  to  the  general  pros- 
perty  and  welfare,  and  Clinton  is  indebted  in 
a  large  measure  to  their  efforts  in  her  be- 
half. They  erected  here  a  line  three-story 
brick  hotel,  yet  known  as  the  Magill  House, 
and  they  gave  generously  to  every  enter- 
prise which  would  benefit  the  city  along 
material,  social,  educational  and  moral  lines. 
Although  they  were  not  members  of  the 
\Uthodist  Episcopal  church  they  were  most 
liberal  contributors  to  the  fund  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  house  .if  worship.  While  dur- 
ing their  entire  residence  in  Clinton,  all  the 
brothers  attended  and  gave  most  liberally 
toward  the  erection  and  support  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  of  which  their  wives 
were  active  members. 

In  April,  [854,  Samuel  Magill  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eleanor  M. 
Seeley,  a  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Betsey 
(Irwin)  Seeley,  of  Franklin  county.  Xew 
York.  During  his  active  business  life  her 
father  followed  farming,  and  after  his  re- 
tirement came  to  Clinton.  While  on  a  visit 
to  our  subject  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five  years.  His  wife  was  eighty-eight  \ears 
of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death,  and  the  re- 
mains of  both  were  interred  in  Woodlawn 
cemetery.  Clinton.  Two  children  were  horn 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Magill,  but  Alfred  11..  who 
was  a  clerk  in  the  Warner  Rank,  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-seven  years,  and  the  daughter 


36 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


died  in  infancy.  After  the  death  of  her 
mother.  Nellie  H.  Magill,  a  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert, came  to  live  with  our  subject,  and  still 
makes  her  heme  with  Mrs.  Magill,  to  whom 
she  has  been  more  than  a  daughter. 

In  1855  Mr.  Magill  boughl  the  Magraw 
property  at  203  West  Main  street,  on  which 
was  a  small  frame  house.  This  he  moved 
away  in  [862  and  erected  in  its  place  the 
large  and  handsome  resilience  which  his 
widow  now  occupies.  For  many  years  he 
was  an  active  member  of  the  blue  lodge, 
chapter,  council  and  commander)  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  served  as  treasurer 
(if  the  lodge  for  some  years.  IK-  was  alder- 
man of  the  city   fur  a  time,  hut   never  cared 

for  political  honors,  though  he  always  .u.ivc 
his  support  t"  all  enterprises  which  he  he 
lieved  calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit. 

When  with  his  brothers  he  began  hnsiness 
in  Clinton,  there  was  not  a  sidewalk  in  the 
place,  but  he  lived  t"  s^e  it  become  a  flour- 
ishing town  and  In  .re  a  very  active  part  111 
its  development,  lie  was  11.4  only  a  man 
nf  marked  hnsiness  ability,  but  was  exceed- 
ingl)  charitable  and  benevolent,  and  his 
pleasant,  genial  manner  made  for  him 
many  friends,  wh.  1  esteemed  him  highly  for 
his  sterling  worth.  II is  death  occurred  mi 
the  1 2th  of  November,  1883.  His  estimable 
wife  still  survives  him.  and  is  loved  and  es 
teemed  by  all  who  know  her. 


D.W'ID  BELL. 


David    Bell,    whose   home   is   on    section 
28,  Creek  township,  is  one  of  the  oldest  and 

best-km  »wn  citizens  1  if  that  1<  icality.  I  le  w  as 
born  on  the  30th  of  November,  1829,  in 
Wayne  county,  <  >hio,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
L.  and  Nancy  Ann  (  McCelvy)  Bell,  both  of 


whom  were  natives  of  Ireland,  where  their 
marriage  was  celebrated.  By  trade  the  fa- 
ther was  a  weaver,  and  he  followed  that 
occupation  until  his  emigration  to  America 
in  [821.  lie  first  located  in  Wayne  county, 
(  >hio,  and  later  removed  to  Ashland  county, 
that  state,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  upon  a  farm,  his  time  and  attention 
being  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  His 
wife  died  in   1865  at  the  age  of  sixt)  one 

years,  while  he  long  survived  her.  passing 
away  in  iSSj,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three 
years  and  si\  months,  the  remains  of  both 
being  interred  at  Haysville,  Ohio.  They 
were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom 
three  died  in  infancy.  The  others  were 
Samuel,   now    deceased;  John,   a   resilient   of 

Ashland  county,  Ohio;  David,  our  subject 
Mary,  wife  of  George  McClure,  of  Hays- 
ville, Ohio;  Joseph,  deceased;  and  Eli,  de- 
ceased, who  was  a  member  of  Compan)  E, 
One  Hundred  ami  Twentieth  Ohio  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  took  part  in  many  en- 
gagements, including  the  battle  of  Gettys 
burg. 

Our  subject  began  his  education  in  the 
county  of  his  nativity,  and  after  the  removal 
of  the  fannlv  to  Ashland  county.  Ohio,  he 
attended  school  there  during  the  winter 
months  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  the  sum- 
mer st-a^,  ,n  being  devoted  to  work  on  the 
hoine  farm.  lie  remained  under  the  pa- 
rental roof  until  twenty-two.  when  his  fa- 
ther purchased  some  timber  land,  which  he 
divided  among  his  two  oldest  boys,  David's 
share  being  eighty  acres,  of  which  only  three 
acres  had  been  cleared,  lie  at  once  turned 
his  attention  to  the  improvement  of  his 
place,  first  felling  the  trees  and  then  breaking 
the  land,  i'esides  this  tract  of  timber  land, 
his  entire  possessions  at  that  time  consisted 
of  a  horse,  bridle  and  saddle. 

After    working    eighteen     months.     Mr. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


37 


Bell  was  married,  June  14.  1853,  to  Miss 
Rebecca  Messer,  who  was  born  in  West- 
moreland county    Pennsylvania,    of    which 

Mate  her  parent-.  William  and  Hannah 
(McQure)  Messer,  were  also  natives,  hut 
the  fanner  was  of  German  and  the  latter  of 
Irish  descent.  In  1833  the  family  removed 
to  Ohio,  Mrs.  Bell  being  at  that  time  only 
two  years  old.  The  journey  was  made  in  a 
wagon  drawn  by  tour  horses.  Mr.  Messer 
located  in  Richland  county.  Ohio,  and  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  timber  land,  which  he 
commenced  to  clear  and  cultivate,  hut  he 
later  sold  that  place  and  bought  another  farm 
in  the  same  county,  though  in  a  different 
township.  Disposing  of  his  property  in 
Ohio,  in  [857,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  adjoining  our  subject  on 
the  east.  To  the  development  and  improve- 
ment of  that  place  he  devoted  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  and  erected  the  tine,  large  resi- 
dence now  occupied  by  its  present  owner. 
Mr.  Bennett.  He  died  in  [892,  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighty-one  years  ami  ten  days, 
and  his  first  wife.  Mr-.  Hell's  mother,  de- 
parted this  life  in  November.  l86r,  at  the 
of  sixty-five,  the  remains  of  both  being 
interred  in  the  Texas  town-hip  cemetery. 
Unto  them  were  horn  two  children,  of  whom 
Mrs.  Bell  is  the  older.  George  enlisted  in 
[862  in  Company  F.  <  me  Hundred  and  Sev- 
enth Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  as  a  private. 
hut  was  later  promoted  to  first  lieutenant. 
He  died  in  a  hospital  during  his  service  and 
was  buried  in  the  soldiers'  cemetery  at 
Knoxville,  Tennessee.  For  his  second  wife 
Mr.  Messer  married  Mr-.  Catherine  I '.rod- 
wick,  by  whom  he  had  one  chili!.  Hannah 
Catherine.  Mrs.  Bell  was  born  February 
11,  [831.  By  her  marriage  to  qur  -ubject 
-he  ha-  become  the  mother  of  the  following 
children,  namely:  1  1  )  William  M..  a  resi- 
dent of  Lane  Station,  married  Laura  Daven- 


port and  they  have  nine  children  :  <  iertrude, 
David  T..  Frederick  M..  Harry  A.,  Anna  J., 
Bessie,  Telia   II..  Glora  and  one  unnamed. 

1  j  1  David  E.,  who  is  now  carrying  on  the 
home  farm,  wedded  Mary  E.  Reed  ami  they 
have  eight  children.  Myrtle  E.,  Matilda  R., 
Franklin  E.,  Mary  F...  Ellis  R.,  David  M. 
and  (  >rlando.  (3)  1  Iannah  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Robert  Seller-,  of  Iowa,  and  they  have  four 
children.  David  1...  Herbert  J..  Ruby  R.  ami 
one  unnamed.  1  4  i  James  \\ '..  a  resident  of 
St.  Louis,  married  Tela  Caddis,  and  they 
have  four  children.  Ilattie  '/...  Eva  I...  Re- 
becca M.  and  Horace  \Y.  (5)  Ilattie  R.  is 
the  wife  of  Richard  A.  Stone,  of  Shelby 
county.  Illinois,  and  they  have  six  children. 
Luther.  Walter.  Diamond  R.,  Minia,  Wayne 
and  I  lattie  I'. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  Mr-.  Bell 
was  George  McQure,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
who  came  to  America  when  sixteen  years 
of  age  and  located  in  Kentucky  during  the 
day-  of  Boone.  His  wife.  Sarah  Finley,  was 
the  daughter  of  a  Scotchman,  who  settled  in 
Pennsylvania  at  an  early  day.  Mr-.  Hell's 
grandmother  <>n  her  father'-  side  was  Re- 
becca Robert-,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  On 
both  -ide-  the  families  were  strict  Christian 
people,  the  Robert-  family  being  of  the 
Quaker  faith.  In  neither  family  was  there 
ever  a  case  of  insanity  or  suicide.  While 
principally  farmer-,  there  were  many  min- 
isters, physicians  and  merchant-  among  the 
male  members  of  it.  The  Finley-  were  Cov- 
enanters and  the  Met  lure-.  Presbyterians. 
The  Messers  were  of  German  origin,  but  the 
grandfather  of  Mr.-.  Bell,  John  Messer,  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  lived  and 
died. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Bell  had 
no  home  to  which  he  could  take  hi-  bride, 
but  rented  a  log  cabin  near  his  farm,  in  which 
they  lived  until  a  small  frame  house  could  be 


33 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


erected.  It  is  still  standing  and  was  his  home 
for  five  years  while  clearing  and  cultivating 
his  farm, during  which  time  he  suffered  many 
hardships  and  privations,  tn  1857,  in  com- 
pany with  his  father-in-  law  he  came  to  I  >c 
Wilt  county,  Illinois,  and  being  well  pleased 
with  the  country  purchased  eight)  acres  of 
wild  prairie  land  on  section  28,  Creek  town- 
ship, "ii  winch  he  raised  a  small  crop  the  first 
year.  In  the  fall  after  harvest,  he  returned 
to  (  )hio,  where  he  had  left  his  w  ife.  w  ho  had 
seen  to  the  planting  and  harvesting  of  a  crop 
<m  their  Ohio  farm.  After  spending  the 
winter  in  that  state,  in  the  spring  of  [858  he 
sold  hi->  propert)  there  and  brought  In-  fam- 
ily to  their  new  home  in  DeWitt  county,  Illi- 
nois. The  first  year  the)  lived  in  a  small 
log  house  which  Mr.  Bell  rented  while  he 
built  upon  his  farm  a  dwelling  sixteen  feet 
square  with  a  pantry  additional.  When  he 
purchased  the  land  there  was  not  a  stiek  oi 
timber  upon  the  place  nor  an  acre  under  cul 
tivation.  Me  set  out  many  trees,  which  IIOW 
throw  a  grateful  shade  about  the  home  and 
add  much  to  the  beauty  of  the  place.  Me 
now  has  a  nice  large  residence,  the  front 
ing  thirty  by  eighteen  feet  in  dimensions  and 
two  stories  in  height,  while  the  rear  is  forty 
b)  sixteen  feet,  including  the  original  struct- 
ure. Mere  he  and  his  wife  are  now  spend- 
ing their  declining  years  in  ease  and  quiet, 
enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  have  a 

nice  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  with  up-to- 
date  improvements. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  Mr.  Bell  has  been  one  of  its  stanch 
supporters,  and  he  has  efficiently  tilled  the 
1  iffices  1  if  n  iad  commissioner.  t>  i\\  nship  tr< 
urer  ami  school  director.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  active  and  faithful  members  oi  the 
United  Brethren  church,  of  which  he  is  now 
a  trustee,  and  he  has  also  served  as  steward. 


class  leader  and  Sunday-school  superintend- 
ent. They  contributed  to  the  erection  of  the 
church  near  their  home.  Center  Chapel 
church,  and  have  aided  in  building  three 
school  houses.  They  stand  high  in  the  com- 
munity where  they  have  so  long  resided,  and 
those  who  know  them  best  are  numbered 
among  their  warmest   friends. 


JACOB  B.  HALDEMAN. 

Moii. .red  and  respected  by  all.  there  was 
no  Hue  in  Clinton  who  pecupied  a  more  en- 
viable position  in  business  and  financial  cir- 
cles than  Jacob  B.  Haldeman,  not  alone  on 
account  of  the  brilliant  success  he  achieved, 
hut  also  1. 11  account  of  the  honorable, 
straightforward  business  policy  he  ever  fol- 
lowed. ■  Me  was  horn  in  Hogestown,  Cum- 
berland county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  Kith 
of  January.  [826,  and  was  a  son  of  Jacob 
S.  and  \1111  1  Brandt)  Haldeman,  who  were 
natives  of  Lancaster  county,  that  state. 
After  residing  in  Cumberland  county  for 
many  years,  the  parents  came  to  Illinois  in 
[856,  and  spent  their  last  days  in  I'.cnicnt. 
Piatt  county.  The  father  was  a  miller  by 
occupation  and  came  west  for  the  purpose 
of  following  that  vocation.  <  >n  his  arrival 
here  he  was  not  pleased  with  the  country, 
hut  our  subject  urged  him  to  remain,  being 
convinced  that  central  Illinois  would  one 
day  become  the  garden  sp, >t  of  the  world. 
Mis  children  were  Jacob,  l.ucetta.  William, 
Fannie  and  1  h  trace. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Jacob  I'.. 
Haldeman  was  reared  and  educated,  and 
with  his  father  he  learned  the  milling  busi- 
ness. On  first  coming  to  Illinois,  in  [850, 
he  followed  his  chosen  occupation  in  Spring- 
field   for    a    short   time,    and    in    Winchester 


JACOB   B.    HALDEMAN. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


4i 


for  about  two  years.     He  then  came  to  Clin- 
ton, where,  in  company  with  S.  R.  Powell, 
he  erected  a  mill  near  where  the  depot  is 
now  located,  but  after  conducting  the  same 
for  about   two  years   Mr.    Powell   sold  liis 
interest   to  T.   C    Berger,  who  was  subse- 
quently    succeeded     by     William     Haynie. 
Under  the  firm  name  of  Haldeman  &  Hay- 
nie they   carried   on   business     for    sixteen 
years,  or  until    [874,  when   Mr.   Haldeman 
purchased  his  partner's  interest,  and  his  son 
Charles    was   connected    with    him    for    two 
years.     From  1876  until   [883  he  was  alone 
in  business,  and  then  sold  out  to  his  former 
partner,   William   Haynie,  spending  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  ease  and  quiet.     On 
Starting  out  in  life  for  himself  he  received 
from  his    father  a  trunk,  which  lie  always 
kept,   and   seventy-five    dollars     in     money. 
Although  his  capital  was  small  he  was  en- 
ergetic,  enterprising   and    progressive,    and 
possessed  the  firm  determination  to  succeed. 
In   business   affairs    he    steadily     prospered 
through   his   own   well-directed   efforts,   and 
became  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  Clin- 
ton.     His  accumulation  he  invested   in   real 
estate,  which  became  very  valuable  as  time 
passed,  and  he  became  the  owner  of  twelve 
hundred  acres  of  tine   farming  land   in    De- 
Witt    and    ether   counties.       After     retiring 
from    the   milling   business,   he   devoted    his 
attention   t"  looking  after  his    farming   and 
landed  interests.     In  the  heart  of  Clinton  he 
owned  a  beautiful  residence,  surrounded  by 
spacious  grounds,  which   was   formerly  the 
Gideon   home.     About    1870  he  erected   a 

handsome  house  in  the  center  of  the 
grounds,  facing  both  East  Main  and  East 
Washington  streets,  and  the  garden  he  con- 
verted  into  an  elegant  lawn. 

In    [854    Mr.    Haldeman    was    united    in 
marriage   with    Miss   Catherine   Onstott,   of 


Waynesville,  this  county,  who  died  in   [870. 
Of    the    three    children    horn    of    this    union 
both      Harry     and     Mary     died    in    infancy. 
Charles,    the   eldest,    is   now    extensively   en- 
gaged in  the  st,,ck  business  in  Colony,  Kan- 
sas.     For   his    second    wife    Mr.    Haldeman 
married  Miss  Mara  Shurtleff,  a  daughter  of 
Rex.    \sa  Shurtleff,  a   Methodist    Episcopal 
minister  of  Troy,  Xew  York.     No  children 
were   born    of    this   marriage,   hut    they   had 
an  adopted  daughter.  Mrs.  Gertrude  Kelsey. 
\ficr  a   long,   busy   and   useful    life   Mr. 
Haldeman  passed  away  March  3,   [901.    'Hie 
Republican    party    always    found    in    him    a 
stanch    supporter    of    its    principles,    hut    he 
never    took   a    very    active   part    in    political 
affairs.      ],,    [885   he  was  elected  alderman, 
and    was    twice    re-elected     to     that     office, 
though  he  cared  nothing   for  political  hon- 
ors, preferring  n>  give  his  undivided  atten- 
tion   to   his    business    interests.      He    was    a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in 
early    life    was    connected    with     the     Inde- 
pendent  Order  of  Odd   Fellows.      It  is  hut 
just  and  merited  praise  to  say  of  Mr.  Halde- 
man.   that   as   a    business     man     he     ranked 
among  the  ablest;  as  a  citizen  he  was  hon- 
orable,  prompt   and    true   to  every   engage- 
ment: as  a  man  he  held  the  honor  and  es- 
teem of  all  classes  of  people,  of  all  creeds 
and  political  proclivities;  and  as  a  husband 
and  father  he  was  a  model  worthy  of  imita- 
tion:    unassuming     in     manner,     sincere     in 
friendship  ami  steadfast  and  unswerving  in 
his  loyalty  to  the  right.     His  wife,  who  still 
survives    him.    is    an    earnest    a|nd    faithful 
member  of  the    Presbyterian    Church,  and 
gives  liberally  of  her  time  and  means  t, ,  its 
support.      She   is   (me   of   those   aristocratic. 
dignified  ladies  who  are  highly  esteemed  by 
all    who   know    them   and   have  main    warm 
friends. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


HENRY  BELL,  Deceased. 


Among  the  men  whose  lives  have  lefl  an 
impress  upon  the  present  civilization  and 
upon  the  development  of  the  great  Mate  of 
Illinois.  Henry  Bell,  of  Clinton,  Illinois,  now 
deceased,  stands  prominent  in  the  memory  oi 
his  grateful  fellow  townsmen.  He  was  born 
in  Pickawa)  county,  Ohio,  on  August  -"5. 
[8l2,  and  a  son  of  John  and  Sarah  1  Will- 
iams)   Bell. 

Lawrence  Bell,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  he 
was  Imrn  in  1743.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  and  the  traditional 
familv  history  says  that  during  the  progress 
of  the  war  he  went  home  on  a  furlough  anil 
being  unable  to  return,  his  son  James  went 
back  and  served  in  his  place  until  the  el.  ise  i  if 

the  war.  I  le  was  selected  by  <  ieneral  Wash- 
ington as  an  aide  and  was  present  when 
»     1  nwallis  surrendered. 

John  Bell,  the  lather  of  Henry,  was  also 
a  native  of  Virginia,  and  he  served  as  a  pri- 
vate  in  the  war  of  I  S  1  _• .  The  latter  pari  of 
his  life  wes  spent  in  Clinton,  Illinois,  where 
he  died  in  1861,  aged  about  seventy-seven 
years.  1 1 i-  wife  survived  him  until  1869, 
when  she  passed  away,  aged  about  eighty 
years.  All  of  their  ten  children  are  now 
ceased  and  of  diem  Henry  was  die  third  in 
order  of  birth.  The  remains  of  both  these 
aged  people  are  interred  in  the  cemetery 
south  of  Clinton. 

Henry  Bell  was  educated  in  Ohio,  and 
became  a  farmer,  lie  purchased  a  farm  in 
Hancock  county,  that  state,  hut  latter  re- 
moved to  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  in  1853, 
and  settled  in  Clinton.  Here  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  Henry  Taylor,  under  the 
linn  name  of  Tax  lor  &  Bell,  dealers  in  dry 
goods,  groceries,  etc.  This  linn  continued 
until    February.    1S5K.    when    the    store   and 


contents  were  destroyed  by  fire.  During 
this  time  -Mr.  Bell  had  purchased  land  in 
Wilson  township,  where  he  moved  in  the 
early  sixties.  He  continued  to  reside  there 
until  [892,  when  he  removed  to  Clinton,  and 
here  he  passed  away  in  April.   [893. 

In  1859  he  invented  a  new  and  improved 
Seeding  machine,  the  patent  papers  of  which 
are  to-daj  in  the  possession  of  the  family. 
Mr.  Bell  was  no  exception  to  the  an- 
cestors of  his  family  for  when  the  Civil  war 
broke  out  lie  did  all  he  could  to  induce  them 
to  let  him  enlist,  hut  at  that  time  he  was  in 
poor  health,  and  he  had  to  remain  at  home. 
hut  he  showed  his  love  for  his  mother  coun 
try  h\  doing  all  that  was  possible  to  assist  in 
raising  troops  and  caring  for  the  ones  that 
had  to  he  lefl  at  home  unprovided  for. 

\t  his  death  he  left  one  hundred  and 
•sixty  acres  of  tine  land  in  section  32,  Wilson 
township,  which  is  now  owned  by  his  chil- 
dren, and  the)  rent  it.  In  Wilson  township 
there  was  formerly  a  small  school  house 
which  was  called  after  Mr.  Hell,  and  in  it  1 
vices  were  held  by  the  .Methodist  denomina- 
tion, of  which  Mr.  I '.ell  was  an  earnest  mem- 
ber. From  the  first  he  took  a  very  active 
part  in  religious  work  and  exerted  himself  to 
have  a  church  erected.  His  labors  wen  -m- 
-ful  and  to-day  upon  the  site  of  the  primi- 
tive building  stands  a  beautiful  church,  ap- 
propriately named.  Bell  Chapel. 

In  1834  Mr.  Bell  was  united  in  man  ii 
with  Miss  Rebecca  Ewing,  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, ami  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
Ewing.  William  Ewing  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  his  wife  was  born  in  Maryland 
where  they  were  married.  They  had  ten 
children  and  of  them  Mrs.  Hell  was  the 
eighth  in  order  of  birth.  To  Mr.  and  Mis. 
Bell  were  horn  four  girls:  Mary  A. 
married  Phillip  Wolf,  and  they  live  in  Clin- 
ton.   Sarah  C.  married  Thomas  Dickey,  who 


I  111-:   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


43 


died  in  1SS0.  ami  lies  buried  at  Farmer  City. 
She  resides  in  Clinton.  Martha  J.  lives 
with  Mrs.  Dickey  in  Clinton.  Alma  E.  mar- 
ried George  Geer.  and  they  also  reside 
in  Glint"  in.  Mrs.  Bell  died  in  [891,  at  the 
age  "i*  eighty  years  and  lies  in  Wbodlawn 
cemetery  by  the  side  of  her  husband. 

In  politics  Mr.  Bell  was  a  strong  sup 
porter  of  the  Republican  parly  and  in  [856 
was  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  trustees 
of  the  city  of  Clinton,  lie  also  served  as 
collector  in  his  township  and  always  took  an 
active  and  prominent  part  in  public  affairs, 
and  he  discharged  his  duties  in  such  positions 
with  sterling  uprightness  of  purpose,  win- 
ning for  himself  many  steadfast  friends  who 
still  mourn  his  loss.  He  was  made  a  Mason 
in  Findlay,  <  )hio,  in  1S5 1 . 


ROBERT   MAGILL. 


Holding  a  prominent  place  among  the 
successful  business  men  of  Clinton  in  early 
days  was  Robert  Magill.  a  member  of  the 
well-known  firm  of  Magill  Brothers,  whose 
name  i-  inseparably  connected  with  the  de- 
velopment and  prosperity  of  the  city.  He 
was  born  in  Middlebury.  Vermont,  in  lS,^.^. 
and  was  a  son  of  Hugh  ami  Eliza  Magill, 
who  were  natives  of  Ireland  and  came  to  the 
United  State-  about  1  Sid.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  children,  namely:  William; 
Samuel;  Rebecca  H..  wife  of  ( '.  II.  Car- 
penter; Henry;  Mary  Ann.  wife  of  Nixon 
Denton:  and  Robert,  all  of  whom  were  born 
in  Vermont.  On  leaving  that  state,  in  1841, 
the  family  removed  to  Malone,  New  York, 
where  the  father  owned  and  operated  a  large 
woolen  mill,  and  also  conducted  a  general 
Store,  but  his  property  was  afterward  burned 
and  he  lost  almost  everything.     His  s,  ,ns  had 


been  connected  with  the  establishment.  In 
the  hope  of  retrieving  his  fortune.  Hugh  Ma- 
gill came  west  in  1S51.  and  was  soon  after- 
ward joined  by  his  family.  Locating  in 
Michigan  City.  Indiana,  he  took  a  contract 
for    grading   the    roadbed    of    the    Michigan 

1  aural  Railn 'ail  fr< mi  that  place  to  <  Ihicagi ■. 

and  in  that  undertaking  was  joined  by  his. 
s.  nis.  For  a  number  of  years  they  were  en- 
gaged in  railroad  contracting,  and  after  the 
removal  of  the  family  to  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois, in  1853,  they  opened  a  large  general 
store  at  that  place,  which  was  carried  on  by 
Samuel  and  Henry,  while  William  and  Rob- 
ert assisted  the  father  in  the  execution  of  the 
contracts. 

The  family  came  to  Clinton  in  [854  and 
opened  a  store  at  this  place,  which  they  sold 
the  following  year  and  then  bought  out  the 
firm  of  Phares  &  Shorer.  The)  also  began 
dealing  in  stock,  to  which  branch  of  their 
business  Robert  Magill  gave  his  personal  at- 
tention throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Thep  shipped  stock  quite  extensively  under 
the  firm  name  of  Magill  Brothers,  and  con- 
ducted all  business  in  partnership,  their  re- 
lations being  most  harmonious  and  pleasant, 
as  well  as  profitable.  Believing  that  De- 
Witt  county  farms  would  become  very  valu- 
able, they  invested  extensively  in  land,  until 
they  owned  several  thousand  acres  of  the 
finest  land  in  the  county.  On  the  death  ^i 
Robert  his  share  of  the  property  was  with- 
drawn from  the  business  for  the  use  of  his 
w  idow   and  children. 

Mr.  Magill  was  fust  married  to  Miss 
tiara  Seelev,  a  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Bet- 
sey 1  Irwin  1  Seelev.  She  died,  leaving  one 
child.  Nellie  Eliza,  a  most  accomplished 
young  lady,  who  resides  with  her  aunt  Mrs. 
Samuel    Magill,    in   Clinton,   ami    is   a    great 

favorite  in  society.     She  has  considerable 

property  in  her  own  right,  and  is  one  of  the 


44 


Till-:   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECOkh. 


o  >  workers  in  the  Clinton  library.  For  his 
second  wife  Mr.  Magill  married  Miss  Emma 
Lou  I  VI. and.  a  native  of  (  >hio  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Emil)  (Abbott)  DeLand, 
who  were  both  born  in  Rutland,  Vermont, 
and  from  there  removed  to  tin-  Buckeye  state. 
In  early  life  the  father  was  engaged  in  school 
teaching  in  Ohio,  Iowa  and  Missouri,  but 
after  coming  to  Clinton,  Illinois,  in  [860, 
turned  his  attention  to  stock  dealing.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  engaged  in  the  grocer) 
business  and  still  later  in  the  drj  goods  and 
hardware  business,  becoming  one  ol  Clin- 
ton's leading  merchants,  lie  was  also  in- 
terested in  railroad  contracting,  and  assisted 
in  organizing  the  National  Bank  of  Clinton, 
of  which  he  was  a  stockholder  and  \ 
president.  As  a  Republican  he  took  quite 
a  prominent  part  in  political  affairs,  and  held 
the  offices  of  supervisor,  circuit  clerk  and 
mayor.  He  died  in  [896,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty five  years,  and  his  wife  in  [872,  at  the 
age  of  fort)  seven.  Unto  them  were  born 
five  children:  a  son  who  died  in  infancy; 
Emma  Lou,  now  Mrs.  Magill;  Mrs.  John 
Day:  \da  M..  w  ife  .  if  VV.  H.  Wheeler ;  John 
I'.,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume; and  Lillie,  deceased.  Mrs.  Magill  was 
ten  years  of  age  when  she  eame  with  her 
parents  to  Clinton,  and  was  principally 
reared  and  educated  in  this  city.  She  was 
married  to  our  subject  in  [866  and  has  one 
son,  Fred  II..  who  was  born  February  23, 
[868,  and  is  a  popular  member  of  society  in 
Clinton.  He  married  Miss  Pel  Gandy,  and 
to  them  were  hern  two  children:  Mar- 
guerite, win  1  is  living :  and  Fred  K..  who  died 
in  infancy. 

Mr.  Magill  died  on  the  15th  of  January, 
1873,  leaving  a  large  estate,  sufficient  to 
secure  his  son  a  place  among  the  capitalists 
of  Clinton,  and  give  his  widow  a  handsome 
income.     She  lias  sold  their  large  residence 


and  farm  near  Clinton,  and  has  purchased 
a  handsome  cottage  on  West  Main  street, 
where  she  now  makes  her  home,  her  time  be- 
ing 1  iCCUpied  in  1'  'i  iking  after  her  pn  iperty  in- 
terests and  social  duties,  fur  which  her  in- 
telligence and  culture  qualify  her.  and  those 
intellectual  enjoyments  to  which  her  Caste 
leads.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  Mr.  Magill  was  liberal  in  re- 
ligious belief,  and  was  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party.  Courteous,  genial, 
well  informed,  alert  and  enterprising,  he  was 
one  of  the  representative  men  of  the  county 
— a  man  who  would  have  been  a  power  in 
any  community. 


WILLIAM  T.  TURNER. 
One  oi   the  prosperous  and    highl)     re 

spec  ted  citizens  of  Wilson  township,  I  >c\\  lit 
county,  Illinois,  is  William  T.  Turner,  of 
section  30,  and  he  was  born  on  December 
28,  1841,  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  near  At- 
lanta,    lie  was  a  s, ,n  of  Spencer  and  Nancy 

1  Eioblil  I    Turner,  and  Spencer  was  a  native 

of  (  ihio,  as  was  also  his  wife.  Spencer  came 

to  Illinois  and  settled  with  his  father  Allen  on 
Salt  creek,  where  he  remained  until  his  mar- 
riage, when  he  moved  to  (,  id  there 
he  worked  as  a  miner  for  a  few  years.  Later 
he  moved  to  DeWitt  county  and  rented  land 
until  [858,  when  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  Walter  Karr  in  Wilson  township,  on  sec- 
tion it;,  of  which  a  small  portion  had  already 
been  improved.  On  the  land  a  small  cabin 
had  been  erected.  Taking  this  land  in 
charge  Spencer  'Turner  improved  the  land, 
erected  a  substantial  house,  and  later  in  life 
purchased  three  lots  and  houses  in  W'apella. 
where  he  resided  for  a  few  years  before  his 
death,   living  retired   from  active   business. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


45 


III-  death  occurred  in  April.  [896,  when  he 
was  eighty-one  year-  of  age,  and  his  wife 
died  in  mno.  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine, 
and  both  arc  buried  in  Sugar  Grove  cem- 
etery. 

Thirteen  children  were  born  to  Spencer 
Turner  and  wife,  of  whom  the  following 
named  grew  to  maturity:  Margaret  J., 
who  married  A.  II.  Murphy  and  they  live 
in  Kansas;  Melicent,  who  married  F.  M. 
Willis,  and  resides  in  Wapella;  William  T.. 
our  subject;  .Mary  C,  who  married  Thomas 
Livingston,  and  lives  in  Gibson  City,  Illi- 
nois; Nancy  A.,  who  married  Avery  Bay- 
ment.  and  lives  in  Champaign  county,  llli- 
nois;  Eveline,  who  married  James  McCan- 
non,  and  lives  in  Wilson  township;  C.  1).. 
who  resides  in  Iowa:  Edgar  1-'..  who  resides 
in  Logan  county.  Illinois:  Ella  M.,  who  mar- 
ried H.  T.  Jones  and  resides  in  Indianapolis, 
Indiana. 

Spencer  Turner  was  a  Democrat  in  Poli- 
tics, and  he  and  his  good  wife  were  active 
members  of  the  Christian  church.  During 
his  long  and  Useful  life  he  made  many 
friends,  and  his  good   deeds  live  after  him. 

Always  a  g 1  citizen,  an  honorable  man.  a 

kind  father  anil  loving-  husband,  he  will  long 
he  remembered  and  his  name  honored  as  a 
thoroughly  representative  pioneer  of  this 
great  o  iiram  tnwealth. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  a  log  sub- 
scription school,  which  he  attended  until  he 
was  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  during  the 
winter  months,  and  working  upon  the  farm 

in  the  summer.      After  finishing  his   scl I 

life  he  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  farm 
life  until  March  3,  [863,  when  he  married 
Miss  Mercy  A.  Bolin,  a  native  of  this  coun- 
ty, and  she  is  a  daughter  of  Myers  F.  and 
Rebecca  Ann  (Karr)  Bolin.  Myers  Bolin 
was  a  native  of  Delaware  and  his  wife  of 
Ohio  and  they  settled  in  Wapella  in  [832  and 


were  large  land  owners.  The  father  died 
in  [875  at  the  age  of  fifty-four,  hut  his  wife 
survived  him  some  years,  dying  at  the 
of  eighty-three.  They  were  buried  at  1  ley- 
worth.  Illinois.  The)  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living, 
namely:  William  II..  who  resides  m  Harp 
township;  1  harles.  who  resides  in  Pike  coun- 
ty, Illinois:  Mrs.  Turner:  Isaac,  who  res- 
in Decatur.   Illiu 

When  our  subject  settled  upon  his  pres- 
ent farm  there  were  no  improvements,  ex- 
cept that  a  little  of  the  land  had  been  broken, 
hut  since  he  took  possession  of  it  he  has 
placed  all  of  it  under  cultivation  and  owns 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  section  30, 
Wilson  township.  Upon  this  tine  farming 
property  he  has  erected  good  outbuildings, 
a  substantial  barn  and  one  of  the  most  com- 
fortable farm  houses  in  the  county.  The 
fences  are  well  kept  up  and  the  orchard  and 
shade  trees  in  excellent  condition.  The  en- 
tire place  bespeaks  the  good  management  of 
the  proprietor,  while  the  good  housekeeping 
and  toothsome  table  demonstrate  that  in  her 
departments  Mrs.  Turner  is  equally  profi- 
cient. 

A  family  of  nine  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner,  namely:  Edgar, 
now  deceased,  who  married  and  had  two 
children.  Nbla  and  l.elia:  Fisher  1)..  now 
deceased,  who  married  ami  had  two  children. 
June  V.  and  Oliver  R. ;  Charles  (  )..  who 
married  and  resides  in  Wayne  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  has  four  children.  Charles.  Myrtle. 
I\a  and  Letie:  John  1'...  who  married  and 
resides  in  Wilson  township,  and  they  have 
four  children.  Esther  E.,  George  William, 
Floyd  and  Artie  Ik:  William  T..  who  resides 
in  Wilson  township,  ami  they  have  one 
child,  Byile;  Mercer  F...  who  is  at  home: 
three  children  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.   Turner   is  a    Democrat   and   is  now 


46 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


serving  the  township  as  road  commissioner 
and  for  nine  years  has  been  justice  of  the 
peace.     Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 

of  the  Christian  church  at  Long  Point,  in 
which  lie  is  an  elder.  I  le  is  alsi  i  a  direct  >r  i  if 
the  Farmer's  Grain,  Coal  &  Lumber  Co.,  of 
Wapella.  Mr.  Turner  is  a  man  of  good  ex- 
ecutive ability  and  early  learned  the  lessons 
of  industry  and  thrift.  Ills  propertj  has 
been  accumulated  by  legitimate  husiucss 
methods,  and  he  is  justly  proud  of  his  suc- 
cess. 

•  ■ » 

J.  E.  BELL. 

J.  E.  Bell,  a  well-known  lumber  dealer 
of  Waynesville,  is  a  native  of  [llinois,  hem 
in  Logan  county,  on  the  17th  of  September, 
[859,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Bell,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Virginia,  in  [807.  I  lis 
paternal  grandfather,  John  Bell,  was  also  a 
native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  at  an  earl) 
day  removed  from  that  state  to  Kentucky. 
where  he  Opened  up  a  farm  and  reared  his 
family.  On  reaching  manhood,  Joseph  Bell 
was  married  in  Ohio  1"  Miss  Maria  Mi 
aels,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  hut  spent 
her  girlhood  in  Ohio,  and  they  spent  their 
early  married  life  in  the  Buckeye  state.  In 
1847  Mr.  Bell  came  t"  Illinois  and  made  a 
permanent  location  in  Logan  county.  He 
had  charge  of  the  Clark  ranch  for  eight  years, 
and  then  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  on  -ccti<  <n  1.  Oran  township, 
which  he  converted  into  a  good  farm.  Ik- 
entered  and  bought  other  tracts  from  time  to 
time  until  he  had  nearly  three  thousand  a 
of  land,  and  was  successfully  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock-raising.  As  a 
drover  he  was  first  interested  in  the  stock 
business  before  the  railroads  were  built 
through  this  section  of  the  state,  and  later 


bought  and  shipped  stock  quite  extensively. 

He  was  well  known  in  this  locality,  and  was 
held  in  high  regard  by  his  associates  and 
friends.  He  died  in  1SS7.  when  over  eighty 
years  of  age.  I  lis  wife  still  survives  him 
and  resides  with  her  son  in  Waynesville. 
Unto  them  were  horn  four  children,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  J.  E.  is 
the  youngest. 

Our  subject  spent  his  early  life  upon  the 
home  farm,  and   was  educated  in  the  public 

schools  of  Logan  county.  <)n  starting  out 
in  life  for  himself  he  began  operating  eighty 
acres  of  the  old  homestead.  Ten  years  later 
he  bought  fort)  acres  of  the  place,  and  after 
his  father's  death  purchased  the  remaining 
forty  acres,  anil  continued  to  follow  farming 
there  until  the  fall  of  [890,  when  he  removed 
to  Midland  City,  DeWitl  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  buying  grain  two  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  returned  to  the  farm,  hut 
was  again  engaged  in  the  grain  husmess  at 
Tabor  for  two  years,  while  the  two  succeed- 
ing seas,  .us  w  ere  dt\  1  'ted  1. 1  the  1  iperati<  m  i  >t 
Ins  farm.  On  the  1  st  of  July.  [895,  Mr. 
Bell    bought    a    half    interest    in    the    lumber 

mess  at  Waynesville,  which  he  now  car- 
ries on  and  subsequentl)  became  sole  owner, 
lie  purchased  the  other  yard  at  Waynesville 
and  consolidated  the  two.  I  le  carries  a  large 
and  complete  stock  of  lumber  ami  builder's 
hardware,  ami  has  built  up  a  good  trade, 
which  is  constantly  increasing. 

Mr.  Bell  was  married  in  Logan  county. 
October  13.  t88o,  to  Miss  Ella  Warrick, 
who  was  horn  and  reared  in  that  county,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Charles  Warrick,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Waynesville.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren living,  namely:  Charles  H.,  Edna  M. 
and  Marie.  Mr.  Bell  is  jusl  completing  a 
nice  modern  residence,  which  is  one  ot  the 
best  in  Waynesville.  He  and  his  wife  were 
reared    in   the    Methodist    Episcopal    church 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    KF.CORD. 


47 


anil  still  adhere  to  that  faith.  Socially  he  is 
a  member  of  Waynesville  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  1-".. 
in  which  he  is  now  serving  as  vice-grand, 
and  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Rebekah  Lodj 
has  rilled  all  its  chairs  and  is  past  grand. 
Politically  Mr.  Bell  has  affiliated  with  the 
Democracy  since  he  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Grover  Cleveland  in  1884,  and  while 
a  resident  of  Logan  county  he  served  one 
term  as  but  has  never  been  an  aspir- 

ant for  office.  He  is  a  straightforward  and 
conscientious  business  man  and  well  merits 
the  respect  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow 
citizens.  He  possesses  excellent  business 
and  executive  ability,  and  his  sound  judg- 
ment, unflagging  enterprise  and  capable  man- 
agement have  brought  to  him  sucess 


RICHARD  R.  BURTON. 

Among  the  old  and  honored  citizens 
DeW'itt  county  there  is  none  more  deserving 

of  mention  in  this  volume  than  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  He 
first  located  in  this  county  in  183O.  and  here 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  has  since  been 
passed,  his  present  home  being  on  section  17. 
Wapella  township.  He  was  born  in  Logan 
county.  Ohio.  January  27.  [827,  and  is  a  son 
of  Thomas  Burton,  who  went  to  that  state 
when  a  young  man  and  there  married  Mi" 
Catherine  Copes,  who  was  of  German  par- 
entage. The  father  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  [812,  and  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Logan  county.  Ohio,  for  some  years 
seven  of  his  children  being  born  there.  In 
1836  he  came  west  by  team  and  settled  in 
Wapella  township,  DeW'itt  township  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  where  he  resided  four  years.  He 
then  purchased  a  farm  in  Livingston  county, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dy- 


ing there  about  1 S 5 5 .  After  his  death  his 
wife  returned  to  DeWitt  county  to  make  her 
home  with  her  children,  and  died  here  in 
1865.  In  the  family  were  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  but  only  our  subject  and  his 
sister.  Mr-.  Sarah  Jones,  of  Hickory  county, 
Missouri,  are  now  living. 

Richard  R.  Burton  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth  in  this  family,  and  was  a  lad 
of  nine  years  on  the  removal  of  the  parents 
to  this  state.  At  that  time  deer  and  other 
wild  game  was  found  in  abundance,  and  dur- 
ing his  boyhocd  and  youth  he  killed  many 
deer,  wild  turkeys  and  prairie  chickens,  as 
well  as  a  large  number  of  rattlesnakes.  He 
also  broke  many  acres  of  virgin  soil,  his  time 
being  principally  devoted  to  that  pursuit  for 
fourteen  seasons.  He  purchased  the  home 
farm  in  Livingston  county  and  engaged  in 
its  operation  until  his  father's  death.  In 
1852  he  went  to  California  with  ox  teams, 
being  six  months  upon  the  road,  and  spent 
one  year  in  mining,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  t< "  >k  passage  on  a  vessel,  and  by  way  of 
the  Panama  route  went  to  New  York,  whence 
he  returned  home,  arriving  there  in  April, 

1853- 

In  1855  we  again  find  Mr.  Burton  in  De- 
W'itt county.  He  purchased  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  on  section  17,  Wapella  town- 
ship, where  he  m  iw  resides,  ah  >ut  f<  »rty  a. 
of  which  had  been  broken  and  a  little  log 
house  erected  thereon,  and  to  the  further  im- 
manent and  cultivation  of  this  place  he 
has    since   devoted   his    energ  He    has 

erected   a   g 1    set    of    farm   buildings,   has 

planted  an  orchard,  and  has  added  to  his 
property  until  he  now  has  a  valuable  farm  of 
two  hundred  acres. 

In  McLean  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Burton 
was  married.  January  27 ■.  1855.  to  Miss  Sa- 
mantha  Adkinson,  a  native  of  Clarke  county, 
Ohio.   Her  father,  John  Adkinson,  was  born 


48 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  reared  in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  Ohio 
married  Elizabeth  Critz,  who  was  oi  Ger- 
man birth.  He  died  in  the  Buckeye  state, 
and  in  1836,  his  widow  and  children  came  to 
DeWitt county,  Illinois.  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bur- 
ton have  three  children :  (1)  Sylvester,  who 
now  operates  the  home  farm,  married  Aman- 
da Nichols,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Carl,  Jackson  and  Floyd.  (2)  Emma  is 
wife  of  John  Cunningham,  of  California, 
and  the}  also  have  three  chilldren,  Otis, 
Floyd  and  Clare.  (3)  Robert,  who  is  also 
living  on  the  home  farm,  married  Jennie 
Wykles  and  has  one  son,  William. 

Mr.  Burton  was  reared  a  Whig,  and 
since  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
part)  lias  been  one  of  its  stanch  supporters, 
but  has  never  cared  for  office.  In  early  life 
he  had  no  educational  advantages,  and  is 
purel)  a  self-made  man.  his  success  being 
due  entirel)  t"  In-  own  industry,  persever- 
ance and  good  business  ability,  lie  is  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  know  him.  and 
is  familiarly  known  as  Dick  by  his  many 
friends  throughout  the  county.  His  esti- 
mable wife  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church.  They  have  w  itnessed  almi  st  the  en- 
tire development  of  this  county  and  are  de- 
serving of  prominent  mentii >n  among  its  p 
neers. 


JUDGE  GE<  >RGE  K.  INGHAM 

The  history  of  Judge  Ingham  is  one  de- 
serving of  a  prominent  place  in  the  annals 
of  DeWitt  comity,  where  the  greater  part  of 

his  life  has  been  passed.  The  qualities  of 
tin-  capable  lawyer,  Strong  in  argument  and 
reliable  in  council,  are  his.  and  his  life 
record  reflects  credit  and  honor  upon  the 
county  which  has  honored  him  by  calling 
him    to    important   judicial    service. 


A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  July  [9, 
[852,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Ingham.  The 
ancestrj  of  the  family  may  be  traced  back- 
to  Jonathan  Ingham  whose  parents  crossed 
the  Atlantic  from  Wales  and  established 
their  home  in  the  new  world.  Their  son  Jon- 
athan was  a  fuller  by  trade,  following  'hat 
pursuit  in  order  to  provide  for  the  wants  of 
himself  and  family.  In  religious  faith  he 
was  connected  with  the  societj  of  Quakers 
or  Friends,  Me  reared  several  sons  who  be- 
came prominent  in  their  respective  voca- 
tions. <hie  of  tlu1  number,  Samuel  I).  Ing- 
ham, was  a  member  of  congress  and  also 
served  in  the  cabinet  of  Andrew  Jackson  as 
secretarj  of  the  treasury.  Jonathan  became 
a  merchant  and  farmer;  I  le/ekiah  was  a 
paper  manufacturer;  Isaiah  engaged  in 
farming  and  also  conducted  a  tannery.  H< 
was  born  in  Bucks  county.  Pennsylvania, 
near  \ew  Hope,  on  the  15th  of  May.  1  J^v. 
and  about  [8l0  removed  to  Uoss  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  married  Susan  Durst,  who 
was  born  near  Charleston,  West  Virginia, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Polly  Durst,  who 
removed  to  Ohio  about  t8i2.  They  had 
but  one  child,  Samuel  Ingham,  the  father  of 
the  Judge.  Vfter  the  mother's  death  the 
father  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Elizabeth  Thatcher,  and  they 
had  three  children. — John  ('.,  Mary  and 
Elizabeth.  Isaiah  Ingham  was  a  prominent 
Mas.  .11  and  held  a  number  of  offices  of  pub- 
lic honor  and  trust  discharging  his  duties 
with  unquestioned  fidelity.  lie  was  dis- 
owned be  the  Society  of  Friends  because 
he  joined  tin-  army  at  the  general  call  for 
troops  needed  on  account  of  the  French 
and  Indian  troubles  in  northern  Ohio. 

Mr.  Samuel  Ingham,  the  father  of  the 
Judge,  was  born  in  Ross  county,  <  Ihio,  in 
[816  and  was  reared  amid  the  wild  scenes 
of  the   frontier.       On    the    28th  of   March, 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


5« 


]S43.  lie  married  Miss  Nancy  C.  King,  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (  Nolan) 

King.  The  young  couple  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  a  farm  and  for  four  years 
the  Doctor  continued  its  cultivation.  In 
the  meantime  he  devoted  his  leisure  hours 
to  the  study  of  medicine  and  then  entered 
the  Physio-Medical  College,  of  Cincinnati. 
where  lie  was  graduated.  He  located  for 
tne  practice  of  medicine  in  Andersonville, 
Ross  county.  Ohio,  where  lie  remained  for 
eight  years,  and  in  [858,  he  removed  to 
Waynesville.  Illinois.  Retiring  from  prac- 
tice he  devoted  his  attention  to  the  milling 
business  for  six  years,  on  the  expiration  of 
which  period  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Har- 
nett township,  DeW'itt  county,  comprising 
one  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  Upon  this 
he  made  many  improvements,  placing  the 
land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
Later  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Macon  county  and  was  actively  as- 
sociated with  agricultural  pursuits  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1895.  when  lie  was 
seventy-eight  years  of  age.  His  wife  passed 
away  in  189 1,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children :  Alva  C,  a  resident  of  Warrens- 
burg,  Illinois ;  Susie,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years;  Dora  B.,  the  wife  of  L.  K. 
Cunningham,  who  lives  on  the  old  family 
homestead:  and  George  K. 

Judge  Ingham  was  only  six  years  of  age 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Illinois. 
and  was  therefore  practically  reared  in  De- 
W'itt county.  After  completing  his  prelim- 
inary education  in  the  public  schools  here 
he  matriculated  in  the  Michigan  State  Uni- 
versity at  Ann  Arbor  and  was  graduated  in 
the  law  department  with  thf  class  of  1875. 
Returning  to  DeW'itt  county  he  began  prac- 
tice in  Kennev,  and  after  three  years  re- 
moved to  Clinton,  where  he  became  asso- 


cated  with  William   Fuller,    a    partnership 

which  was  maintained  with  mutual  pleasure 
and  profit  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Fuller, 
more  than  eleven  years  later.  Since  that 
time  Mr.  Ingham  has  been  alone  in  the 
practice  of  law.  He  has  long  had  a  large 
clientage  and  has  managed  law  business  of 
an  important  character.  His  success  came 
soon  because  his  equipment  was  good,  he 
having  been  a  close  and  earnest  student  of 
the  fundamental  principles  of  the  science  of 
jurisprudence.  Along  with  those- qualities 
indispensable  to  the  lawyer — a  keen,  rapid, 
logical  mind,  plus  the  business  sense,  and  a 
ready  capacity  for  earnest  labor, — he 
brought  to  the  starting  point  of  his  legal 
career  certain  rare  gifts — eloquence  of  lan- 
guage and  a  strong  personality.  As  a  re- 
sult of  his  success  he  has  made  some  ju- 
dicious investments  in  real  estate  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  some  fine  property  in 
Clinton. 

In  March.  1878.  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  George  K.  Ingham  and  Miss  Alice 
Tenney,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Boynti  >n  Ten- 
new  of  Waynesville.  who  came  to  DeW'itt 
county  about  1846  and  died  over  thirty 
years  ago.  The  marriage  of  the  Judge  and 
his  wife  has  been  blessed  with  three  chil- 
dren. Leonard,  Rolla  and  Helen.  Socially 
he  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  lodge  and 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  society  in  Clinton, 
and  is  a  popular  and  valued  member  of  those 
1  irganizations.  In  politics  he  has  always 
been  a  stalwart  Republican,  firm  and  loyal  in 
his  advocacy  of  the  principles  of  the  party. 
In  1N7N  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  dis- 
trict in  the  legislature,  and  although  one  of 
the  youngest  members  of  the  general  as- 
sembly, being  then  but  twenty-six  years  of 
age,  he  was  recognized  as  a  very  active 
and  capable  member  of  the  house.  In  1X82 
he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  county  court 


UBRAKV 

UNIVERSITY  Of  »JUN0O 


52 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ni  DeWitl  county,  to  till  the  vacancy  caused 
by  the  resignatii  m  of  Judge  Md  iraw,  and  he 
discharged  his  duties  with  such  "even 
handed  justico"  that  it  "won  golden  opin- 
ions from  all  sorts  of  people."  This  term 
expired  December,  [882.  Then  in  [886  he 
\\a-~  elected  and  has  since  been  continued 
mi  the  bench  by  the  will  of  the  people,  llis 
legal  learning,  his  analytical  mind,  the  readi- 
ness with  which  he  grasps  the  points  in  ar- 
gument, all  combine  to  make  him  one  of 
the  must  capable  jurists  that  has  ever  s.ii 
upon  the  bench  of  DeWitt  county. 


BENJAMIN  MILLER. 

Benjamin  Miller,  deceased,  was  .me  oi 
the  wealthiest  and  most  prominent  citizens 
of  Creek  township.  A  native  of  Illinois,  he 
was  born  in  Morgan  county,  on  the  27th  <>i 
December,  [830,  and  was  a  son  of  John 
and  Mary  (Slatten)  Miller.  The  father 
was  born  in  Casey  county,  Kentucky,  in 
[799,  and  in  early  life  removed  to  Madison 
County,  this  state,  where  he  was  married  in 
[818.  Me  subsequently  spent  a  few  years 
in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  and  from  there 
he  came  to  DeWitt  county.  On  the  2 
of  January,  [831,  while  looking  up  a  new  lo- 
cation, he  entered  a  tract  of  land  on  section 
1.  Creek  township,  of  which  si\  acres  had 
been  cleared,  fenced  and  broken,  and  a  log 
cabin,  fourteen  by  sixteen  feet,  and  a  log 
stable,  twelve  by  fourteen  feet,  erected  there- 
en.  lie  employed  men  t'>  break  the  land. 
that  at  the  end  of  the  first  season  he  had 
twenty  acres  of  land  under  cultivation,  and 
he  set  mit  1  uie  hundred  apple  trees,  which 
he  procured  near  Decatur,  this  being  the 
first  attempt  to  start  an  orchard  in  that   lo- 


cality. A  few  of  the  trees  are  still  standing. 
In  his  family  were  seven  children,  five  sons 
and  two  daughters,  of  whom  our  subject 
is  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 

It  was  during  the  infancy  of  Benjamin 
Miller  that  his  parents  removed  to  Creek 
township,  DeWitt  county  and  he  was  still 
quite  young  when  the  family  took  Up  their 
residence  in  Logan  county,  near  the  He- 
Witt  county  line,  where  he  remained  until 
he  attained  his  majority,  his  education  being 
acquired   in  the  district  schools. 

Mr.  Miller  was  first  united  in  marriage 
Miss  Elizabeth  Pledger,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  live  children:  1  1  )  Joseph, 
a  resident  of  Piatt  COUllty,  Illinois,  wedded 
Mary  Flynn  and  has  one  child.  Lawrence 
I'..  (2)  George,  a  residenl  of  Macon  coun- 
ty, married  Augusta  Geade  and  has  had  four 
children.  Bessie,  Floyd  <.'.,  Homer  II.  and 
Bernard,  deceased.  (,})  Anna  is  the  wife 
of  James  1'ulliam  of  Macon  county,  and 
they  have  seven  children.  Samuel,  who  is 
married.  Benjamin,  Mamie.  Julia.  Joseph, 
James  and  Luther.  14)  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las, a  resident  of  Macon  county,  married 
Anna  Schuobshall,  ami  to  them  were  horn 

children:  William,  deceased;  Elizabeth; 
Benjamin;  Ella  and  Francis  Marion.  (5) 
Ruth  died  in  infancy  The  wife  of  our 
ijecl  departed  this  life  in  1865,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  Maroa  cemetery.  Macon 
ci  lunty. 

For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Miller  chose 
Miss  Martha  I'ulliani.  who  was  born  Janu- 
ary jo.  [843,  near  Taylorsville,  Spencer 
county.  Kentucky,  of  which  state  her  par- 
ents, Gideon  and  Mary  Jane  (Gaoff)  1'ull- 
iam. were  life-long  residents.  I  ler  father  died 
when  she  was  about  live  years  old  and  her 
mother  nine  years  later.  I  ler  maternal  grand- 
father, James  1'ulliam.  was  a  well-known 
man  in  that  section  of  the   Line  Grass  state 


THE   BIOGRAPHIC  \L   RECORD. 


53 


in  which  he  lived.  Mr<.  Miller  is  the  ol 
in  a  family  of  live  children,  the  others  being 
-  follows:  '  _•  >  James  makes  his  home  in 
Macon  county.  (3)  Anna  is  the  widow  of 
G.  W  .  Caplinger  and  a  resident  of  Lincoln, 
Illinois.  She  has  six  children.  Elizabeth, 
George,  Lulu,  Benjamin.  William  and  Ar- 
thur. 14)  Marion,  a  resident  of  Kentucky, 
married  Anna  Daly,  of  Spencer  county,  that 
state,  and  to  them  were  horn  three  children: 
Martha.  James  and  Mamie,  but  the  last 
named  and  her  mother  are  both  now  de- 
5  1  Mildred,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  Fletcher  Layton,  who  lives  in  Lin- 
county,  Illinois.  She  had  five 
children,  two  <>i  whom  are  still  living,  Mary 
and  Gertrude:  Bert,  Josephine  and  James 
are  dece: 

Mrs.  Miller  grew  to  womanhood  in  the 
place  of  her  nativity  and  in  1865  came  to 
Illinois.  1<  eating  at  Atlanta.  L  »gan  county. 
where  she  met  the  man  who  a  few  months 
later  became  her  husband,  their  marriage 
being  celebrated  December  28,  [865.  Four 
children  blessed  their  union,  namely:  <  1  ) 
Charles  Y..  born  February  9,  1S1.7.  resides 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Creek  township. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Huffman,  and  they 
have  six  children:  Mary  Marie.  John 
Henry.  Charles  Y..  Jr..  William  Jennii 
Adela  May  and  Benjamin  Franklin. 
Mary,  born  July  2<>,  186S.  wedded  David 
Barclay.  Jr..  an  attorney-at-law  in  Clinton. 
who  died  leaving  two  children  :  Martha,  who 

anied  for  her  grandmother;  and  Helen, 
who  is 'also  named,  for  her  grandmother 
in  Scotland.  For  her  second  husband  Mary 
married  Fred  S.  Mead.  1  3  1  Elizabeth, 
born  May  14.  1878,  i-  the  wife  of  VV.  C. 
White,  a  commercial  traveler,  and  makes 
her  home  with  her  mother  in  Clinton.     She 

one  child.  Marian  Catherine,  born  Au- 
gust  '•.    1898.      141    Benjamin,   born   April 


20,   [882,  i>  engaged  in  farming  in  Creek 
township. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Miller  located 
on  section  v^o.  Creek  town-hip.  where  he 
purchased  land  which  had  been  but  slightly 
improved,  but  it  was  soon  placed  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  A  large  and  beau- 
tiful two  story  frame  residence,  thirty  by 
thirty-<i\  feet,  was  erected,  ample  barns  and 
other  out-buildings  were  also  built,  and  trees 
set  out,  making  it  one  of  the  best  improved 
farms  of  its  size  in  the  locality.-    With  the 

istance  of  his  estimable  wife,  Mr.  Miller 

•lily-  prospered,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  the  owner  of  over  twelve  hun- 
dred acres  of  valuable  land,  which  had  been 
acquired  throught  their  combined  efforts. 
He  died  on  the  11th  of  March.  1889,  an,l 
was  buried  in  the  Maroa  cemetery,  where  a 
fine  granite  monument  marks  his  last  resting 
place.  Politically  he  was  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  although  he 
never  cared  for  official  honors,  he  was  called 
upon  to  serve  as  township  supervisor,  and 
most    capably    and    satisfactorily    filled    that 

n ion  for  one  term.  He  was  ever  faith- 
ful to  his  duties  in  citizenship,  and  by  the 
the  ':il   conduct   of  his   farming  in- 

ti  rests  not  only  promoted  his  individual  suc- 
--.  but  also  advanced  the  general  prosper- 
ity. In  his  life  span  of  fifty-eight  years  he 
accomplished  much,  and  has  left  behind  him 
an  honorable  record  worthy  of  perpetuation. 
He  was  a  man  of  the  highest  respectability, 
and  those  who  were  most  intimately  ass 
dated  with  him  speak  in  unqualified  terms 
of  his  sterling  integrity,  his  honor  in  busi- 
ness, and  his  fidelity  to  all  duties  of  public 
and  private  life. 

After  his  death  Mrs.  Miller  carried  on 
the  home  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  in  Creek  township  until  iSo-\ 
when    she    removed     to    Clinton.      She   re- 


54 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


sided  in  that  place  for  four  years,  when  she 
removed  to  the  old  home  farm,  where  she 
remained  until  1899,  when  she  again  moved 
to  Clinton,  and  has  since  made  her  home  at 
No.  606  North  Monroe  street.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
that  city,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  all 
that  pertains  to  the  church  and  its  work. 
She  is  highly  respected  by  all  who  know 
her,  and,  like  her  husband,  has  a  host  of 
friends  throughout  the  county. 


HENRY   A.   MAGILL. 

Fortunate   is   the  man   who  has  hack   "i 

him  an  ancestry  honorable  and  distinguished 

and  happy  is  he  if  Ins  lines  of  life  are  casl 
in  harmony  therewith.  In  person,  in  tal- 
ents and  in  character  Henry  Alfred  Ma- 
gill  was  a  worthy  scion  <<i  his  race.  Dis- 
tinguished for  the  business  qualifications 
which  made  his  father  prominent  and 
wealthy,  of  strong  character  and  marked 
personal  attributes  commanding  the  high- 
esl  respect  and  admiration,  he  spent  his  en- 
tire life  in  Clinton  and  was  In  in.  .red  by 
young  and  old,  rich  and  poor. 

The  only  son  of  Henry  and  Fannie  Ma- 
gill,  he  was  horn  here  on  the  20th  of  April, 
1S04.  and  at  the  usual  .age  entered  the  pub- 
lic schools,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  un- 
til sixteen  years  old.  when  he  entered  the 
dry-goods  house  of  Magill  Brothers  as  a 
salesman.  In  that  way  he  mastered  the 
business,  both  in  principle  and  detail,  re- 
maining there  until  1  SS4.  when  he  accepted 
a  position  111  the  hank  conducted  under  the 
firm  name  of  Warner  &  Company,  in  which 
his  father  was  a  partner.  Failing  health, 
however,  forced  him  to  abandon  the  bank- 
ing business  in  [893,  and  he  was  never  again 


able  to  take  up  the  duties  of  an  active  busi- 
ness career,  although  he  performed  many 
services  for  the  city  and  tilled  the  position 
of  chief  executive  of  Clinton  for  eight  con- 
secutive years.  Clinton  has  never  had  a 
better  mayor.  He  was  elected  to  the  office 
in  [890  and  on  the  expiration  of  the  term 
had  tilled  the  office  so  acceptably  that  he 
was  re-elected  and  continued  as  mayor  by 
popular  vote  until  he  had  been  the  incum- 
bent through  eight  years.  His  administra- 
tion was  businesslike,  practical  and  progress- 
ive. He  was  ever  on  the  side  of  progress 
and  reform,  ami  he  cooperated,  in  his  offi- 
cial capacity,  with  every  measure  advanced 
for  the  general  good.  He  never  aspired  to 
any  other  political  office  save  that  of  repre- 
sentative to  the  general  assembly,  hut  he 
failed  to  secure  the  nomination.  He  was  a 
most  earnest  and  active  Republican,  believ- 
ing firmly  in  the  principles  of  the  party  and 
doing  all  in  his  power  to  promote  its  growth 
and  extend  its  influence.  His  labors  often. 
contributed  largely  to  the  success  of  his 
friends  who  were  seeking  office,  and  he  did 
no1  hesitate  to  assist  a  capable  member  ol 
opposite  political  faith,  who  was  seeking  an 
office  in  which  no  political  issue  was  in- 
volved. He  himself  had  many  warm  friends 
in  the  Democracy  and  was  always  respected 
for  his  justice  and  his  fearless  defense  ol 
his  In  mest  com  actions. 

Mr.  Magill  was  a  member  of  the  lxnights 
of  Pythias  lodge  in  Clinton  and  of  the  Be- 
nevolent Protective  (  )rder  of  Elks  in  Bloom- 
ington,  while  of  the  Clinton  lire  department 
he  was  an  honorary  member.  The  Western 
Fireman,  of  Chicago,  in  commenting  on  his 
death  said:  "Everybody  who  met  and 
knew  Harry  Magill  loved  him.  He  was 
for  eight  years  Clinton's  mayor  and  during 
that  time  by  his  enterprise  and  wide-awake 
business  sagacity  he  wrought  a  revolution 


HENRY  A.   MAGILL. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


57 


in  the  town  on  public  policy  and  improve- 
ment. He  was  most  enthusiastically  the 
fireman's  friend,  taking  an  active  part  in 
the  conventions  and  assisting  the  commit- 
tees of  tin.-  association.  He  was  a  gentle- 
man of  wealth,  a  good  entertainer  and  a 
worthy,  genial  and  constant  friend."  A  so- 
journ in  the  west  did  not  benefit  the  health 
of  Mr.  Magill,  as  it  was  hoped,  and  return- 
ing to  Clinton  he  passed  away  March  _'. 
1901.  There  was  much  in  his  life  worthy 
of  emulation.  Always  reliable,  a  man  of 
earnest  purpose  and  strong  intellectuality, 
he  left  the  impress  of  his  individuality  upon 
many  lines  of  public  progress  and  Clinton 
was  benefitted  by  his  experience,  capability 
and  public-spirited  devotion.  Those  who 
enjoyed  his  friendship,  and  they  were  many, 
held  him  in  the  highest  regard  on  account 
of  his  social,  kindly  nature,  and  among  Clin- 
ton's native  sons  one  of  the  best  loved  was 
I  lenry  A.   Magill. 


WILLIAM  11.  THORPE. 

One  of  the  prominent  residents  of  Harp 
township,  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  is  Will- 
iam II.  Thorpe,  of  section  6,  who  was  born 
in  section  32,  Wilson  township,  this  county, 
August  9,  [856,  and  he  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Betsy  1  Butterworth  »  Thorpe. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Lancastershire.  England,  as  was  also  his  wife 
(see  sketch  of  her  brother  John  But- 
terworth elsewhere  in  this  work).  John 
Thorpe  came  to  America  in  [843  when 
a    young   man    and    settled    in    Massachu- 

:-.    working   at    his   calling,    that    of   1 
ton  manufacturing,  for  some  years.     Thence 
he  moved  to  Connecticut  and  then  to  Rhode 
Island.      In  [857  became  to  DeWitt  county. 


Illinois,  at  the  same  tune  as  the  Butterworth 
family  and  John  Thorpe  settled  on  eighty 

acres  of  land  which  has  been  purchased  for 
linn  by  John  Butterworth,  the  year  previous, 

m  Wilson  township.  (  )n  this  farm  he  lived 
for  a  few  years  and  then  traded  it  for  an- 
other eighty  acres  which  is  now  occupied  by 
his  son,  our  subject.  John  Thorpe  also 
owned  fort)  acres  in  Wilson  township,  in 
section  31.  The  Brsl  house  erected  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  our  subject  was  only 
sixteen  by  twenty-five  feet  and  it  is  now 
standing  in  the  rear  1  if  the  present  substantial 
Structure.  This  little  home  contained  but  two 
rooms  beside  the  attic  but  in  it  the  family 
were    comfortable    and    a    large    number    oi 

children  were  reared  to  useful  maul) 1  ami 

womanhood.  In  politics.  John  Thorpe  was 
a  Republican  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
very  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Prot- 
estant church  in  which  he  was  a  class  leader. 
IT  died  in  October,  [884,  and  his  widow 
only  survived  him  until  the  following  year 
when  she  ton  died,  and  both  are  interred  in 
Sugar  Grove  cemetery. 

To  John  Thorpe  and  wife  were  born  ten 
children,  seven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity 
and  six  are  now  living,  namely:  Eliza,  who 
married  I.  1..  Hull,  and  they  reside  in  W  a- 
pella  township;  William  IT.  our  subject; 
Emma,  who  married  Nicholas  Foley,  who 
resides  in  Wilson  township:  Etta,  who  mar- 
ried Hammond  Riley  and  they  reside  in 
Springfield,  Illinois;  Ida.  who  married  Grant 
Davis  and  they  reside  in  Harp  township; 
Fred,  who  resides  iii  Wilson  township;  Ber- 
tha, w  ho  married  Charles  Morrison  and  they 
reside  in  Clintonia  township.  One  of  the 
children  died  in  England, 

'The  educational  advantages  of  our  sub- 
ject were  few  and  \< >  obtain  the  lntle  school- 
ing offered  he  was  obliged   to  walk   three 

miles  to  school,  and   when  one  considers  the 


58 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


rigor  of  Illinois  winters  in  the  early  days 
when  there  were  no  large  cities  or  tall  build- 
ings to  break  the  severity  of  the  cutting 
winds  and  drifting  sm  >w  s  ;  when  the  little 
children  had  to  wade  breast  high  through 
huge  bank<  of  snow  or  take  lout;-  "cuts" 
through  the  fields,  the  daily  tramp  of  six 
miles  goes  far  to  demonstrate  the  desire  for 
learning  on  the  part  of  those  who  endured 
such  hardships.  When  the schoolhouse  was 
reached  the  heating  facilities  were  insuffi- 
cient and  the  appliances  crude  and  scanty, 
and  vet  in  spite  of  all  this  those  boys  and 
girls  laid  a  Foundation  upon  which  many 
have  built  up  a  structure  of  learning  that  has 
enabled  them  to  take  prominent  places  among 
intelligent  people  and  made  them  known  in 
connection  with  the  world's  best  thought  and 
action.  Mr.  Thorpe  continued  t'>  attend 
sch' » >1  during  the  \\  inter  mi  mths  and  wi  irked 
upon  the  farm  until  he  was  twenty  one,  after 
which  he  devoted  his  attention  t"  farming 
exclusively,  remaining  with  his  parents  until 
lie  was  twenty-three. 

At  that  age.  >>n  .March  23,  [880,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Martha  Rolofson,  and  she 
is  a  daughter  of  John  B.  and  Mary  Rolofson. 
After  his  marriage  he  resided  in  1  [arp  town- 
ship on  rented  land  until,  in  [894,  he  pur 
chased  bis  father's  place  of  eight)  acres  and 
upon  this  he  built  a  line,  large  two-Story 
house  and  a  good  barn  thirty-two  by  thirty- 
six  feet.  He  also  owns  forty  acres  in  Wil- 
son township  and  rents  other  land  in  addi- 
tion. In  addition  to  his  fanning  interests 
Mr.  Thorpe  is  president  of  the  Farmers' 
('.rain.  Coal  and  Lumber  Co.,  of  Wapella, 
and  under  his  wise  management  and  execu- 
tive ability  this  concern  has  rapidly  de- 
veloped into  one  of  the  prominent  houses  in 
the  commercial  life  of  that  town  and  netted 
excellent  profits  to  the  stockholders. 

Three  children   have   been   born   to   Mr. 


and  Mrs.  Thorpe,  namely:  Ralph  Wayne, 
who  was  born  June  26,  1881,  is  now  at- 
tending the  Northern  Normal  School  at 
Dixon,  Illinois.  During  the  taking  of  the 
census  in  Kjoo,  he  served  most  acceptably  as 
enumerator  of  Harp  township.  Mary  Eus 
nice,  who  was  born  June  to.  1SS5,  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years,  three  months  and  one 
day.  John  William  Thornton,  who  was  born 
April  -'7.  [893,  is  attending  the  district 
school.  In  politics  Mr.  Thorpe  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  has  served  the  township  as  road 
commissioner.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thorpe 
are  active  members  1  if  the  Christian  church 
at  Wapella.  Mr.  Thorpe  is  a  man  who  finds 
his  greatest  enjoyment  in  the  companionship 
of  his  family  ami  friends  and  is  widely  re- 
spected and  esteemed. 


ANDREW  ALLAN-. 


Among  the  many  prominent  and  enter- 
prising men  who  have  helped  to  raise  the 
state  of  Illinois  t"  its  proud  prestige  as  .me 
of  the  most  prolific  agricultural  regions  of 
the  Union  is  Andrew  Allan,  a  Scotchman  by 
birth,  training  and  characteristics,  an  Amer- 
ican b\  adoption, assimilation  and  adaptabil- 
ity, an  agriculturist  and  resident  of  Weldon, 
and  a  citizen  whose  success  is  limited  only  by 
his  years  of  activity.  A  native  of  Ayrshire, 
Scotland,  home  of  the  immortal  I '.urns,  lie 
was  born  December  27,  [830,  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Grace  (Stirling)  Allan,  who 
came  to  America  in  [858  and  located  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  Illinois.  The  parents  re- 
moved in  [867,  to  Nixon  township.  DeWitt 
county,  Illinois,  ami  purchased  a  tract  ol 
eighty  acres  of  land  with  growing  crops  for 
twenty-five  dollars  an  acre,  the  proceeds 
from   the  crops  practically   paying   for   the 


THE   BIOGkAl'IIh \\L  RECORD. 


59 


land  at  the  end  of  four  months.  The)  con- 
tinued to  live  in  DeWitt  county  until  the 
death  of  the  father  September  [8,  1S7J.  (  if 
the  children  in  the  family.  Grace,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Alexander  Brown,  lives  in  Randolph 
county,  as  does  also  William  and  James 
Allan,  while  David  and  Alexander  live  in 
Nixon  township.  Thomas,  who  is  a  bach- 
elor, li\e>  in  Scotland,  frequently  visits  his 
people  in  Illinois,  and  has  crossed  the  At- 
lanta twenty-six  times  for  that  purpose.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  the  children.  Alex- 
ander Stirling,  was  a  farmer  of  Ayrshire. 
Scotland,  and  was  prominent  in  affairs  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  was  an 
elder. 

It  may  he  said  that  Andrew  Allan  was 
reared  by  his  grandfather,  with  whom  he  was 
a  special  favorite,  and  he  received  a  liheral 
and  practical  education  in  the  public  schools. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  located  at  Bridge- 
water,  England,  ami  for  nearly  twenty  year- 
was  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business  with 
great  success,  and  during  this  time  he  made 
frequent  trips  to  America  to  visit  his  people 
and  naturally  became  interested  in  the  pros- 
perous conditions  there  prevailing.  On 
different  occasions  he  purchased  property  in 
Nixon  township,  and  finally,  when  his  inter- 
ests in  Illinois  became  greater  than  those  in 
England,  he  decided  to  locate  in  the  midst  ot 
the  greater  responsibilities,  and  took  up  his 
resilience  in  Nixon  township,  DeWitt  coun- 
ty, in  [883.  Since  then  he  has  been  f(  >remi  >st 
in  agricultural  matters,  and  owns  six  farms 
Comprising  the  best  land  in  Nixon  township. 
aggregating  eight  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
in  all.  I  le  also  owns  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  DeW'itt  township,  and  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Willow  Branch  town- 
ship. I'iatt  county.  for  six  years  of  his 
residence  in  Illinois  he  engaged  in  the  1 
and  lumber  business  at  Weldon,  and  retired 


from   the   same  in   the   fall   of    [901.        His 
splendid  and  systematic  management  of  his 

affairs  allows  of  considerable  leisure  on  his 
part,  and  as  a  reward  for  his  ability  and  hard 
work  he  travels  much,  and  observes  keenly 
and  intelligently.  for  several  years  he  has 
escaped  the  biting  Masts  of  Illinois  winters 
by  going  to  the  salubrious  climate  of  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  in  the  vicinity  of  New  <  lr 
leans,  and  he  also  spent  one  season  in  •  >kla- 
lioma. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Allan  was  sol- 
emnized in  [866,  with  Caroline  Denhem,  of 
Langport,  Somersetshire.  England,  and  who 
died  April  [8,  (895.  A  second  marriage  was 
contracted  May  12.  [896,  with  Charity, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Eliza  (Walker) 
Flood,  early  settlers  of  this  county.  Mrs. 
Allan  is  a  native  of  DeW'itt  county,  and  for 
fourteen  years  previous  to  her  marriage  was 
engaged  in  educational  work.  She  is  a  mosl 
refined  and  cultured  woman,  and  is  promi- 
nent in  the  affairs  of  the  Methodist  Protest- 
ant church,  of  Weldon.  Mr.  Allan  is  a  Pres- 
byterian in  religious  belief,  although  he  is  an 
attendant  and  supporter  of  the  Methodist 
1'iotestant  church.  In  national  politics  he 
is  Independent. 


ELBERT  If  LANE. 


<  )no  of  the  line  properties  of  DeWitt 
count)  is  the  farm  of  Elbert  D.  Lane,  locat- 
ed on  section  23,  Texas  township.  Here  is 
a  tine  rural  home,  well  tilled  acres,  abundant 
harvests  and  all  modern  equipments  for  suc- 
cessfully and  scientifically  carrying  forward 
the  work  of  fanning  and  stock  raising. 
Upon  the  meadows  graze  large  numbers  of 
stock,  line  cattle  and  thoroughbred  hoi 
including  heavy  draft  horses,  and  the  place 


6o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


has  an  air  of  neatness  and  thrift  compatable 
with  good  judgment  and  excellent  manage- 
ment. 

A  son  of  the  state  which  has  yielded  him 
such  profitable  returns  for  labor  invested, 
Mr.  Lane  was  born  at  Long  Point,  DeWiti 
county.  Illinois.  October  .}.  [837,  and  is 
therefore  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  section 
of  the  state.  His  parents,  William  and  Ella 
(  Maxwell  1  Lane,  were  natives,  respectively, 
of  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  the  father 
came  at  an  early  day  from  Kentucky,  and 
settled  near  Long  Point,  DeW'itt  county.  Illi- 
nois. As  a  preliminary  to  an  extended  farm- 
ing experience  in  his  adopted  county  he 
erected  a  little  log  cabin  upon  the.  eighty 
acres  of  land  which  he  entered,  and  to  which 
was  later  added  twenty  acres  of  timber  land. 
For  many  years  he  successfully  tilled  his 
land  and  became  a  permanent  fixture  oi  the 
community.  However,  he  eventually  re- 
moved  to  the  town  of  Clinton,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years,  his  wife  sur- 
viving him  for  five  years,  lie  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  as  were  his  four  children. 
two  of  whom  are  now   living,  and  his  wife. 

In  the  public  schools  ,,f  DeW'itt  county, 
Elbert  D.  Cane  acquired  the  average  educa- 
tion of  the  farmer  boys  of  his  neighborhood, 
following  which  he  worked  by  the  month 
for  a  number  of  years.  About  [876  he  rent- 
ed land  from  C.  II.  .Mo.  .re.  and  he  still  con- 
tinues to  reside  on  the  Moore  property, 
which  consists  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres.  April  14.  1S5S.  he  married  Rosalie 
Percv,  daughter  of  Silvanus  and  Anna  (  Bel- 
lows )  Percy.  Mrs.  Lane  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  her  father  was  horn  in  Vermont, 
and  removed  to  DeW'itt  county  in  1857, 
where  he  retired  from  his  occupation  of 
farming  and  settled  in  Clinton.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lane  have-been  born  the  following  chil- 


dren: Martha,  who  is  deceased;  William 
Alvus;  James  Alvin,  who  is  a  twin  to 
William  Alvus,  and  lives  on  a  farm  in  Piatt 
county;  Edward,  who  is  living  in  DeW'itt 
county;  Kate,  who  makes  her  home  with  her 
parents;  and  Elbert,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Clin- 
tonia  township,  DeW'itt  county.  Three  chil- 
dren died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Cane  cast  his  fust 
presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and 
has  since  voted  independently,  although  he  is 
in  favor  of  free  silver,  lie  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  church,  as  are  his  wife  ami 
daughter.  When  her  sister's  child,  Miss 
Maude  Bell,  was  four  years  of  age,  Mrs. 
Lane  received  her  into  the  family,  and  since 
that  time  she  has  continued  to  reside  with 
them. 


ORANGE  L.   KIRK. 


Orange  L.  Kirk,  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  representative  busi- 
ness men  anil  prominent  citizens  of  Clinton, 
lie  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Xenia, 
November  1  1,  [829,  and  was  a  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Elizabeth  (Marshall)  Kirk,  who 
were  farming  people.  The  father  was  a 
middle  aged  man  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  mi  his  farm  near  Logans- 
port,  Indiana,  but  the  mother  was  only 
about  twenty-one  years  old  when  she  died. 
leaving  two  small  children:  Orange  L.  and 
Angeline,  who  subsequently  became  the 
wife  of  William  Duvall.  The  father  was 
twice  married  and  had  children  by  his  sec- 
ond union. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  when  a  young  man  learned  brick 
manufacturing  and  brick  building  at  Xenia. 
Later  he  engaged  in  contracting  and  build- 
ing   at     Bellefontaine,  Ohio.     In    1854  he 


O.   L.   KIRK. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


63 


came  to  Clinton,   Illinois,  and  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  contractors  and  builders,  if  not 
the  first,  at  this  place.     At  thai  time  Clin- 
ton was  only  a  small  town  composed  of  log 
and  frame  buildings,  hut  he  lived  to  see  it 
develop  into  a  fine  modern  city,  containing 
many  handsome  brick  structures,  which  still 
stand    as    monuments    to    his    architectural 
skill.     He  owned  and  carried  on  a  brick- 
yard "n  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  and  dur- 
ing- his  early  residence  here  was  connected 
with  A.  H.  C.  Barber  in  manufacturing  and 
contract  work  until   1871.     He  was  subse- 
quently in  partnership  with  J.  W.   Bell  and 
still  later  with  his  son.  James  M.  Kirk,  who 
is  one  of  the  most  prominent  builders  of  the 
city  to-day.     Our  subject  built  all  of  the 
early  brick  buildings  on  the  square,  includ- 
ing the  Magill  Block  and  Hotel,  the  Union 
and    Masonic   Blocks,   and    the    old    First 
Presbyterian  church,  besides  many  private 
residences   throughout   the  city.      Mr.    Kirk 
also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  tile  for 
a  time,  and  when   the   Springfield   division 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad    was    being 
built,  he  received  the  contract  to  build  all 
the  culverts   from   Oilman    to    Springfield. 
He   laid   the   first    sewers    from   the   Magill 
House  ea<t  and  south.     The  large  brick  resi- 
dence now  occupied  by  his  widow  was  built 
by  him.  and  he  erected  the  houses  belonging 
to    T.     K.     Edministon,   I'.    McHenry,    \. 
Sacket  and  Mrs.  0"Brien.     Besides  the  busi- 
ness houses  already  mentioned  he  built  the 
Kellough,   M.   Moran  and  Day  blocks,  and 
for  many  years  was  the  leading  brick  masi in 
and  contractor  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Kirk  was  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  being  Miss  Sarah  J.  Robinson,  who 
died  in  1X54.  leaving  two  children.  James 
M.,  who  is  represented  on  another  page  of 
this  volume;  and  Samuel.  On  the  iSth  of 
February.    1857,    Mr.    Kirk    was   united    in 


marriage  with  Miss  Lueretia  G.  Morlan,  a 
native  of  London,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
John  ( i.  and  Lueretia  (Gager)  Morlan. 
The  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  early  life  went  to  1  >hio,  from  which  state 
he  came  to  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  about 
[852.  Here  lie  followed  his  trade  of 
wagonmaker,  his  first  shop  being  located  on 
the  site  of  Frank  Palmer's  livery  stable,  but 
the  building  has  since  been  moved  west  and 
is  now  used  as  a  poultry  warehouse.  He 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  light  and 
heavy  wagons,  and  his  work  being  of  the 
best,  many  of  his  wagons  are  still  in  use. 
He  patented  the  Morlan  fifth  wheel  used  on 
wagons  to  prevent  the  vehicle  from  over- 
turning. During  his  early  residence  here  he 
took  quite  an  active  part  in  public  affairs 
ami  served  as  marshal  of  the  city  for  a  time. 
llis  old  home  is  now  owned  by  Leon  Kirk, 
a.son  of  our  subject.  Mr.  Morlan  died  in 
1892.  aged  eighty-three  years,  and  his  wife 
in  1890,  aged  eighty-four.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  children:  Lueretia.  now 
Mrs.  Kirk:  and  John  A.,  a  resident  of 
Bloomington,  Mini  'is. 

By  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Kirk  had 
the  following  children:  (1)  Thaddeus 
learned  the  brick  mason's  trade  with  his  fa- 
ther, but  later  took  up  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  D.  W.  Edministon,  of  Clin- 
ton, and  was  graduated  at  Rush  Medical 
College.  Chicago,  with  the  degree  of  M.  I  >. 
He  then  located  at  St.  lames.  Minnesota. 
where  he  built  up  a  large  practice.  He  died 
very  suddenly  January  4.  [890.  Socially  he 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic 
bodies,  lie  married  Annie  Clinton  and  had 
oik-  chiltl.  now  deceased.  (  _•  )  \ngelinc  is 
the  wife  of  James  Dale,  of  Clinton,  and 
they  have  two  children  living,  Nora,  wife 
of  c.  s.  Cassidy,  and  Irene.  Those  de- 
ceased    are     Wilbur     and    James    M.       (3) 


64 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Frank  and  14)  Olive  were  twins.  The  lat- 
ter is  deceased.  Frank,  a  contractor  of  St. 
Li  mis,  married  Dilemma  Bail  and  has  three 
children:  Annie  L,  Walter  and  Charles. 
(5)  Lucretia  is  the  wife  of  A.  M.  Hatfield, 
of  Clinton,  and  the  children  born  to  them 
were  Elmer  and  Frank,  both  living;  and 
George  and  an  infant  daughter,  both  de- 
ceased. (6)  Minnie  is  deceased.  17)  Al- 
lien 1...  station  agent  at  Vandalia,  Illinois, 
married  Stella  Dickinson  and  they  have 
three  children:  Clyde.  Lloyd  and  Pauline. 
(8)  George  is  an  engineer  residing  at  home. 
(i)i  Leon,  a  bookkeeper  in  Clinton,  married 
Alice  M.  Wilson,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren: Odell  I...  Harriet  1..  and  Carl  I.. 
1  ml  Edna  died  young.  1  11  )  William  i-  a 
railroad  brakeman.  (  1  _•  1  Harry  Y.  is  a 
boiler  maker. 

During  his  boyhood  Mr.  Kirk  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
was  throughout  lite  an  active  and  faithful 
member,  and  served  in  various  church  of- 
fices. He  did  much  fm-  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance, and  was  elected  councilman  mi  the 
anti-license  ticket  several  years.  On  the 
Kith  of  1  (ctober,  [860,  he  was  made  a  Ma- 
son, and  was  ever  afterward  a  consistent 
member  of  that  body,  following  closely  its 
precepts,  ami  serving  as  tyler  of  the  lodge 
thirteen  years.  He  died  October  11.  [897, 
and  his  death  was  widely  and  deeply 
mourned,  fur  he  was  a  man  of  many  ster- 
ling traits  of  character,  who  had  a  host  of 
warm  friends  and  was  highly  respected  and 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 


J(  IHN  F.  DE  LAND. 

James  F.  l)e  Land,  the  well-known  and 
popular  cashier  of  the  National  Hank  of 
Clinton,    Illinois,   was  horn   in   that   city   mi 


the  27th  of  Decemher,  1861,  and  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  her  financial  in- 
terests since  reaching  manhood.  His  fa- 
ther. James  De  Land,  was  born  in  West  Rut- 
land. Vermont,  and  was  reared  and  educated 
in  that  state.  Coming  west,  he  was  engaged 
in  school  teaching  in  Ohio.  Iowa  and  Mis- 
souri until  [860,  when  he  removed  to  Clin- 
ton, Illinois,  and  turned  his  attention  to 
stock-dealing,  handling  and  shipping  all 
kinds  of  stock.  In  [869  he  opened  a  grocery 
stoic  where  Xicoli  is  now  located  and  built 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Opera  House 
block,  but  was  first  used  as  a  town  hall.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  engaged  in  the  dry-g Is 

business,  and  was  also  interested  in  the  hard- 
ware trade  for  many  years,  becoming  one  of 
Clinton's  leading  merchants.  He  did  rail- 
road contracting  for  a  time,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  Colonel  Suell  Thomas  and  others 
organized  the  National  Bank  of  Clinton,  of 
which  he  was  a  stockholder  and  vice-presi- 
dent. He  was  a  capable  financier  and  was 
one  of  the  ablest  business  men  of  the  city. 
Politically  he  always  affiliated  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  took  a  very  active  and 
influential  part  in  public  affairs.  He  filled 
the  office  of  supervisor  and  circuit  clerk,  and 
also  served  as  mayor  from  t88l  to  [883. 
Mr.  De  Land  was  instrumental  ill  buying 
and   locating  the   DeWitt   county    farm,   and 

assisted   in  establishing  the  W llawn 

cemetery.  I  le  died  in  [896,  at  the  age  1  if  se\  - 
enty-five  years,  honored  ami  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Emily  Abbott,  passed  away 
in  1872,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine.  They  had 
five  children:  a  son.  who  died  in  infancy; 
Emma  Lou.  widow  of  Robert  Magill;  Ada 
M..  wife  of  W.  H.  Wheeler:  John  I-".,  our 
subject:  and  Lillie.  deceased. 

1  taring  his  boyhood  John  F.  ])e  Land  at- 
tended  the   public   schools  of   Clinton,   and 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


65 


completed  His  education  at  the  high  school  of 
Brandon,  Vermont.     He  served  as  deputy 

circuit  clerk  under  his  father  until  i.v- 
when  he  entered  the  National  Bank  of  Clin- 
ton as  bookkeeper;  was  later  promoted  to 
-  stant  cashier,  and  in  1  S«>'<  was  made  cash- 
ier, lie  is  also  a  stockholder  and  director 
of  the  hank,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  reliable  business  men  of  the  city. 

In  [883  Mr.  De  Land  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Belle  Wolf.  Her  father. 
Philip  Wolf,  a  retired  citizen  of  Clinton,  was 
horn  in  Bellefontaine,  Logan  county.  Ohio, 
June  i_\  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  John  B.  Wolf, 
who  was  horn  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania, 
hut  was  reared  in  Ohio,  and  in  1S47  came  to 
DeWitt  county.  Illinois.  He  tir-t  located  in 
Tunbridge  township,  hut  in  1853  sold  his 
farm  and  removed  to  Clinton,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business.  Here  he  died 
in  1868,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years.  He 
married  Rebecca  Stout,  of  <  )hio,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty  years.  Their  children  were 
Elizabeth.  Lydia.  Philip,  Margaret.  Ruzella, 
Joseph,  Mary.  John  and  Catherine.  Philip 
Wolf  spent  his  early  life  upon  a  farm,  and 
was  then  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business 
in  Clinton  with  E.  W.  Taylor,  and  still  later 
in  the  implement  and  hardware  business  with 
J.  W.  Bell,  and  later  on  with  A.  I).  Mo- 
Henry.  He  built  the  block  now  occupied  by 
the  hardware  firm  1  f  Bailor  &  Bryant  :  erect- 
ed a  number  of  houses  and  owns  consider- 
able farm  property  in  this  county.  Having 
accumulated  a  comfortable  property,  he 
now  living  a  retired  life,  enjoying  the  fruits 
of  former  toil,  and  is  one  of  the  most  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  Clinton,  lie  wedded 
Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  Bell,  an  early 
settler  of  this  county,  and  to  them  were  born 
three  children:  I.ura.  wife  of  Rev.  E.  A. 
Hamilton ;  Annie,  wife  of  J.  R.  Huston;  and 
Belle,  wife  of  our  subject.     In  politics  Mr. 


Wolf  is  a  Republican,  and  in  hi-  social  rela- 
tions is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  De  Land  was  horn  only 
one  child.  Lota,  w  hod  ied  in  iv«»o.  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  year-.  She  was  an  exceptionally 
bright,  accomplished  girl,  very  refined  in 
manner,  and  her  death  was  a  se\  ere  blow,  not 
only  to  her  parent-,  hut  to  her  many  friend-. 
The  Republican  party  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  De  Land  a  stanch  supporter  of  it- 
principle-.  He  tilled  the  office  of  city  tr< 
urer  two  year-,  hut  has  never  cared  for  po- 
litical honors.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  and  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  His  father  was  also  con- 
nected with  that  church,  and  was  an  (  >dd 
Fellow  and  Royal  Arch  Mason.  In  manner 
our  subject  is  pleasant  and  social,  and  all 
who  know  him  esteem  him  highly  for  his 
genuine  worth. 


MRS.   CATHERINE   SWIGART. 

Mrs.  Catherine  Swigart,  one  of  Farmer 
City's  most  esteemed  ladies,  has  the  distinc- 
tion of  being  the  first  white  child  horn  in 
Santa  Anna  township.  DeWitt  county,  the 
date  of  her  birth  being  July  i(>.  [832.  Her 
parents  were  Dennis  and  Mary  (Council) 
Hurley,  who  were  the  first  to  settle  in  this 
locality,  and  were  prominently  identified 
with  its  early  development  and  prosperity. 
A  -ketch  of  these  worthy  pioneers  i-  given 
in  connection  with  that  of  Mrs.  Lydia  M. 
Johnson,  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

Mrs.  Swigart  was  horn  in  the  first  hi 
built  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  county,  it 
being  a  primitive  structure,  not  more  than 
fifteen  by  sixteen  feet  in  dimensions,  con- 
structed of  split  logs,  with  a  puncheon  floor, 
one  window    and  one  door,  hut   it   furnished 


66 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  home  of  comfort  to  a  large  family  until 
better  accommodations  could  he  secured. 
Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  being 
.a  strong,  ambitious  girl,  she  assisted  in  the 
work  of  both  the  house  and  the  field,  willing 
always  to  help  her  father  as  well  as  her 
mother. 

On  the  nth  of  March.  [852,  she  was 
united  in  marriage  with  George  Washing- 
ton Swigart.  who  was  born  in  Marion  coun- 
ty, Ohio.  April  9,  1830,  and  was  a  son  of 
Daniel  Swigart.  lie  obtained  a  fair  educa- 
tion in  a  little  log  school  house,  and  in  early 
life  engaged  in  cattle  feeding  and  working 
by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand.  In  [849  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  1  >eWitt  county.  I  le 
was  in  limited  circumstances  at  the  time  ol 
his  marriage,  and  while  the  railroad  was  be- 
ing built  through  this  section  of  the  state 
he  worked  on  it.  while  his  wife  kept  boarders 
in  a  little  shanty  of  one  room,  usually  accom- 
modating about  fourteen  for  meals.  She 
made  beds  on  the  floor  and  Cooked  over  a 
fireplace  out  doors,  doing  all  her  baking  in 
a  covered  skillet.  Hue  summer  was  passed 
in  tins  way.  and  at  the  end  (if  that  time  the 
vomig  couple  had  saved  fifty  dollars.  Bor- 
rowing one  hundred  dollars  they  entered 
eight)  acres  of  land,  which  is  now  owned  by 
Mr.  McConkey.and  upon  the  place  they  built 
a  cabin  of  split  logs,  with  a  mud  and  stick 
chimney.  Although  it  was  a  rude  structure, 
it  was  their  first  home  and  they  were  happy 
in  the  possession  of  the  same.  In  those  early 
davs  Mr.  Swigart  often  remarked  to  his  wife 
"some  day  you  will  have  a  tine  home,  ol 
which  you  are  certainly  deserving."  While 
he  engaged  in  the  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion of  the  land  she  cooked  the  meals  for 
the  harvest  hands  and  carried  water  to 
quench  their  thirst.  In  186(1  they  sold  their 
first  farm  and  bought  the  Chapin  place  of 
three  hundred  acres,  a  part  of  which  he  sub- 


sequently sold,  retaining  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  He  then  purchased  thirty-six 
acres  of  the  T.  Gardner  farm,  where  Mrs. 
Swigart  now  resides  in  a  large  new  resi- 
dence, the  barns  and  outbuildings  being  in 
perfect  harmony  therewith. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swigart  bad  no  children 
of  their  own.  but  they  reared  Sarah  F. 
Hedge,  who  was  horn  in  1857  and  died  in 
1S77.  She  married  Charles  Everett,  and  at 
her  death  left  two  children:  Mory,  who 
married  Gertie  Lewis  and  has  one  son.  ( )r- 
ville  L.;  and  Sherman,  who  is  now  in  the 
Philippines.  Mrs.  Swigart  cared  for  these 
children,  carefully  rearing  and  educating 
them. 

In  religious  belief  Mr.  Swigart  was  a 
(Jniversalist,  and  in  politics  was  a  Republi- 
can, lie  served  as  road  commissioner  for 
nine  years,  but  never  sought  political  honors. 
I  le  was  a  n<  'hie  man.  line  1'  11  iking  and  1<  i\  ed 
by  all.  and  in  his  death,  which  occurred 
March  2,  [890,  the  community  realized  that 
it  had  lost  one  of  its  most  valued  and  useful 
citizens.  I  lis  estimable  wife  still  resides  at 
their  beautiful  home  in  Farmer  City,  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  comforts  that  make  life 
worth  the  living.  She  is  a  typical  pioneer 
woman,  kind  hearted  and  generous,  and  is 
held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all  who  know 
her. 


ARTHUR  I".  MILLER. 

Arthur  F.  Miller  is  one  of  the  youngest 
members  of  the  Clinton  bar.  but  his  promi- 
nence is  by  no  means  measured  by  his  years, 
on  the  contrary  he  has  won  a  reputation 
which  many  an  older  practitioner  might  well 
envy  and  is  now  creditably  serving  as  state's 
attorney,  being  elected  to  that  office  on  the 
Republican  ticket  in  1900.  as  a  successor  to 
John  Fuller. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


67 


Mr.  Miller  was  r>  irn  in  Holliston,  Massa- 
chusetts, March  u.  1S7J.  and  is  a  repre- 
sentative  of  a  good  old  New  England  family. 
His  father,  Possidonius  Miller,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Vermont,  and  was  a  direct  dscendant 
■  if  an  old  colonial  family,  as  his  grandfather, 
Ferdinand  Miller,  was  a  memher  of  the 
"Boston  Tea  Tarty.'"  He  was  also  a  native 
of  Vermont  By  vocation  the  father  of  our 
subject  was  a  journalist  and  for  a  nnmher 
<>f  years  was  engaged  in  that  profession. 
He  married  Miss  Agnes  Dillon,  who  was 
Inirn  in  Nova  Scotia,  hut  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  the  old  Bay  state  when  three  years 
old.  She  is  still  living  and  resides  at  Cottage 
City,  on  the  island  of  Martha's  Vineyard. 
Her  people  were  farmers  by  occupation.  By 
her  marriage  with  Mr.  Miller  she  became  the 
mother  of  three  children,  a-  follow-:  Celia. 
who  died  in  infancy;  Albert  F..  who  died  at 
the  age  of  nine  years;  and  Arthur  F..  our 
subject. 

Arthur  F.  Miller  was  educated  at  Trin- 
ity College,  in  Hartford.  Connecticut,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  1895.  Coming  west  he 
took  up  the  study  of  law  under  Judge  T.  H. 
Dillon,  of  Petersburg.  Indiana,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  Illinois  in  1897.  In 
October  of  that  year  he  located  in  Clinton 
and  opened  an  office.  His  faithful  attention 
to  his  profession  soon  won  the  attention  of 
the  public,  who  recognized  in  him  a  fitting 
candidate  for  the  office  which  he  now  fills, 
and  he  was  accordingly  nominated  and  elect- 
ed in  1900.  In  the  discharge  of  his  official 
duties  he  has  given  the  utmost  satisfaction, 
and  in  his  private  practice  he  faithfully  and 
conscientiously  looks  after  the  interests  of 
his  clients. 

In  July.  1895,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Rovenia  Fosnaugh,  daughter  of 
J.  A.  Fosnaugh,  one  of  Clinton's  leading 
merchants.    An  extended  sketch  of  the  Fos- 


naugh  family  will  be  found  on  another  page 
of  this  volume.  Socially  Mr.  Miller  1-  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees and  the  Mutual  Protective  League. 
He  is  a  pleasant,  genial  gentleman,  who 
makes  many  friends,  and  is  held  in  high  re- 
gard by  all  who  know   him. 


JOHN  SHUE. 

John  Shue.  deceased,  was  for  many  years 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Wilson  town- 
ship, ami  was  a  man  highly  respected  and 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was 
born  in  Perry  county.  Ohio,  on  the  5th  of 
February.  1833,  an''  was  a  son  "'  Gottlieb 
and  Nancy  Ann  1  Franklin)  Shue.  His  ma- 
ternal grandfather  was  a  cousin  of  Benjamin 
Franklin.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a 
native  of  Germany  and  was  a  lad  of  fourteen 
years  when  he  came  to  America  with  his 
parent-,  who  settled  near  Philadelphia. 
Pennsylvania,  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives  there.  Leaving  home.  Gottlieb 
Shue  went  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day.  and  was 
engaged  in  tailoring  in  Perry  county  until 
1872,  when  he  came  to  DeWitt  county.  Illi- 
nois, to  make  his  home  with  our  subject. 
Here  he  died  March.  1X70,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
March.  1S70.  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  Of 
their  eight  children  only  two  are  now  liv- 
ing, namely:  Caroline,  wife  of  Joshua 
Pyles,  of  DeWitt,  Illinois,  and  Harriet, 
widow  of  Thomas  Sadler. 

John  Shue.  of  this  sketch,  was  reared 
and  educated  in  the  county  of  his  nativity, 
and  remained  at  home  until  twenty-live  years 
of  age.  aiding  in  the  work  of  the  farm.  In 
1858   he   removed    to    Bloomington,    lllii 


68 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  on  the  3d  of  June,  that  year,  was  united 
in  marriage  with  .Miss  Sarah  Michael,  who 
was  born  in  Darke  county.  Ohio,  September 
28,  1839,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Barbara 
( Putterbaugh)  Michael,  also  natives  of  the 
Buckeye  state.  Her  paternal  grandparents 
were  William  and  Margaret  (Durlinger) 
Michael,  the  former  a  native  of  Germany, 
the  latter  of  Ohio.  William  Michael  was 
horn  in  1750.  and  came  to  this  country  at 
the  age  of  five  years.  IK-  entered  the  Con- 
tinental army  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
together  with  m\  snib.  all  of  whom  were 
killed  in  the  service,  he  alone  surviving. 
Mrs.  Shue  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
li, and  has  two  brothers  living,  namely: 
Christopher,  a  resident  of  Harp  township; 
and  William,  of  Kansas. 

The  children  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mi's.  Shue 
are  a>  follows:  1  1  )  Austin  R.  is  sheriff  of 
DeWitl  county,  whose  sketch  appears  on  an- 
other page  of  this  volume.  1  _•  I  Mary  i-  the 
wife  of  Wilbur  Wilson,  of  Harp  township, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Fay.  (3)  John  \. 
Logan,  deceased,  married  Lull)  Hall,  who  is 
now  living  in  Lansing,  Michigan.  1  |i 
Ulysses,  who  is  now  operating  the  home 
farm  for  his  mother,  married  Minnie  Hoots, 
who  died  leaving  one  child,  Cecil.  (5)  Ed- 
ward, a  resident  of  Harp  township,  married 
Minnie  Page  and  has  one  child.  Garrett. 
101  Ella,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Bayard 
S.  Griffith,  of  Clinton,  and  she  left  two  chil- 
dren. Dexter  11.  and  Wayne.  171  Almeda 
is  the  wife  <>\  Tony  Moore,  of  Harp  town- 
ship, and  they  have  two  children.  Bliss  and 
Opal.  iSi  Frederick  married  Mayme  Polan 
and  lives  in   Bloomington,   Illinois. 

\fter  his  marriage  Mr.  Shue  made  his 
home  in  Bloomington,  working  at  any- 
thing which  he  could  find  to  do  until  [867, 
when  he  removed  to  Harp  township,  De- 
Witt  county,  and  purchased  eighty  acres  ^i 


land  on  sections  S  and  17.  which  at  that  time 
was  all  wild  and  unimproved,  lie  built  a 
house,  barn  and  fences,  which  are  still  stand- 
ing, hut  after  residing  there  for  five  years 
he  sold  the  place  and  bought  an  improved 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
Wilson  township.  He  soon  afterward  sold 
fifteen  acres  of  this,  hut  the  remaining  one 
hundred  and  live  is  still  owned  by  his  widow 
and  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
Throughout  his  life  he  followed  farming 
verj  successfully  and  became  quite  well-to- 
do.  In  politics  he  was  an  ardent  Republi- 
can, but  never  cared  for  public  office,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  undivided  attention  to 
his  farming  interests.  Hediedin  [892, hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  and 
was  laid  to  rest  in  Woodlawn  cemetery,  Clin- 
ton. In  his  death  the  community  lost  one  of 
its  best  citizens,  his  neighbors  a  faithful 
friend,  and  his  family  a  considerate  husband 
and    father. 


DAA  ID  SCHENCK. 

Of  Holland  ancestry.  Mr.  Schenck  has 
applied  his  admirable  national  characteristics 
to  the  management  of  his  farming  interests 
in  Macon  and  DeWitt  counties,  and  as  a  re- 
sult has  made  a  distinct  success  of  his  ch<  sen 

lipation.  lie  is  thorough  in  his  work. 
conservative  and  sure  in  the  manner  of  bis 
improvements,  and  studies  farming  from  a 
scientific  standpoint.  For  the  first  land  pur- 
chased be  paid  fifteen  dollars  per  acre,  and 
for  the  last  eighty  dollars  per  acre,  and 
he  now  owns  five  hundred  and  eighty  a> 
of  land,  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  which 
is  in  Macon  county,  and  the  remainder 
in  DeWitt  county.  lie  is  the  possessor 
of  a  quarter  section  in  Rice  county.  Kan- 
sas,  and   the   same  amount   in    Hayes  conn- 


THE    I'.loCRAl'HICAI.    RECORD. 


69 


t\.  Nebraska,  the  former  property  being 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  As  early 
as  1S54  he  became  identified  with  DeWitt 
county,  at  which  time  he  purchased  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Texas  township,  and  forty 
acres  across  the  road  in  Macon  county, 
most  of  which  was  broken,  and  on  which 
there  were  four  log  cabins.  He  built  a  la 
and  substantial  house  in  [868,  planted  the 
many  trees  which  now  have  a  venerable  ap- 
pearance, ami  which  yield  a  sweeping  shade 
in  the  heat  of  the  summer,  and  has  since  eli- 
ded in  general  farming  and  stock-raising. 
And  during  the  intervening  years  he  has  in 
no  wise  forfeited  the  tine  and  high  regard 
in  which  lie  is  held  by  all  who  know  him. 
ami  value  his  friendship  and  his  service  in 
behalf  of  the  locality  of  which  he  is  a  resi- 
dent. 

Many  years  ago  the  paternal  grandfa- 
ther, ('.arret  J.  Schenck,  emigrated  from  the 
home  of  his  forefathers  in  Holland,  and 
tied  in  Xew  Jersey,  .Monmouth  county,  after- 
wards removing  to  Ohio,  where  his  death 
ntually  occurred,  lie  farmed  success- 
fully in  Warren  county,  and  accumulated 
quite  a  store  of  worldly  possessions  during 
his  pilgrimage  on  earth,  and  was  generally 
conceded  to  have  lived  a  worth-while  ami 
useful  life.  1IU  grandson,  David,  was  born 
in  Butlei  county.  Ohio,  October  8,  [825,  a 
son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Cooper) 
Schenck.  natives  of  Xew  Jersey.  The  par- 
ents were  farmers  and  both  died  at  the  home 
place  in  '  >hio,  and  were  the  parents  of  three 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living.  David 
Schenck  was  educated  in  the  public  schi 

I  >hio,  and  assisted  his  father  in  conduct- 
ing the  farm.  When  almost  a  grown  boy 
he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  in 
1854,  as  heretofore  stated,  came  to  this 
county. 

January  14.  1N47.  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Schenck 


married  lluldah  Long,  daughter  of  Silas  and 
Sally  1  Marshall)  Long,  natives  of  Ohio. 
Mrs.  Schenck.  who  died  in  Illinois  August 
1,?.  [893,  was  the  mother  of  six  children, 
four  of  whom  are  now  living:  Catherine, 
who  is  the  wife  of  William  Sloutenborough, 
living  in  retirement  at  Maroa;  Sarah,  who 
died  in  Ohio  at  the  age  of  one  year;  Ann 
Eliza,  who  is  li villi;  at  home:  Ella,  who  was 
honi  in  (  )hi...  and  died  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years;  Alice,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Melnes.  a  farmer  of  Macon  .county;  and 
Silas  ]..  who  is  a  farmer  of  Macon  county, 
is  married  and  has  two  children.  Edith  and 
Lydia.  Mr.  Schenck  is  a  self-made  man  in 
the  highest  st-nsC  of  the  word,  ami  is  indebt- 
ed to  no  good  fortune  for  his  rise  in  life. 
lie  is  a  moral  and  progressive  force  in  the 
community,  and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  all  his 
fellow  townsmen.  With  his  wife  he  is  a 
member  ami  worker  in  the  Christian  church. 
In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  and 
for  four  yeai  1  as  justice  of  the  peace, 

hut  with  the  exception  of  school  director  he 
has  not  cared  to  accept  office. 


!<  (MAS  CORWIN  BYLAND. 

Thomas  Corwin  Byland,  educator  ami 
carriage  maker,  and  a  resident  of  VVeldon 
since  1876,  was  bom  near  Circleville, 
Pickaway  county.  Ohio,  December  j'l. 
1852.  I  lis  parents.  Amos  and  Mary  (John- 
s.  .11  1  I '.viand,  were  also  natives  of  <  >hio,  ami 
farmers  by  occupation,  the  father  dying  in 
Ohio  in  1855.  The  ancestrj  is  English,  Irish 
and  German,  ami  the  paternal  grandfather, 
Janu-s  Byland,  was  a  fanner  in  Pern  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  while  the  maternal  grandfather, 
Caac  Johns. .n.  was  a  fanner  ..f  Pickaway 
county,  1  ihio.    ( )f  the  family  of  six  children 


70 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


left  practically  dependent  upon  their  own  re- 
sources, four  besides  Thomas  C.  attained 
maturity:  Rebecca,  who  is  now  Mrs. 
George  Hummel:  Isaac;  Jane;  Erne.  Af- 
ter the  death  of  Amos  1'. viand  his  widow 
married  Isaac  Scibert  and  they  had 
one  child.  Thomas  Corwin  Byland  was  but 
three  years  of  age  when  his  father  died,  and 
since  he  was  ten  years  of  age  lie  lias  made 
his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  he  manfully  shouldered  the  responsi- 
bility of  his  own  maintenance.  Departing 
from  the  homestead  in  Ohio  he  removed  to 
Piatt  county.  Illinois,  where  he  found  em- 
ployment on  a  farm  until  twenty  years  of 
age.  During  this  time  he  faithfully  applied 
himself  to  the  acquisition  of  such  knowledge 
as  was  available  at  the  public  schools  and  at 

the  academy  at  Danville,  Illinois,  and  bj  the 
fall  of  [874  had  qualified  for  educational 
work.  Subsequently  he  taught  school  in 
Shelby  county,  Illinois,  for  two  years,  and 
in  [876  located  in  Weldon,  ami  continued 
to  teach  for  four  terms  in  Nixon  ami  De- 
Witt  township-.  lit-  later  taught  in  the 
public  schools  of  Weldon  on  and  off  for  four 
terms.  In  1881  he  prepared  for  future  in- 
dependence bj  learning  the  trade  of  carriage 
maker,  which  he  ha-  since  successfully  fol- 
lowed, his  work  being  interspersed  by  oc- 
casional  returns  to  teaching  in  Weldon. 

'Die  marriage  of  Mr.  I'.yland  and  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  Amos  and  Hannah  Mc- 
Nier,  Formerly  of  Ohio,  now  of  Nixon  town- 
ship, occurred  March  [8,  1879.  Three  chil- 
dren are  the  result  of  this  union.  Kittie  L., 
Cora  P.  and  Warren  T.  In  politics  Mr. 
Byland  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held  several 
local  offices,  including  that  of  township  clerk, 
assessor,  school  director,  collector  ami  presi- 
dent of  the  village  board  of  Weldon.  He  is 
fraternally  associated  with  the  Weldon 
Lodge,  Xo.  746,  A.  F.  &  A.  M„  the  Modern 


Woodmen  and  the  Royal  Circle.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  substantial  citizens  of  the  town, 
and  his  influence  on  education,  good  govern- 
ment and  general  progressiveness  is  a  wide 

one. 

— ■ — ■ — ■»  »  » 

JONATHAN   K.  DAVIS. 

Jonathan  K.  Davis,  a  retired  farmer  re- 
siding in  the  city  of  Clinton,  Illinois,  has 
made  his  home  in  DeWitt  county  for  almost 
half  a  century,  and  his  name  is  inseparably 
connected  with  its  agricultural  and  business 
interests.  Hi-  thoroughly  American  spirit 
and  his  great  energy  have  enabled  him  to 
mount  from  a  lowly  position  to  one  of  af- 
fluence. One  of  his  leading  characteristics 
in  business  affairs  is  his  tine  sense  of  order 
and  complete  System,  and  the  habit  of  giv- 
ing careful  attention  to  details,  without 
which  success  in  an  undertaking  is  never  an 
assured  fact.  Mr.  Davis  started  in  life  with 
nothing  hut  a  strong  determination  to  suc- 
ceed, and  now  that  hi-  fondest  dreams  have 
been  realized  he  is  -pending  his  last  days 
in  ease  and  quiet  at  his  beautiful  home  in 
the  city  of  Clinton,  which  was  hut  a  mere 
hamlet  when  he  first  came  to  this  county. 

Mr.  Davi-  wa-  born  in  Perry  county, 
Ohio,  April  7,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
Davi-  and  grandson  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth Davis,  the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
who  came  to  this  country  prior  to  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  in  which  great  struggle  for 
American  independence  lie  took  an  active 
part,  serving  from  the  beginning  till  the  end 
under  General  Washington.  He  saw  and 
endured  many  hardships  and  privations  that 
the  soldiers  of  those  days  were  compelled  to 
go  through.  He  was  with  Washington  the 
winter  that  this  grand  man  encamped  at 
Valley  Forge,  the  history  of  which  is  fa- 


J.   K.   DAVIS. 


MRS.  J.    K.   DAVIS. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


75 


miliar  to  every  one.  After  the  close  of  this 
war  he  settled  in  Frederick  county,  Marx- 
land,  where  he  made  farming  his  life  oc- 
cupation and  where  he  was  called  to  his  final 
rest  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  His  wife. 
Elizabeth,  was  an  English  lady,  and  lived 
to  reach  a  good  old  age.    They  became  the 

parents  of  the  following  children:  Eliza- 
beth,  Benjamin  and  John. 

John  Davis,  the  father  of  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Frederick  county,  Maryland  in  17S5.  His 
early  life  was  spent  on  a  farm  and  he  also 
run  a  hotel  and  at  one  time  operated  a  ferry 
across  the  Monoxico  creek,  near  where  it 
flowed  into  the  Potomac  river.  In  1816  he 
decided  that  the  west  1  >ffered  better  induce- 
ments to  a  young  man  and  accordingly  bade 
g line  to  his  native  county  and  after  ex- 
periencing all  the  hardships  incident  to 
travel  in  those  early  days  he  finally  settled 
in  I'crrv  county,  Ohio.  This  was  just  after 
the  war  of  iNu.  in  which  he  took  an  active 
part.  He  was  present  at  the  burning  of 
Washington  by  the  British  and  took  part  in 
other  important  engagements.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Hannah 
Karshner.  who  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  trip  t <  >  Ohio  was  made  by 
wagon,  in  which  they  lived  for  some  time, 
or  until  a  more  suitable  dwelling  could  he 
erected.  Their  stay  in  Perry  county  was 
of  but  a  lew  years'  duration,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Senaca  county  and  were  one  <>\ 
the  first  nine  families  to  locate  in  Bloom 
town-hip.  This  was  in  [824  when  Indians 
were  more  numerous  than  white  men.  Here 
he  bought  one  hundred  ami  sixty  acres  of 
land,  cut  the  trees  and  erected  a  rude  log 
house  in  which  to  live.  This  dwelling  was 
very  primitive.  At  first  it  had  no  windows 
and  later,  when  the  march  of  improvements 
began  to  sweep  over  this  vast  western  coun- 


try, windows  were  put  in.  and  our  subject 
can  recall  In  iw  queer  they  looked,  a-  they 
were  the  fust  that  he  had  ever  seen.  Soon 
the  farm  was  cleared  and  after  a  few  vears 
where  the  forest  stood  were  well  cultivated 
fields.  On  this  place  our  subject's  father 
remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
July  o.  [849.  He  was  an  earnest  Christian 
man  and  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  for  over  thirty  years.  His  estimable 
wife  also  passed  away  on  the  old. homestead 
at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eighl  children,  as  follows:  Will- 
iam, who  is  now  living  in  Bloomville,  <  )hio; 
Jonathan  l\..  our  subject;  Alfred  (  >..  de- 
ceased: Sarah,  who  married  J.  W.  Stinch- 
comb;  Elizabeth  married  Smith  Taylor; 
Thomas  \V.  is  a  physician  and  makes  his 
home  in  Wapella,  this  county:  Susanna; 
Milton  R.,  of  Charleston.  Missouri.  All 
these  children  were  strong  and  robust  and 
all  lived  to  reach  a  good  old  age.  with  the 
exception  of  two,  who  died  before  reaching 
maturity. 

The  educational  privileges  of  our  sub- 
ject were  very  meager,  as  he  attended  a  log 
school  house  with  greased  paper  for  windows 
and  split  logs  for  seats,  but  in  the  face  of 
all  these  obstacles  he  managed  to  secure  a 
good  elementary  education.  Then  by  work- 
ing at  various  occupations  he  managed  to 
save  enough  to  enable  him  to  take  a  course 
of  study  in  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Del- 
aware. Ohio,  where  he  remained  for  six 
months.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  a  con- 
stant reader  of  good  literature  and  to-day 
he  is  a  finely  educated  man. 

It  was  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  vears 
that  he  determined  to  start  out  in  the  world 
alone.  He  at  first  rented  a  sawmill  and 
farmed  on  the  shares.  In  this  way  he  got 
a  start  and  soon  after  bought  eighty  acres 
of  land  in   Indiana,  which  he  later  disposed 


76 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  and  purchased  a  half  interest  in  his  fa- 
ther's farm.  After  a  time  he  sold  this  and 
bought  <>ne  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  Upon 
which  he  lived  until  he  came  to  1  >e\Vitt 
county,  in  [857.  lie  located  in  Clinton  and 
entered  into  partnership  with  S.  Taylor  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  a  frame 
building  that  stood  on  the  corner  now  oc 
cupied  bj  the  Magill  House.  This  partner- 
ship continued  for  about  three  months,  when 
he  retired    from   the  business   and   bought 

ity  acres  of  land  in  Wilson  township, 
tin-  county,  which  was  first  settled  by  a  Mr. 
Cloud  and  which  was  partially  improved. 
A  log  cabin  had  been  erected  and  some  fruit 
trees  sel  out.  a  few  of  which  were  still  liv- 
ing. At  that  time  the  only  tree  in  sight  of 
the  house  was  a  Cottonwood  that  had  been 
planted  near  the  door.  This  grew  to  an 
enormous  size.  Soon  a  frame  house  took 
the  place  of  the  log  cabin  and  from  that 
time  till  the  present  day  -Mr.  Davis  has 
steadily  prospered  in  his  undertakings,  lie 
first  added  to  his  original  purchase  by  pur- 
chasing the  old  Bell  farm  oi  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  To  this  he  added  the 
Lewis  farm  of  one  hundred  ami  twenty 
acres,  then  fifty-five  acres  .if  timber  land 
and  still  later  an  eighty-acre  tract  of  par- 
tially improved  land.  In  addition  to  his 
farming  he  made  a  specialty  of  tine  cattle, 
horses  and  hogs,  which  he  raised  for  mar- 
ket. At  times  he  has  had  as  high  as  sev- 
enty-five head  of  cattle  ami  one  hundred 
and  fifty  head  of  hogs.  His  land  he  im- 
proved by  tiling,  putting  several  thousand 
dollars   into  tiles. 

At  Tiffin.  Ohio.  ,  ,11  March  S.  [849,  Mr. 
Davis  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Mary 
S.  Wilcox,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Rebecca 
(Dealander)  Wilcox,  who  were  early  set- 
tlers in  Ohio.  Her  father  was  a  wagon- 
maker  and  lived  to  the  good  old    age    of 


eighty-four  and  his  wife  also  attained  the 
same  age.  Eight  children  blessed  this 
union,  as  follows:  Mary  S.  :  Samuel; 
George;  Uriah;  Catherine,  who  married  F. 
1).  Kestler;   Peter;  Lovina  and  Lurena. 

To  our  subject  and  his  wife  were  horn 
six  children,  namely  :  Jesse  S..  who  is  agent 
for  the  Jones  scales,  married  Mary  Ross, 
now  deceased  and  they  have  one  child, 
Kash ;  Evander  resides  in  Kansas;  Merrick, 
a  large  ranch  owner  in  Texas,  married  Belle 
Brown,  and  they  have  seven  children, 
Chauncey  R.,  Mabel  S..  Jonathan.  Harold. 
Ira.  Grace  and  Ida  Belle;  Jonathan  lx.  and 
Mary  are  both  deceased;  U.  S.  Grant  is  a 
farmer  of  Harp  township,  who  married  Ma 
Thorp,  and  they  have  two  children.  Sahella 
and   Bernice. 

for  twentj  four  years  Mr.  Davis  served 

as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  for  two  years 
as  a  member  of  the  hoard  oi  supervisors. 
On  August  jo.  1859,  he  induced  Rev.  Will- 
iam Hemic],  a  local  minister,  to  have  serv- 
ices in  the  school  house,  as  he  was  one  to 
build  the  first  school  house  in  the  township. 
Here   he   was  chosen    leader   and   he  and   his 

g 1    wife   did    all    in    their    power    to    keep 

up  the  interest  of  these  meetings.  He  was 
always   found  ready  and  willing  to  do  even 

more  than  his  share  to  help  the  g 1  work 

along.  He  was  a  very  liberal  giver  to- 
wards the  new  church,  which  was  erected  in 
1891,  Rev.  Walter  Mitchell  being  the  first 
minister  to  occupy  its  pulpit,  but  now  it  is 
under  the  past,  .rate  of  Rev.  Enis.  When 
the  school  house  was  first  built  there  were 
only  seven  families  to  send  children  to  it, 
but  now  it  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  township. 
In  1895  Mr.  Davis  came  to  Clinton  and 
purchased  an  elegant  home,  known  as  the 
White  property,  a  large  spacious  residence 
with  beautiful  surrounding  lawns  and  shade 
trees,  a  place  he  ami  his  wife  can  well  enjoy 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


77 


the  remainder  of  their  lives  and  entertain 
their  host  of  friends.      Politically  Mr.   Davi> 

is  a  stanch  Republican,  hut  was  originally 
a  Whig,  having  cast  his  first  vote  for  Henry 
Clay  in  1S44. 

Mr.  Davis  is  in  all  respects  a  self-made 
man.  Through  his  own  exertions  he  lias 
attained  an  honorable  position  and  marked 
prestige  among  the  representative  men  of 
DeWitt  county,  and  with  signal  consistency 
it  may  he  said  that  he  is  the  architect  of  his 
own  fortunes,  and  one  whose  success  amply 
justifies  the  application  of  the  somewhat 
hackneyed,  hut  most  expressive  title,  "a 
self-made  man." 


WILLIAM  W.  MURPHEY. 

Prominent  among  the  energetic,  enter- 
prising and  successful  business  men 
Farmer  City  is  William  W.  Murphey,  presi- 
dent cf  the  Weedman  National  Bank,  which 
is  one  of  the  safest  and  most  conservative 
moneyed  institutions  of  the  county.  It  was 
established  in  1S71  by  Thomas  Brothers  and 
John  Weedman,  with  a  capital  of  forty  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  when  Oscar  Thomas  died 
Mr.  Weedman  purchased  the  other  brother's 
interest  and  carried  on  the  business  alone, 
with  J.  B.  Lewis  as  cashier  and  teller  and 
W.  K.  Star  as  bookkeeper.  On  the  30th  of 
November,  [885,  n  was  reorganized  as  the 
Weedman  National  Bank,  with  a  capital  of 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  the  officers  being 
Mathias  (.'rum.  president;  Y.  S.  Lindsley, 
vice-president;  and  < '.  M.  C.  Weedman, 
cashier.  The  hank  building,  which  was  a 
w len  structure,  was  destroyed  by  tire  Au- 

*  3.  1N04.  hut  immediately  a  handsome 
hrick  building  was  erected  on  the  same  site, 
into  which  the  company  moved  January    1, 


1895.       It    is    modern   in  its  appointments 

throughout,  and  has  the  besl  of  deposit 
vaults.  In  January.  [897,  Mr.  Murphey  was 
made  president  of  the  hank  and  has  since 
Tilled  that  office.  In  January.  [893,  C.  M. 
I  Weedman  was  succeeded  by  <  '•■  M .  Kin- 
caid  as  cashier,  the  latter  having  entered  the 
employ  of  the  company  as  clerk  in  r886 
and  gradually  worked  his  way  upward  to 
cashier,  which  position  he  still  tills  m  a  most 
satisfactory  manner.  The  capital  stock  was 
increased  to  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  in 
[890,  and  there  is  now  a  surplus  of  twenty- 
five  thousand.  Mr.  Murphey  is  a  man  of 
keen  discrimination  and  sound  judgment, 
and  his  executive  ability  and  excellent  man- 
agement have  brought  to  this  concern  a 
high  degree  of  success.  The  safe,  conserva- 
tive policy  which  he  follows  commends  it- 
self to  the  judgment  of  all.  and  has  secured 
a  patronage  which  makes  the  volume  of  busi- 
ness transacted  over  it<  counters  of  great 
importance  and  magnitude. 

Mr.  Murphey  was  born  in  Frederick 
county,  Virginia,  <  >ctober  15.  1838,  a  son  of 
Hiram  and  Grace  F.  (Mitchell)  Murphey, 
who  were  also  natives  of  the  <  )ld  Dominion. 
The  father  followed  the  saddler's  trade  for 
many  years  at  Winchester,  and  on  leaving 
there  in  1S44  removed  to  Sheets  Mills.  Vir- 
ginia, whence  he  came  with  his  family  t<  1  1  )e- 
W'itt  county.  Illinois,  in  [852,  locating  in 
Santa  Anna  township,  where  he  became  a 
land  owner  and  successful  farmer,  lie  died 
August  jo.  [881,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  December 
17.  [880,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 
I  loth  were  earnest  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  In  their  family  were  the 
following  children:  Thomas  I..  ami  De- 
borah, both  deceased;  Mary  F...  widow  of 
Alex  Holmes;  William  W\.  our  Bubject; 
Robert  A.  and    John   I'.,  deceased:   Prances 


7» 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Rl.,  widow  of  George  Page;  Levi  R.  and 
Isaac,  who  is  also  deceased. 

In  1843  our  subject  went  to  live  with  bis 
uncle.  John  Smith,  one  of  the  honored  pio- 
neers of  this  county.  He  was  born  in  I  tardy 
county,  Virginia,  February  27,  1805,  and  in 
1835  came  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  Mi.  Pleasant,  now 
Farmer  City,  opening  the  first  hotel  in  the 
place  and  serving  as  its  firsl  postmaster,  the 
office  first  being  called  Santa  Anna.  The 
office  was  then  located  on  the  cornet"  of 
South  Main  street  and  Clinton  avenue, 
where  the  marble  works  now  stand.  Mr. 
Smith  subsequently  followed  farming  and 
became  the  owner  of  a  large  amount  of  land 
in  this  county,  lie  married  Miss  Mary  1). 
Mitchell,  one  of  the  first  school  teachers  in 
tins  locality.  As  they  had  no  children  of 
their  own  they  adopted  our  subject  and  were 

to  him  most  indulgent  parents.  No  mother 
ever  loved  a  child  more  fondly  than  Mrs. 
Smith  loved  him  or  was  willing  to  sacrifice 

more  for  his  happiness.  She  died  July  31, 
1878,  aged  seventj  seven  years,  and  Mr. 
Smith  died  on  the  8th  of  June,  the  same 
year,  aged  seventj  three  years.  They  were 
mosl  estimable  people  and  Mrs.  Smith  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
and  Mr.  Smith  gave  liberally  to  its  support. 
Mr.  Murphej  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  this  count},  and  the  Normal 
School  at  Normal,  Illinois,  and  later  engaged 
in  teaching  school  for  three  terms.  I  lis 
fust  purchase  of  land  consisted  of  eighty 
acres  known  as  the  Burford  farm,  now 
owned  by  Mr.  Brucken,  and  he  subsequently 
traded  that  property  for  the  Bracken  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he 
vet  owns  ami  which  he  has  greatly  improved 
by  tiling  it  and  erecting  an  entire  new  set  of 
farm  buildings.  Upon  this  place  he  makes 
his  home  and  is  successfully  engaged  in  gen- 


eral farming  and  stock-raising  in  connection 
with  his  banking  interests. 

In  McLean  county,  Illinois,  October  5, 
[865,  Mr.  Murphey  married  Miss  Nancy 
Helen  Burford,  a  daughter  of  Cary  and 
Anna  (Shields)  Burford.  Her  father  was 
a  retired  farmer  of  Farmer  City.  By  this 
union  were  born  five  children,  namely:  Ed- 
win C.  a  prominent  jeweler  and  esteemed 
citizen  of  Farmer  City,  who  died  in  [898  at 
the  age  of  thirty  years;  Grace  \..  who  is  the 
wife  of  Benjamin  Overstreel  and  has  three 
children,  Walter,  Albert  and  Pearl;  Mary 
Viola  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Swaney  and  has 
two  children,  Merval  and  Pearl;  and 
Blanche  E.  and  Wayne  \\'..  both  at  home. 

<  »n  the  inauguration  of  the  Civil  war  Mr. 
Murphe)  enlisted  in  July,  [861,  in  Company 
F,  Forty-first  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  for  gallant  service  was  promoted  to  the 

rank  of  sergeant.  He  was  twice  wounded. 
first  in  the  left  arm  at  Fort  Donelson,  and 
later  in  the  right  hip  during  the  siege  of 
Jacks, in.  Mississippi.  These  honorable  scars 
he  will  carry  with  him  to  his  grave,  lie  is 
now  a  prominent  member  and  past  com- 
mander of  Lemon  Lost,  No.  Jit.  <  '•■  A.  K., 
at  Farmer  City,  and  the  Independent  Order 
-1  1  >dd  Fellows,  also  of  Farmer  City,  and  is 
trustee  of  the  Methodist  church,  to  which  he 
belongs.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  Republi- 
can, and  is  as  true  to  his  duties  of  citizenship 
in  days  of  peace  as  when  he  fought  for  the 
old  flag  and  the  cause  it  represented. 


JOHN  SUMMERVILLE. 

John  Summerville,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 4.  Wapella  township,  owns  and  oper- 
ates a  valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,, 
whose  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  well  in- 


THE   BIOGKAIMIU  )AL   RECORD. 


79 


dicates  his  careful  supervision!  Substantial 
improvements  arc  surrounded  by  well  tilled 
fields,  and  all  of  the  accessories  and  con- 
veniences of  a  model  farm  arc  there  found. 

Mr.  Summerville  was  born  on  the  farm 
where  he  now   resides,  February   17.   [8 
and  is  a  son  of  James  Summerville,  who 
came  to  this  country  in  1848,  when  a  young 
man.  and  for  ten  years  worked  in  the  Illinois 

tral  Railroad  shops  at  Wapella.  lie  then 
purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
the  railroad  company  in  Wapella  township, 
and  in  186]  added  to  it  a  tract  of  forty  acre-. 
for  which  he  paid  fifty  dollars  per  acre 
After  erecting  a  house  upon  his  land  he 
located  thereon,  and  to  the  further  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  that  farm  devoted 
his  attention  for  some  time.  He  subsequent- 
ly bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  in  Clintonia  township,  and  an  adjoining 
tract  of  forty  acres,  his  landed  possessions 
then  aggregating  four  hundred  acres.  He 
was  in  limited  circumstances  on  coming  to 
this  county,  but  being  industrious,  enterpris- 
ing and  persevering,  he  gradually  worked 
his  way  upward  until  he  was  one  of  the  well- 
to-do  and  prosperous  citizens' of  his  com- 
munity. In  [894  he  retired  from  active 
labor  and  removed  to  Clinton,  where  he 
made  his  home  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred December  31,  [898.  In  this  county 
he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Heenan.  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Ireland,  but  who  sur- 
vived her  husband,  being  a  resident  of  Clin- 
ton until  her  death.  August  14,  1 901.  The 
children  1m .rn  to  them  are  William  T..  a 
fanner  of  Clintonia  township:  John,  of  this 
review;  Margaret,  who  is  living  in  Clinton. 

John  Summerville  grew  to  manhood 
upon  the  home  farm  and  was  educated  in 
the  local  schools.  When  his  father  retired 
he  succeeded  to  the  farm  in  Wapella  town- 
ship, and  has  since  successfully  engaged  in 


it^  operation,  lie  is  a  well-known  breeder 
of  Clydedale  anil  Englishshire  horses,  giv- 
ing particular  attention  to  that  branch  of  his 
business,  and  in  all  his  undertakings  has 
steadily  prospered  thus  far.  Politically  he 
is  a  stalwart  Democrat,  having  never  failed 
in  his  allegiance  to  that  party  since  casting 
his  tirst  presidential  vote  for  Grover  Cleve- 
land in  [888.  He  was  elected  and  served 
two  years  as  commissioner  of  highways,  and 
has  always  taken  a  deep  and  commendable 
interest  in  public  affairs.  Religiously  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 


I.  FRANK   Dl : V 


This  well-known  merchant  of  W'aynes- 
ville.  Illinois,  is  a  man  whose  sound  com- 
mon sense  and  vigorous,  able  management 
of  his  affairs  have  been  important  factors  in 
his  success,  and  with  his  undoubted  integ- 
rity of  character  have  given  him  an  honor- 
able position  among  his  fellow  men.  He 
was  born  in  Decatur  county.  Indiana,  Sep- 
tember 6,  [854,  but  during  his  infancy  was 
brought  to  this  state,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home. 

His  father.  J.  \Y.  Dix.  was  a  native  of 
Virginia  and  a  son  of  John  Dix.  J.  W. 
Dix  grew  to  manhood  in  Virginia  and  then 
removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  near  Xenia. 
There  he  married  Martha  Smith,  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  and  a  daughter  of  William 
Smith,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
Ohio.  After  his  marriage  he  removed  to 
Indiana,  where  he  spent  one  year,  and  then 
in  1S54  came  to  Illinois  and  took  Up  his 
residence  in  Bloomington,  where  he  fol- 
lowed blacksmithing  for  a  few  years,  hav- 
ing learned  that  trade  in  early  life.  In  [869 
he  removed  to  Waynesville,  DeWitt  county, 


8o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  opened  a  wagon,  repair  and  blacksmith 
shop,  carrying  on  business  here  for  some 
years.  He  next  went  to  Kingman,  Kansas, 
in  1882,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
at  that  place,  dying  there  in  1888.  His 
wife  still  survives  him  and  resides  with  her 
youngest  sun  in  Newton,  Kansas.  In  the 
family  were  twelve  children,  four  sons  and 
eight  daughters,  all  of  whom  reached  ma- 
ture years,  and  all  of  the  SOTIS  and  four  of 
the  daughters  are  still  living. 

J.  Frank  Dix,  of  this  review,  was  a  lad 
of  about  fifteen  years  when  he  came  with 
the  family  to  DeWitt  county.  He  received 
Ins  early  education  in  the  common  schools, 
which  he  attended  during  the  winter  months, 
while  he  worked  on  a  farm  through  the 
summer  season.      After    reaching    manhood 

lie  took  charge  of  a  store  at  Waynesville, 
which  he  success  fully  managed  for  two 
years,  and  during  that  time  became  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  the  mercantile  busi- 
nses.  In  May.  1879,  be  opened  a  small 
restaurant  of  his  own,  and  as  soon  as  he  had 
secured  sufficient  capital  he  put  in  a  small 
stuck  of  groceries,  to  which  he  added  from 
time  to  time  as  his  financial  resources  per- 
mitted,    lie  built  up  quite  a  g 1  business, 

hut  in  1884  sold  out,  and  for  three  years 
was  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  grain. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  bought  hack  his 
store  and  continued  in  the  restaurant  anil 
grocer}  business  until  his  building  and  stock 
were  destroyed  by  tire  in  1  Si)  1.  With  char- 
acteristic energy  he  at  once  rebuilt,  and  now 
1  a!  a  large  double  store,  and  carries  a  well- 
selected  stock  of  groceries,  hardware,  1 ts. 

slioes,  etc.  Having  made  for  himself  an 
enviable  reputation  for  fair  dealing,  lie  re- 
ceded a  liberal  share  of  the  public  patron- 
age. On  the  organization  of  the  Waym 
ville  Hank  he  became  one  of  the  original 
stockholders,  and  three  years  later  was  made 


a  director  and  vice-president,  in  which  ca- 
pacity he  has  since  served.  He  owns  a  nice 
residence  in  Waynesville,  which  he  has  re- 
cently remodeled,  putting  in  hot  water  heat 
and  all  of  the  conveniences  found  in  a  city 
home. 

I  >n  the  15th  of  December,  1881,  in  De- 
W'itt county.  Mr.  Dix  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Laura  Sprague,  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  a  daughter  of  James  Sprague, 
who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county  and  died  in  the  service  of  his  coun- 
try during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Mrs. 
I>i\  was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county, 
and  by  her  marriage  to  our  subject  has  be- 
come the  mother  of  two  children.  Fred  and 
Fern. 

In  political  sentiment  Mr.  Nix  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  has  supported  every  presidential 
nominee  of  that  party  since  casting  his  first 
vote  for  Grover  Cleveland  in  [884.     He  has 

taken  quite  an  active  pa/1  in  local  politics; 
has  served  as  township  clerk,  and  since  iS-c) 
has  been  school  treasurer.  lie  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  town  board  several  years;  was  its 
president  one  term;  ami  was  instrumental 
in  securing  the  water  works  ami  other 
needed  improvements  in  the  city.  He  also 
served  four  terms  as  township  collector,  and 
in  whatever  position  be  has  been  called  upon 
to  till  he  has  most  capably  and  satisfactorily 
harged  its  duties.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Waynesville  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F. ; 
Waynesville  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  and  At- 
lanta Chapter,  R.  A.  M.:  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  belong  to  the  Eastern  Star  Chapter. 
Mr.  Nix  belongs  to  thai  class  of  men  whom 
the  world  terms  self-made,  for  beginning 
life  without  capital,  he  has  conquered  all  the 
obstacles  in  the  path  to  success,  and  has  not 
only  secured  for  himself  a  handsome  com- 
petence, but  by  his  efforts  has  materially 
advanced  the  interests    of    the    community; 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


81 


with  which  In  lated.      lit-  is  a  prom- 

inent figure  in  business,  political  and  social 
circles,  and  ranks  among  the  leading  citizens 
of  Wavnesville. 


AUSTIN   R.  SHIT.. 

Among  the  county  officials  of  Ik-Witt 
County  there  is  probably  none  more  popular 
than  Austin  K.  Shue.  who  is  now  >. «  effici- 
ently serving  as  sheriff.  He  was  born  in 
Clinton.  Missouri,  on  the  1st  of  January. 
85  .  anil  is  a  son  <>i  John  and  Sarah 
(  Mitchell  I  Shue.  lx>th  natives  of  '  >hio.  His 
paternal  grand father.  Gotlieb  Shue.  came  to 
this  country  from  Germany,  and  followed 
the  tailor's  trade  throughout  the  greater  part 
of  his  life.  He  spent  his  last  days  in  this 
county,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in 
Wilson  township.  A  more  extended  men- 
tion of  the  Shue  family  will  lie  found  on 
another  page  of  this  volume. 

The  lather  of  our  subject  was  horn  in 
Muskingum  county.  Ohio,  and  in  early  life 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1869  he  came  t<>  DeWitt  county,  Illinois. 
and  after  spending  s.  .me  time  in  Harp  town- 
ship located  permanently  in  Wilson  town- 
ship, where  he  followed  farming  quite  suc- 
lly.  He  devoted  his  attention  princi- 
pally to  the  raising  of  horses,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  successful  breeders  of  Norman 
5  in  the  county,  raising  many  valuable 
animals.  He  died  in  1894,  at  the  a. 
fifty-nine  years,  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him.  His  wife  is  still  living. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
namely:  Austin  R.,  our  subject:  Mary, 
wife  of  T.  W.  Wilson,  of  thi>  county:  Lo- 
gan, deceased:  Ulj  jses  G  and  Edward,  who 
live  in  this  county:  Ella,  deceased  wife 
of   11.    S.   Griffith,  of  this  county:   Almeda. 


wife  of  T.  Moore,  of  this  county;  and  Fred, 

a   resident  of   McLean  county.    Illinois. 
Austin  R.  Shue  grew  to  manhood  upon 

the  home  farm,  and  early  in  life  made  a 
study  of  the  art  of  successful  farming.  He 
gan  life  for  himself  in. a  small  way  upon 
an  eighty-acre  tract  of  land  which  his  wife 
had  inherited  from  her  father,  and  to  this 
property  he  has  since  added  until  they  now 
have  two  hundred  and  fourteen  acres,  which 
he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  has  set  out  an  orchard,  erected  a 
comfortable  residence,  a  good  barn  and  other 
buildings,  and  has  made  many  other  im- 
provements    upon     the     place,     which     add 

itly  to  its  valuable  and  attractive  ap- 
pearance. It  previously  belonged  to  the  old 
Harold  estate.  Mr.  Shue  successfully  en- 
j  _ed  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising 
until  elected  sheriff,  and  on  his  removal  to 
Clinton  to  assume  the  duties  of  that  office 
he  rented  his  farm. 

In  February.  1881,  he  married  Miss  Cora 
McCord,  daughter  of  Washington  McCord, 
an  early  settler  and  successful  farmer  of 
this  county.  It  is  worthy  of  mention  that 
Mr.  Shue  is  the  third  of  Mr.  McCord's 
sons-in-law  elected  sheriff  of  this  county. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  seven  chil- 
dren, all  living,  namely:  Hallie.  Gertrude, 
Mary.  Welby,  Nellie,  Ella  and  John  Wash- 
ingti  in. 

Mr.  Shue  has  always  taken  an  active 
and  commendable  interest  in  public  affairs, 
and  has  been  called  upon  to  till  several  local 
offices,  including  those  of  school  director 
and  road  commissioner.  In  the  fall  of  [fi 
he  was  elected  sheriff  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  has  since  served  in  that  capacity 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  the  Knights  of  Py- 
thias and  the  Royal    -  f  Americ 


82 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


CHARLES  W.  McCORD. 

One  of  the  prominent  dealers  in  real  es- 
tate, insurance  and  loans  of  Clinton.  Illi- 
nois, is  a  native  of  the  stale  of  Illinois  and 
was  bom  in  Santa  Anna  township,  DeWitt 
county,  on  the  23d  day  of  June.  1842.  lie 
is  a  son  of  John  and  a  grandson  "t"  James 
and  a  great-grandson  of  James,  who  was  a 
native  of  Ireland  and  a  son  of  Robert,  who 
was  a  son  of  John,  who  in  turn  was  a  son 
of  Robert,  who  in  about  [689  was  a  High- 
lander and  chief  of  his  clan  in  Scotland,  and 
who  met  his  death  at  the  battle  at  Kille- 
crunkie  Pass,  in  Scotland,  during  the  Re 
hellion.  1 1  i>  son  John  took  part  in  numer- 
ous wars  and  died  about  1  ~  1  5 -  llis  sons 
were  John,  David,  William.  Robert,  Samuel, 
Benjamin  and  James.  These  children  after 
the  death  of  their  father  removed  to  Stew- 
artstown,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and 
about  [720  John,  David  and  William  came 
to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Penn- 
sylvania. John  somewhat  later  moving  to 
North  Carolina.  David  and  William  were 
both  killed  by  the  Indians. 

The  father  ^\  these  hoys.  John,  was  bom 
in  Argyle  Skye,  Scotland.  llis  coat  of 
arms  was  a  shield  of  gold  in  black  and 
while,  with  three  hearts  and  three  lance 
heads  on  it.  surmounted  by  a  closed  helmet. 
The  history  of  the  coat  of  arms  is  as  fol- 
low -  :  "It  seems  t. .  he  a  \  cry  go<  id  one  with 
its  three  hearts  on  golden  ground  and  its 
three  upward  pointing  arrow  heads,  which 
seem  t"  he  typical  of  an  upward  aspiration. 
three,  itself  is  a  sacred  and  spiritual  num- 
ber. There  are  first,  three  distinct  folds  in 
the  drapery,  which,  taken  with  the  parts. 
makes  seven.  The  three  hearts,  three  arrow 
heads  and  helmet  make  seven,  another  sacred 
number.  The  whole  figure  in  its  general 
outline   is   that   of   an   upward   pointing  tri- 


angle, which  in  all  religion  is  symbolical  of 
spirit,  hut  all  through  the  symbolism  seems 
to  he  good."  Families  of  the  name  of  Mc- 
Cord  still  reside  in  the  County  of  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  and  are  all   Presbyterians. 

James  Met  ord  was  horn  in  Ireland  in 
[739  ami  died  at  Spring  (.'reek.  Overton 
county.  Tennessee,  on  .March  4,  [824.  lie 
went  with  his  father  to  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  at  the  age  of  four  years, 
afterwards  removing  to  Wilkes  and  Iredell 
counties,  North  Carolina,  and  from  there  he 
went  to  Overton  county,  Tennessee.  He 
served  in  the  Revolutionarj  war  and  was 
wagon  master  general  under  George  Wash- 
ington, lie  married  in  Wilkes  county, 
North  Carolina,  Jane  Scroggs  (or 
Scruggs),  a  Scotch  lady,  who  died  No- 
vember 1  J.  1789.  They  had  nine  children. 
Their  son  James  was  born  in  Wilkes  county, 
February  _'_•.  1770.  and  died  in  DeWitt 
county.  Illinois.  December  3,  1852.  lie 
was  married  in  Overton  county.  Tennessee, 
tn  Mary  Moore,  mi  March  jo,  1X04.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Charles  Moore  and  was 
horn  in  Granville  county.  North  Carolina, 
October  29,  1  77« *.  and  died  in  DeWitt  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  May  23,  1S5S.  They  first  set- 
tled mi  Peterman's  Bend,  of  Obies  river, 
Overton  county.  Tennessee,  where  all  their 
children  were  horn.  They  moved  to  Spring 
(reek  about  l  S I  7  and  to  DeWitt  county  in 
[832,  on  a  farm  now-  owned  by  S.  J. 
Thomas.  At  that  time  there  were  hut  six 
families  in  this  part  of  the  state,  namely: 
Dennis  Hurley,  John  Weedman,  Richard 
Kirhy.  William  Dailey.  Robert  Cummings 
and  James  M.  Porter,  who  are  supposed  to 
he  the  original  settlers  of  this  section.  At 
first  they  lived  in  a  double  log  house  with 
a  hall  running  the  entire  length  of  same 
and  a  fireplace  at  either  end.  This  was  later 
replaced  by  a  frame  house,  which  was  con- 


JOHN    McCORD. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


85 


sidered  a  good  one  for  those  days  and  is  still 
standing.  In  this  family  were  the  following 
children:  Charles,  James  \\\.  William  Y.. 
Mrs.    Sarah    Pool,     Mrs.     Martha     Shinkle, 

Mrs.  Hannah  Wakefield,  John,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  Mrs.  Mary  Heath  and  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Brown. 

(harlc-  Moore,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject's grandmother,  was  of  Welsh  stock,  a 
cooper  l>\  trade  and  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  lie  also  engaged  in  making 
tin  canteens  for  the  soldiers,  lie  married 
Sarah  Smith,  a  lady  of  Scotch  descent. 

The  father  of  Charles  W.  McCord  «;» 
1..  in  in  (  herton  county,  Tennessee,  April  5, 
1814.  Upon  reaching  man's  estate  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  DeW'itt  township,  this 
county,  which  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Mc- 
Kinley.  and  followed  farming  until  within 
fifteen  years  of  his  death,  the  last  few  years 
<>f  his  life  being  passed  in  the  city  of  Clin- 
ton, where  he  died  in  March.  1  NX  1 .  hi 
politics  he  was  an  old  line  Whig  and  was 
on  one  occasion  elected  by  the  Democratic 
vote  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  hut 
at  that  time,  as  he  was  the  only  Republican 
in  the  township,  he  refused  to  qualify  and 
serve.  He  married  Sarah  S..  the  daughter 
of  Gabriel  Watt,  who  was  a  Methodist 
preacher  and  a  pioneer  of  this  county.  She 
was  horn  in  [819  and  her  death  occurred 
in  1896.  To  them  were  horn  three  children. 
William  J.,  who  died  at  Knoxville,  Ten- 
nessee. March  lS.  [86-£  while  in  the  service 
and  a  member  of  Company  <i.  <  >ne  Hundred 
Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry;  Charles 
W.,  our  subject,  and  his  twin  sister,  Marie 
J.,  the  widow  of  S.  1\.  RiggS.  She  resides  at 
Midland.  Texas,  and  is  the  owner  of  a  large 
stock  ranch,  comprising  over  forty  sections 
of   land. 

Charles  W.  McCord  was  raised  on  the 
farm    of   his    parents    and    received    the   or- 


dinary  common    school    education   and   later 

attended  the  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa.  College, 
and  then  engaged  m  farming,  buying  what 

is  now  known  as  the  Knob's  farm  in  De- 
Witt  township,  comprising  one  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  acres.  On  this  he  resided  for 
four  years,  making  many  improvements, 
when  he  disposed  oi  it  and  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  aires  in  McLean  coun- 
ty, which  he  improved  and  on  which  he  re- 
sided for  four  years  and  then  moved  to 
Storm  Lake.  Iowa,  where  he  carried  on 
farming  for  eighteen  years,  lie  then  lived 
four  years  at  Storm  Lake  Cit)  and  from 
there  moved  to  Clinton.  Illinois,  to  care  for 
his  mother,  who  was  well  advanced  in  years 
and  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival  here  he  established 
his  present  business  and  has  handled  a  large 
amount  of  property  in  this  and  adjoining 
states,  and  has  also  conducted  a  large  insur- 
ance and  loan  business,  in  which  he  has  been 
very  successful. 

On  Christmas  day,  [865,  he  married 
Margaret  J.  Swisher,  daughter  of  Isaac  one 
of  the  early  and  prominent  settlers  of  this 
comity.  A  sketch  of  the  Swisher  family 
will  he  found  on  another  page  of  this  work, 
together  with  an  engraving  of  Mr.  Swisher. 
She  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years,  <  ),- 
toiler.  [896,  at  Storm  Lake.  Iowa.  She  he- 
came  the  mother  of  four  children:  Ida  M. 
married  John  A.  Struble,  of  Clinton:  and 
to  them  were  horn  two  children.  Harry  and 
Mane.  John  died  at  the  age  of  one  year. 
Charles  Frank,  of  Iowa,  married  Lithe 
Prysk,  and  to  them  were  horn  Lean 
Frank  and  Myrle.  Katie  Mane  died  at  the 
age   of   nine   months. 

Mr.    McCord    married     for     his     second 
wife.    October    23,     [9OO,    Mrs.     \nianda    ( '. 

Taylor,  the  daughter  of  Dr.  c     [brake, 

late     of     Clinton,    and    one   of    its    most    es- 


86 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


teemed  physicians  and  surgeons.  Mr.  Mc- 
Cord  is  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge,  chapter 
and  commandery  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
all  of  Clinton. 


JACOB  W.  AXD  JOHN  JONES. 

Anums;-  the  leading  citizens  and  success- 
ful agriculturists  of  Barnetl  township  are 
numbered  tin-  Jones  brothers,  who  reside  on 
section  to.  and  have  been  actively  identified 

with  the  farming  interests  of  this  COUtttv 
since  the  fall  of  1X511.  They  are  natives  >i 
Gibson  county.  Indiana,  where  Jacob  W. 
was  born  January  25,  iN_m.  and  John, 
March  13,  [825.  Their  father,  Charles 
Jones,  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Ken- 
tucky, in  171)  1.  and  was  a  son  of  Cadwall- 
ader  Ji mes,  w ho  was  a  native  1  >f  North  Caro- 
lina and  one  of  the  firsl  settlers  of  the  Blue 
Grass  state.     For    some    time    during  his 

early  residence  in  Kentucky  his  family  had 
to  live  in  the  fort  for  protection  from  the 
Indian^.  When  a  young  man  Charles  Jones 
left  his  native  state  ami  removed  to  Indi- 
ana, about  1  S  1  _' .  and  there  he  married  Miss 
Eleanor  Warrick,  who  was  also  born  in 
Kentucky.     Her    father.   Captain    Warrick. 

was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe,  on  the  Wabash  river,  in  1S11. 
He  was  one  of  the  firsl  settlers  of  Gibson 
county.    Indiana,   having    located    there    in 

[807.  M:ere  Mrs.  Jones  was  reared,  and 
there  she  continued  to  make  her  home  after 
her  marriage  up  to  the  time  of  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  1N71.  at  the  age  of  about 
seventy-two  years.  Her  husband,  who  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  died  in  February, 

[864,  ami  both  were  laid  to  rest  in  the 
Owensville  cemetery.     They  were  the  par- 


ents of  twelve  children,  eleven  of  whom 
readied  mature  years,  and  seven  sons  are 
still  living. 

The  brothers  in  whom  we  are  interested 
grew  to  manhood  in  Gibson  county.  Indiana, 
and  their  education  was  limited  to  a  few 
months*  attendance  at  the  subscription 
schools  of  those  days.  They  remained  on 
the  old  homestead,  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising,  until  the  fall  of  1N50,  when 
thev  came  to  1  leW'itt  county.  Illinois,  hav- 
ing previously  purchased  three  hundred  and 
twenty  .acres  of  land  in  Harnett  township. 
To  the  further  improvement  and  cultivation 
of  that  place  thev  have  since  devoted  their 
energies  with  marked  success,  and  as  their 
financial  resources  have  increased  thev  have 

extended  the  boundaries  of  their  farm  until 

thev  now  have  nearly  six  hundred  acres  of 
rich  and  arable  land.  They  have  built  a 
large  and  substantial  resilience  upon  the 
place,  good  barns  and  other  outbuildings, 
and  have  added  all  the  accessories  ami  con- 
veniences usually  found  upon  a  model  farm 
of  the  present  day.  John  Jones  gives  con- 
siderable attention  to  the  raising  of  pure- 
blooded  short  horn  cattle,  and  is  accounted 
one  of  the  most  successful  stock-raisers  oi 
the  county,  lie  is  one  of  the  original  stock- 
holders of  the  Waynesville  Bank,  and  is  also 

one  of  its  directors.  I  lis  1  not  her  is  a  st,,ek- 
holder  of  the  same  institution  and  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Clinton. 

In  October,  [856,  John  Jones  was  mar- 
ried in  Gibson  county.  Indiana,  to  Miss  iv-r- 
nielia  Montgomery,  a  native-  of  that  county, 
as  was  also  her  father,  J.  W.  Montgomery. 
Si\  children  bless  this  union,  namely:  Ella, 
wife  of  W.  T.  Marvel,  a  farmer  of  Harnett 
township.  DeWitt  county.  Illinois;  War- 
rick. Charles  ami  Franklin,  who  are  en- 
gaged  in   farming  on   the  home  place;  and 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


87 


Martha  and  Mary,  twins,  the  latter  the  wife 
ol  (i.  A.  Randolph,  who  is  engaged  in  the 

banking  business  in  Warrensburg,  Illinois. 
In  early  life  the  Jones  brothers  affiliated 
with  the  Whig  party,  and  J.  W.  cast  his  tir-t 
vole  for  Henry  Clay  in  1S44.  and  John 
voted  for  General  Zachary  Taylor  in  1848, 
but  they  supported  John  C.  Fremont  in  [856, 
and  have  since  l>een  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  In  business  affairs  they  are 
prompt,  energetic  and  notably  reliable,  and 
through  their  own  well-directed  efforts  they 
have  achieved  excellent  success,  being  now 
numbered  among  the  well-to-do  and  pros- 
is    farmers   of   their   community. 


CHARLES  WALKER. 

Charles  Walker,  a  highly  respected  citi- 
zen of  Harp  township,  section  [9,  was  born 
in  Sangamon  county.  Illinois,  February  14. 
i860.  He  is  the  sixth  child  of  Judge  Rob- 
ert and  Sarah  <  Fretz  I  Walker,  who  were 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  resided  in 
Ohio  many  years  before  coming  to  Illinois. 
A  biography  of  their  lives  is  included  else- 
where in  this  lxx>k.  Charles  Walker  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  Harp  township, 
but  his  education  was  not  confined  to  that 
received  at  school.  By  a  wise  father  and 
a  devoted  mother  he  was  trained  in  all  those 
Christian  virtues  which  unite  to  form  the 
highest  type  of  American  manhood.  Oc- 
tober 3,  1889,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mi-s  Kate  C.  Capron,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Laura  (  Willis)  Capron.  Will- 
iam Capron  was  a  native  of  New  York,  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and  was  captured 
at  the  battle  of  Cross  Roads  and  confined 
even  months  in  Andersonville  prison, 
from  which  he  was  released  at  the  cli 
the  war. 


The  subject  whose  name  introduces  this 

-ketch  ha-  always  lived  on  the  same  place 

since  he  came  to  tin-  county  with  hi-  par- 
ent- at  the  age  of  live  year-.      1  lere  he  urew 

to  manhood  and  obtained  hi-  practical 
knowledge  of  agriculture.  Mr.  Walker- 
farm  consists  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  well-improved  land,  which  he  de- 
votes to  general  farming.  The  cattle  which 
he  raise-  are  short  horns  and  are  eligible  to 
registry.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  the  im- 
ported Percheron  stallion  Sicot.  He  has 
good  buildings  on  his  farm,  and  everywhere 
are  signs  that  the  les.-oii-  in  agriculture 
which  he  learned  from  his  father  are  being 
DUt  to  a  wise  use.  J'hat  he  i-  a  successful 
farmer  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  has 
been  chosen  president  of  the  Farmers1  Insti- 
tute. He  is  also  president  of  the  Prairie 
Center  Telephone  Company,  with  head- 
quarters at  Clinton.  In  politics  be  i-  a  Pro- 
hibitionist, and  would  like  to  see  the  curse 
of  drunkeness  removed  from  our  beloved 
country. 

Charles  Walker  and  his  wife  are  the  par- 
ent- of  rive  children,  of  whom  one.  an  infant 
-0:1.  1-  dead.  Carl.  Helen  and  the  twins. 
Sarah  and  Laura,  who  are  named  after 
their  two  grandmothers,  live  to  gladden  the 
home  of  Charles  and  Kate  Walker.  Mr. 
Walker  and  his  wife  are  prominent  mem! 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Clinton.  Ik- 
has  been  an  elder  in  the  church  for  four 
years  and  is  a  faithful  adherent  to  the  re- 
ligion of  his  father-. 


ALFRED     HOMER     MONTGOMERY. 

Prominent  among  the  influential  in 

paper   men   of    DeWitt     county     is     Alfred 
Homer   Montgomery,  editor  of  the   Weldon 


38 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL-  RECORD. 


Record.     Many  causes  contribute  to  the  suc- 
cess of  Mr.   Montgomery,  not  the  least   of 
which    is    an    extended    journalistic    experi- 
ence, an  intuitive  knowledge  of  the  demands 
of   the   leading   public,   and    forceful,   clear- 
cut,  sensible  ideas  upon  leading  and  inter- 
esting questions  of  the  day.     The  tolerance 
and  breadth  of  mind  ventilated  through  the 
editorials  and  general  columns  of  the   Rec- 
ord challenge  respect  and  attention  from  all 
who  peruse  its  well-printed  pages,  no  mat- 
ter what  their  individual  political  and  other 
view-.      A    hard   and   conscientious    worker, 
the    editor    of    the    Record    has    trodden    no 
royal  road  to  his  present  position,  hut  is  in- 
debted solely  to  his  own  untiring  efforts  in 
learning  ever)    detail,    from   the  bottom   up. 
..i  newspaper  work.     He  was  born  Febru- 
ary 15.  [876,  near  Middletown,  Logan  coun- 
ty,   Illinois,   a    s,  ,11   of    William    and     Sarah 
(Dunmire)    Montgomery.     William    Mont- 
gomery, s,  ,11  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  was  one 
of    a     family    of    seventeen   children,    four 
daughters  and  thirteen   sons,  and  his  death 
occurred  in  1NN1.  when  his  son,  A.  11..  was 
but  five  years  of  age.     The  lad  lived  on  the 
home  farm  until   1SS4.  when  he  accompanied 
lis  mother,  now  Mrs.  R.  M.  Ewing.  and  his 
step-father,  to  Farmerl  City,  Illinois,  where 
the  latter  purchased  the   Farmer  City    Re- 
publican.    Then    began    the   career    of    the 
embryo  journalist,    for  at   the   age   of   nine 
ars   he  entered   the  printing  office  of  the 
Republican,  attending  also  the  public  schools 
as     opportunity     afforded.       The     printing 
business  seems  to  have  been  paramount  at 
this  time,  for  upon  reaching  the  sophomore 
year   he  abandoned    for  the   present    further 
attempt   at   school   education,    and    devoted 
himself  exclusively  to  the  affairs  of  the  news- 
paper office.     After  the  sale  of  the  Republi- 
can  his    services    were    enlisted    with    the 
Farmer    City    Record,    purchased    by    his 


mother  and  brother,  H.  E.,  with  his  step- 
father. R.  M.  Ewing,  as  editor-in-chief. 
After  a  fitful  career  of  a  year  and  a  month 
in  Farmer  City  under  the  new  management, 
the  outfit  of  the  Record  was  taken  to  Wel- 
don,  Mr.  Montgomery  arriving  to  contrib- 
ute his  share  toward  manipulating  the  enter- 
prise in  its  new  quarters  in  March  of  1893. 
The  control  of  the  Record  underwent  a 
change  in  1895,  owing  to  the  death  of  Mr. 
Ewing,  at  which  time  a  partnership  was 
formed  between  Mr.  Montgomery  and  his 
brother,  11.  H..  and  continued  amicably  un- 
til the  substitution  of  J.  H.  for  II.  1-"..  Mont- 
gomery, Upon  the  retirement  of  the  latter 
t"  Clinton  in  [896.  By  mutual  consent  the 
Record  force  was  dissolved  in  [898,  Alfred 
i  lomer  Ah  tntgomery  assuming  complete  con- 
trol of  the  sheet.  Since  [899  the  periodical 
has  been  issued  from  its  new  home,  a  com- 
modious and  well-planned  office  building  of 

brick,  fitted  with  all  modern  conveniences, 

;  nd  rendered  acceptable  to  the  eye  by  large 
plate  glas>  windows  and  elegant  appropri- 
ate fixtures. 

The  hospitable  and  delightful  home  of 
Mr.  Montgomery  is  presided  over  by  his 
wife,  formerly  Birdie  McAboy,  of  Lane, 
Illinois,  whom  he  married  February  15, 
[898.  1  U'  this  union  there  are  two  chil- 
dren, Helen  Irene  and  Robert  William  Har- 
rold  Nates.  The  friends  w\\,,  delight  in  the 
surroundings  of  the  beautiful  Montgomery 
home  are  legion,  and  the  utmost  good  fel- 
lowship, refinement  and  culture  prevail  to 
an  unusual  degree. 


MRS.  LYDIA  M.  JOHNSON. 

The  state  of  Illinois  owes  its  high  stand- 
ing among  the  sovereign  commonwealths 
that  make  up  the  United  States  to  the  high 


ELIAS  JOHNSON  AND   WIFE. 


Till-.    r.loC.KAHIk-  \I.    RKCORD. 


91 


character  and  dauntless  spirit  of  her  pioneers. 
To  their  inspiration  and  work  1--  due  her 
wonderful  progress  in  agriculture,  manu- 
facturing and  the  art-.  They  transformed 
the  wild  prairie  lands  into  beautiful  homes 
and  farms,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  wilder- 
ness established  churches  and  >i-In » ils.  lay- 
ing the  foundations  for  the  grand  institu- 
tions of  philanthropy  and  learning  which 
are  the  glory  of  the  state  at  the  present  day. 
Among  those  brave  and  far-sighted  pioneers 
the  family  to  which  Mrs.  Johnson  belongs 
holds  a  prominent  place.  They  came  t" 
what  is  now  DeWitt  county  in  1830,  and 
were  the  first  to  locate  in  Farmer  City, 
where  she  now  makes  her  home. 

Her  father.  Dennis  Hurley,  was  horn  in 
Trenton.  New  Jersey,  March  11.  171)7.  an'l 
was  a  son  of  James  Hurley,  who  spent  his 
last  1  lays  in  Illinois,  where  he  died  when  a 
very  old  man.  his  remains  being  interred  in 
Camp  Ground  cemetery.  Santa  Anna  town- 
ship. His  wife  had  previously  died  in  the 
east.  Their  children  were  John.  Robert, 
Timothy.  Dennis.  Catherine.  Sarah  and 
Mary. 

In  early  life  Dennis  Hurley  removed  to 
Ohio,  where  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  M.  Con- 
nell.  who  was  horn  in  Lancaster  county.. 
Pennsylvania,  October  27,  [796.  Her  par- 
ent-. John  and  Margaret  (Trice)  Conneli, 
were  natives  of  Ireland  and  Germany,  re- 
spectively, and  on  their  emigration  to  Amer- 
ica first  settled  in  Lancaster  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, hut  later  removed  to  the  line!-. 
state.  Mr.  Conneli  was  killed  by  a  falling 
tree  just  west  of  Newark,  Ohio.  He  was 
a  weaver  of  broadcloth  and  also  followed 
school  teaching.  In  his  family  were  eight 
children,  namely:  Adam.  John.  Mathew, 
David.  Mary.  Sarah.  Margaret,  Elizabeth 
and  James.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hurley  had  ten 
children  who  grew  to  man  and  womanhood, 


whose  name-  and  dates  of  birth  were  a-  fol- 
lows: Sarah  Ann.  July  17.  [820;  (  aroline, 
October  28,  1821;  Lydia  M..  September  29, 
:S_>j;  Jeremiah,  April  17.  [825;  John.  Sep- 
tember  22,  1826;  Adeline.  December  26 
[828;  Mary  Jane  and  Lewis,  twin-.  Febru- 
ary 4.  1830;  Catherine,  Jul)  [6,  [832;  and 
David,  December  _'.  1834.  Adam,  the  old- 
est, died  young;  a  -on  who  was  fifth  in 
order  of  birth,  died  in  infancy;  and  Dennis 
ami  lame-  died  young. 

After  hi-  marriage  Dennis  Hurley  made 
hi-  home  in  Ohio  for  several  years,  hut  in 
September,  [830,  started  westward  with  a 
four-horse  team  and  a  new  Virginia  wagon, 
which  contained  his  household  goods  and 
family.  He  was  accompanied  bj  hi-  brother- 
in-law,  Richard  Kirby,  and  his  family.  They 
were  many  days  in  making  the  journey,  ar- 
riving at  what  i-  now  Bloomington,  Illinois, 
during  the  second  week  of  October.  That 
city  then  contained  only  three  log  cahins, 
which  were  owned  by  James  Allen.  One 
wa-  used  a-  a  blacksmith  shop,  one  a-  a  pro- 
vision store,  and  in  the  other  the  family 
lived.  There  the  party  camped  to  rest,  near 
an  old  Indian  camp,  five  miles  south  of 
Bloomington.  Leaving  hi-  family  there. 
Mr.  Hurley  started  out  to  look  for  a  loca- 
tion. He  first  settled  at  what  is  new  known 
as  Hurley's  Grove,  in  DeWitt  county,  where 
lie  built  a  split  log  cabin,  eighteen  feet 
square,  which  was  afterward  moved  to  the 
Mckinley  Hotel  for  an  outbuilding.  After 
spending  the  winter  there  he  went  to  South 
Prairie  in  the  spring  of  [83]  and  located  a 
farm,   which   he  entered   in    1833,   when   the 

first  land  agency  was  established  in  this  -, 

tion  of  the  -tate.  This  farm  i-  now  the 
property  of  Hiram  Stock.  It  consisted  of 
eighty  acres  ,,f  prairie  laud  and   forty  a< 

of  timber.    The  first  year  Mr.  Hurley  broke 

twenty  acre-,  -et  out  an  orchard  and  plant- 


92 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ed  a  garden.  The  first  house  lie  erected  here 
served  as  his  residence  for  six  years,  hut  at 
the  end  of  that  time,  believing  his  pasture 
to  be  a  im  >re  suitable  location,  he  there 
built  a  hewed  log  house,  with  a  split  shingle 
mi  if  ami  puncheon  floor,  winch  was  con- 
sidered  a   fine  resilience    fur    those    days. 

There  were  three  m.  mis  down  stairs  and  one 
up.  All  the  Clinking  was  done  I  >\  er  the 
fireplace  at  one  end  of  the  kitchen.  In  those 
early  days  the  family  suffered  many  hard- 
ships and  privations  incident  to  life  on  the 
frontier.  It  was  a  long  ways  to  either  mar- 
ket nr  mill,  but  wild  game  of  all  kinds  was 
very  plentiful  and  furnished  many  a  meal 
fn|-    the    early    settlers,     there     being     deer. 

prairie  chickens,  wild  turkeys,  geese,  dudes, 

etc.  Mr.  Hurley  being  a  great  hunter  and 
a  good  slmt.  his  family  always  had  an 
abundance  of  venison  and  other  wild  meat. 
The  prairie  wolves,  together  with  the  gray 
and  black  wolves,  were  very  common  and 
caused  the  earl)  settlers  much  annoyance. 
Selling  his  first  farm.  Mr.  Hurlej  removed 
t'>  what  is  now  known  as  the  Gillespie  farm. 
but  a  tew  years  later  disposed  of  that  place 
bought  a  farm  adjoining  his  old  home. 
lie  continued  to  reside  mi  this  place  until 
called  to  his  final  rest  June  26,  [866.  I  lis 
wife  died  July  6,  1S50,  and  thus  passed 
away  one  of  the  oldesl  and  most  honored 
pioneer  couples  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Hurley 
married  a  Mi's.  Day  and  after  her  demise 
married  Mrs.  Gesford,  who  survived  him. 
huring  the  third  year  of  their  residence 
here  they  were  visited  by  the  Kickapoo  and 
Pottawattamie  Indians,  who  proved  very 
friendly  and  seemed  t <  >  appreciate  any  kind- 
ness shown  them.  That  same  year  Mr. 
Hurley  and  his  eldest  daughter  attended  a 
cam])  meeting  at  Randolph  Grove,  and  he- 
came  converted,  joining  the  Methodist  Epis- 


copal church.  On  his  return  home  he  es- 
tablished a  Methodist  Society  in  his  neigh- 
borhood, consisting  of  his  and  Mr.  Kirby's 
families,  there  being  hut  six  members  at  the 
start.  As  soon  as  a  school  house  was  built 
in  the  neighborhood,  he  was  instrumental  in 
securing  preachers  to  hold  services  there, 
the  first  being  the  Rev.  Hall,  followed  by 
Rev.  1\.  Clarke  and  Rev.  1'.  Curnmings,  who 
preached  once  in  four  weeks.  Mr.  Hurley 
was  a  class  leader  and  held  meetings  at  his 
own  home.  He  led  an  upright,  honorable 
and  useful  life,  and  was  held  in  the  highest 
regard  by  all  who  knew   him. 

Mrs.  Johnson,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Newark,  <  >hio,  Sep- 
tember 29,  [822,  ami  was  eight  years  of  age 
when  she  came  with  her  parents  In  this  coun- 
ty, where  she  grew  to  womanh 1.     <  In  the 

4th  ..f  February,  [842,  she  gave  her  hand 
in  marriage  to  Elias  Johnson,  who  was 
burn  in  [ackson  county,  <  >hio,  and  was  a  son 
of  Silas  and  Elizabeth  (Craig)  Johnson. 
Ih-  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
fnnn  that  state  removed  to  Jackson  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  later  came  to  Illinois,  settling 
first  in  Vermilion  county,  and  later  in  Rut- 
ledge  township,  DeWitt  county,  taking  up 
land  on  the  north  fork  of  Salt  creek,  where 
he  made  his  home  for  many  years.  He  died 
at  a  g 1  1 'Id  age  and  his  wife  was  eighty- 
six  at  the  time  of  her  death,  their  remains 
being  interred  in  the  North  Fork  burying 
ground.  In  their  family  were  eight  chil- 
dren, namely:  Thomas,  John,  Elias,  Pres- 
ley, Lucinda,  Nancy.  Elizabeth  and,  Ellen, 

Elias  Johnson  acquired  his  education  in 
an  old  log  school  house  si.  common  during 

his    boyh 1.      In    [837    he   came    with    the 

family  to  DeWitt  county,  and  began  his 
business  career  as  a  farmer  by  purchasing 
fortv  acres  of  land  in  Santa  Anna  township 
and   entering  a  tract   of   similar    size.      Ill 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


93 


health  preventing  him  from  engaging  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuit-,  he  subsequently  traded 
his   farm   for  mill   property  on   Salt   creek, 
which  he  operated   nine  months.      In    i 
lie  removed  to  Fanner  City,  and  devoted  the 

•  of  his  life  to  loaning  money.  He  was 
<me  of  the  best  financiers  in  his  part  of  the 
county,  ami  although  he  gave  liberally  to 
charitable  enterprises,  he  met  with  sue 
in  business  affairs  anil  amassed  quite  a  for- 
tune. He  built  the  residence  now  occupied 
by  his  widow,  and  also  the  J.  \V.  Si'  [ 
home,  and  owned  other  property  in  Farmer 
City. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  were  born 
two  children,  namely:  (  i  )  Mary  Elizabeth 
is  the  wife  of  John  McDonald  and  has  two 
children.  Zua,  who  married  J.  R.  Boying- 
ton  and  has  one  child,  Irene:  and  (  Hive,  who 
married  Clyde  Hudelson  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Russell  and  Morri-.  i  _•  i  Hester  An- 
geline  first  married  James  Brennan  and  after 
his  death  wedded  J.  Q.  Jones. 

On   the   15th  of   November,    1878,    Mr. 

Johnson    was    stricken   with    paralysis,    ami 

'during  his  long  illness  his  faithful  wife  min- 

red  to  his  every  want  without  a  murmur, 
and  attended  to  his  busi  few  women 

can.     He  died  June  2  1.     In  early  life 

he  was  a  Republican,  but  later  affiliated  with 
the  Prohibition  party,  being  one  of  the  first 
to  vote  that  ticket.  In  1K40.  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years,  he  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  was  ever  afterward  a 
faithful  and  active  member  of  the  same. 
Mrs.  Johnson  is  also  an  active  worker  in 
the  Methodist  church,  and  is  a  true  and 
earnest  Christian  woman,  who  is  loved  by 
all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  her  acquaint- 
ance. Although  now  well  advanced  in  life, 
die  is  wonderfully  well  preserved.  I*>th  men- 
tally and  physically,  and  appears  much 
v.  anger  than  she  really  is. 


Hi  IN.  MICHAEL  DON  Mill 

The  man   who  achieves  success  in  the 
legal   profession   is  even  more  strictly  the 

"architect  of  his  own  fortunes"  than  the 
average  .-elf-made  business  man.  there  being 
in  the  keen  competitions  of  the  lawyer's  life, 
with  its  constantly  recurring  mental  duel 
between  eager  and  determined  antagonists, 
no  chance  for  the  operation  of  influences 
which  may  l>e  called  to  the  aid  of  the  mer- 
chant, the  manufacturer  or  the  financier. 
Among  the  men  of  1  leWitt  county  who  have 
demonstrated    their    ability    in    this    difficult 

I    the    Hon.    Michael    Donahue    holds 
leading  place,  and  his  history  affords  an  in- 
teresting    example     of     ambition      rightly 
directed  and  pursued  with  a  zeal  which  oxer- 
come-  all  obstacle-. 

Mr.   Donahue  was  born  at   Horseheads, 

r  Elmira,   New  York.   March    17.    1841, 

and  i-  a  son  of  Neal  (('Donahue  and  Ann 

O'Riley)   Donahue,  both  native-  nty 

Tyrone.   Ireland.      The   father   followed   the 

occupation    of    a    teamster  throughout   the 

ter  part  of  his  life.      In  1843  ',e  r(-'m' 
to  Chicago,   where  he  died  at   the  age  of 
about  fifty  years,  while  his  wife  died  at  the 
of  forty-five.     They  hail  two  children: 
Michael,   our  subject:   and   Thomas,   an 
teemed  citizen  of  Clinton. 

When  the  family  removed  to  Chicago  it 
had  a  population-  of  only  five  thousand. 
After  the  death  of  his  parents  Michael  Don- 
ahue was  bound  out  t«>  Rev.  Isaac  Merium, 
:.  Baptist  minister  living  near  Tremont,  Illi- 
nois,  with  whom  he  remained  until  |8« 
He  then  went  to  live  with  a  Mrs.  \.  <  >.  Mer- 
ium. who  was  a  mother  to  him.  From  her 
he  learned  many  valuable  which  b 

been  a  guide  to  him  through  life,  and  he  still 
tenderly  cheri-hes  her  memory.  In  early 
manhood   he  commenced    learning  the  liar- 


94 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ness  maker's  trade  with  William  Metzger, 
oi  Waynesville,  Illinois,  but  soon  afterward 
decided  to  study  law,  and  worked  at  vari- 
ous occupations  in  order  to  earn  the  money 
with  which  to  meet  his  expenses  while  pre- 
paring for  the  legal  profession.  He  pur- 
sued his  studies  under  the  direction  of  C.  II. 
Moore  and  Henry  S.  Green,  of  Clinton,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  February,  1863. 
In  August  of  the  same  year  he  removed  to 
Boonesboro,  Iowa,  where  he  remained  till 
the  spring  of  [864,  when  he  returned  to 
Clinton  and  opened  an  office  and  continued 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  [884, 
when  he  removed  to  1 )maha,  Nebraska.  1 1< 
again  returned  to  Clinton  m  [888,  where  lie 
has  since  resided  and  practices  his  profes- 
sion. 

In    [867   he    Formed   a   partnership   with 
lonel    J.    J.    Kelley.    who    was    later    suc- 
ceeded    by     his     son    \Y.    R,    Kelley.      This 
partnership  continued  till  [878,  when  it  was 
diss,  iKed  by  mutual  consent. 

In  [864  Mr.  Donahue  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mar\  Clagg,  daughter  of 
William  Clagg,  of  this  county,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  four  children :  Mrs.  Nancy 
Gill,  of  Kansas;  Rosie;  Florence;  and  Edna. 
As  a  Republican  he  has  always  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  political  affairs,  and 
in  187O  was  elected  to  represent  the  Bloom- 
ington  district  in  the  state  senate.  So 
ceptably  did  he  till  the  office  that  he  was  re- 
elected from  the  DeWitt  and  Macon  coun- 
ties senatorial  district  at  the  end  of  his  first 
term.  From  [862  until  [869  he  served  as 
city  attorney  of  Clinton,  and  was  again 
elected  to  that  office  in  1892,  filling  it  up  to 
the  present  time.  As  a  trial  lawyer  he  has 
shown  unusual  force  and  has  developed  great 
strength  as  well  in  the  systematic  and  care- 
ful preparation  of  his  cases  and  the  shrewd 
and  thorough  examination  of  witnesses  as 


in  the  eloquent,  logical  and  convincing  man- 
ner of  their  presentation  before  court  and 
jury.  He  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  Re- 
publican  politicians  of  the  county,  and  was 
one  of  the  presidential  electors  who  elected 
Hayes  in  [876.  lie  has  taken  an  active  in- 
terest not  only  in  politics  hut  also  in  the 
welfare  and  progress  of  the  county.  Re- 
ligiously lie  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  a  teacher  in  the  Sabbath  school, 
,md  socially  is  a  member  of  the  .Masonic 
Order  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  having 
been   connected   with  the   former   fraternity 

since    [862. 

•—-+ 

THOMAS  EWING. 

Mr.  Ewing  is  one  of  the  public-spirited 
citizens  of  Clinton,  to  whose  energy  and 
foresight  that  citj  is  indebted  for  many  im- 
provements. While  Mr.  Ewing,  as  a  pros- 
perous husniess  man.  has  given  close  atten- 
tion to  his  own  private  affairs,  he  has  never 
gotten  or  ignored  that  bond  of  common 
interest    which    should    unite    the    people    of 

e\er\    community,  and  he  has    ever    been 

ready  to  promote  progress  in  every  line, 
lie  was  horn  near  Zanesville,  Ohio,  May  J4, 
1N4J.  and  is  a  son  of  John  Ewing,  who  was 
horn  in  Guernsey  county.  Ohio,  September 
17.  1 S 1 4 .  lie  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade, 
hut  for  sixteen  years  operated  a  coal  mine 
near  Zancs\  illc,  before  coming  to  DeWitl 
county.  In  1N5N  he  located  in  Barnett 
township,  and  later  bought  a  farm  in  Harp 
township,  which  he  cultivated  until  he 
reached  his  eighty-third  year,  when  he  re- 
tired and  went  to  live  with  our  subject. 
John  Ewing  is  a  son  of  Robert,  who  was 
a  native  of  Virginia,  whose  father,  with 
three  brothers,  came  from  the  north  of  Ire- 
land.    Robert  Ewing  was  one  of  the  early 


THOMAS   EWING. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


97 


settlers  of  Ohio,  emigrating  from  the  Old 
Dominion.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade, 
and  lived  i"  reach  the  age  of  eighty  years. 
His  wife,  who  was  Mar)  Beymer,  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy  years.  Their  children 
were  as  follows:  Phillip,  John,  Simon, 
Stewart.  Julia.  Elizabeth,  Ellen  and  l'.ina- 
line.  The  parents  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  church. 

The  subject  of  this  review,  Thomas  Ew- 
ing,  is  one  of  the  largest  dealers  in  all  kinds 
of  grain  and  coal  in  the  county,  lie  buys 
grain,  shipping  mostly  to  Chicago,  south  to 
Xew  Orleans  and  east  to  quite  an  extent. 
This  business  was  established  about  [878, 
by  John  J.  McGraw,  and  about  [883,  this. 
together  with  the  beautiful  he  •me.  was  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Ewing.  But  the  impn 
ments  have  been  so  great  that  it  would  hard- 
ly be  recognized.  A  new  office,  scales,  etc., 
have  been  erected,  and  the  lawns  surround- 
ing the  spacious  house  are  beautiful.  This 
pretty  home  is  located  in  the  southern  part 
of  Clinton,  at  what  is  known  as  McGraw's 
Addition.  Aside  from  this  property  our 
subject  owns  the  old  farm  in  Harp  town- 
ship, which  he  has  added  to  until  he  now 
lias  a  quarter  section  of  well  cultivated  land. 

The  early  life  of  Thomas  Ewing  was 
spent  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  se- 
cured a  good  education  in  the  public  schools 
0/  the  district,  which  was  supplemented  by 
a  course  of  study  in  the  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity at  Bloomington,  Illinois.  In  1862,  he- 
mg  of  a  patriotic  nature,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany E,  Sixty-eighth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, as  a  private,  hut  his  worth  was  soon 
recognized  and  he  was  promoted  to  ser- 
geant, in  which  position  he  served  faithfully 
until  the  close  of  his  enlistment.  In  [864 
he  began  teaching,  which  profession  he  fol- 
lowed for  fourteen  years,  all  this  time  con- 
lining  himself  to  three  districts  in  this  coun- 


ty.    At  the  end  of  this  period  he  entered  into 

his  present  business. 

Our  subject's  mother  was  Miss  Matilda 
Richey,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hannah 
(Jackson)  Richey.  who  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  who  came  to  DeWitt 
county  as  farmers  in  1854.  Mr.  Richey 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years  and 
the  wife  at  sixty-eight  They  became  the 
parents  of  the  foil,, wing  named  children: 
Matilda,  who  became  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject;  Maria;  Alexis  J.;  Catherine;  Susan: 
Samuel  J.:  Austin  J.;  Hatr.:ah  Ann;  ami 
Abel  Thomas. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Ewing  were  horn 
the  following  named  children:  Andinet.  who 
married  John  Harnett  and  is  now  deceased; 
Austin,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years; 
Thomas,  whose  name  introduces  this  re- 
view, was  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Ellen, 
who  married  James  Harnett;  Simon,  a  resi- 
dent of  White  Heath,  this  state,  married 
Miss  Metta  Mitchell:  Nora,  who  married 
Madison  Warrick,  of  Clinton. 

Mr.  Ewing  chose  for  a  helpmate  in  life 
Miss  Ordelia   A.,  daughter  of   Isaac   Mc- 

Cuddy,  one  of  the  early  farmers  of  DeWitt 
county.  As  a  result  of  this  union  the  fol- 
lowing children  have  been  horn:  Russell, 
a  farmer  in  this  county,  who  married  Mis^ 
NellieFohley ;  Mont  V..  formerly  a  baggage 
man  on  the  main  line  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad,  hut  who  is  now  connected  with 
his  father  in  the  grain  and  coal  business, 
married  Tern  'Thomas;  Blanche  is  the  wife 

of  Walter  Marvel,  and  they  reside  in  Tree- 
port,  they  have  one  child.  Louise;  Louise, 
the  youngest  daughter,  died  at  the  age  of 
ft  ,11  r  v  ears. 

The    Democratic    party    has    no    m 

Stanch  Supporter  than  the  man  whose  name 

introduces  this  sketch,  and   for  four  years 

served   his  township  as    justice  of  the  peace. 


93 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  as  school  trustee  for  several  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  tin.'  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
was  chairman  of  the  building  committee  of 
erecting  the  K.  of  1'.  building  in  Clinton, 
ami  has  held  several  offices  of  the  order  with 
much  credit  to  himself,  lie  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Frank  Lowry  Post  No.  157,  G.  A.  R. 
Mr.  Ewing  has  also  taken  a  prominent  part 
in  the  organization  of  the  Clinton  Chautau- 
qua, which  held  its  first  meeting  in  August, 
[901.  The  following,  which  we  copy  from 
the  Clinton  Daily  Public,  will  be  read  with 
interesl  : 

"About  the  first  of  this  year  a  few  of 
the  citi/ens  of  Clinton  conceived  the  idea 
of  organizing  a  Chautauqua  at  Weldon 
Springs,  the  only  natural  place  in  Central 
[llinois  for  such  an  undertaking.  A  meet 
i'ng  was  called  and  held  in  the  o  unity  court 
1  to  sel(  is  and  tlic  •,,,  called  un- 

lucky number  of  thirteen  was  present,  and 
election  of  the  following  directors  : — 'I'h.  .mas 
Ewing,  Judge  <  '•.  K.  fngham,  W.  II.  Ogle 
bee,  John  Fuller,  W.  B.  Readey,  F.  C.  Hill, 

rj  Hughes,  F.  E.  Pinkerton,  and  C.  R. 
Adair.      The  directors  elected  the  following 

cers:-   1 'resident.  <  i.    K.    fngham;   Vice- 

sident,  F.  E.  Pinkerton;  Second  Vice- 
President,  \\ .  B.  Readey;  Secretary,  F.  C. 
Hill;  Treasurer.  Thomas   Ewing. 

"The  foundation  of  the  association  are 
those  who  first  subscribed  for  fifteen  dollars 
worth  of  tickets  and  to  the  guarantee  fund, 

1  aggreeing  to  pay  a  deficit  of  one  hun- 
dred dollars  each  and  others  three  hundred 
dollars  each.  These  guarantees  entitle  mem- 
bers 1..  one  vote  each  for  every  ten  tickets 
and  one  vote  each  for  each  one  hundred 
dollar  guarantee.  Thirty-two  citizens  of 
Clinton  and  vicinity  signed  this  guarantee. 
The  am.  .tint  of  the  guarantee  fund  was  M-\  - 
en  thousand  dollars,  which  will  not  be  called 
for  as  there  is  a  surplus  to  be  used  as  a  re- 


serve fund  for  next  year.  Up  to  the  pres- 
ent time  there  are  sixty-two  members  of  the 
Chautauqua    association." 

In  life  Mr.  Ewing  fully  demonstrated 
the  word  success,  which  is  dus  entirely  to 
his  own  well  directed  efforts,  for  without 
the  aid  of  influence  or  wealth,  he  started 
out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and 
today  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  and 
properous  man  in  his  community,  as  well 
as  one  of  the  most   llighlj    esteemed  citizens. 


MRS.  M  \UY  RU  rLEDGE. 

Mrs.  Mary  Rutledge,  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  esteemed  residents  of  Rutledge 
township,  as  well  as  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  section  ^<\  the  state,  was  horn  in  Clai- 
borne county.  Tennessee,  June  2,    [822,  and 

i^  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Rachel  (  Hughes) 
Van  Deventer,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Sullivan  county,  Tennessee.  Her  pa- 
ternal grandparents  were'  Abraham  and 
Martha  Van  Deventer,  the  former  of  Ger- 
man and  the  latter  of  English  descent.  They 
were  farming  people  and  lived  to  a  good 
old  age.  In  their  large  family  of  children 
there  were  five  sons,  Thomas,  Abraham, 
John.  Peter  and  Jacob.  In  1831  Jacob  Van 
Deventer  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  McLean  county,  where  he  died 
in  the  fall  of  1833,  his  remains  being  inter- 
red at  LeRoy.  He  foughl  in  the  war  of 
[812  under  General  Jackson.  His  wife  en- 
tered land  in  McLean  county,  and  with  the 
i stance  of  her  children  improved  it,  mak- 
ing it  her  home  throughout  the  remainder 
of  her  life.  She  was  a  devout  ('liristian, 
being  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian church,  and  died  in  that  faith,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three  years.     She  had  a  fam- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


99 


ily  of  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  namely: 
Tin  .mas;  Abraham;  John;  David,  a  min- 
ister    >>t"     the     Cumberland      Presbyterian 

church:  Martha:  .Mary:  Mahala  and  Mar- 
ana,  twins:  James:  and  Louisa. 

Mrs.  Rutledge  was  about  nine  years  of 
when  she  accompanied  her  parents  on 
their  removal  to  this  state,  and  on  her 
mother's  farm  in  McLean  county  she  grew 
to  womanhood.  She  was  married,  Janu- 
ary 17.  1839,  to  William  Jackson  Rutledge, 
who  was  1  >« >m  in  White  county,  Illinois, 
June  23,  1816,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
ifficer)  Rutledge.  His  father  was  born 
in  North  Carolina,  of  English  ancestry,  and 
hsi  mother  in  South  Carolina,  of  Irish  par- 
entage: History  -ays  the  family  was 
founded  in  Georgia.  While  living  in  Ken- 
tucky Thomas  Rutle  ed  as  a  ranger 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  after  i:  mi- 
grated to  White  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
made  his  home  until  [828,  and  then  removed 
to  what  i-  now  Randolph  Grove,  McLean 
inty.  There  he  died  in  1830,  at  the  age 
sixty-two  years.  His  wife  was  well  ad- 
vanced in  years  at  the  time  of  her  death. 
which  occurred  thirteen  years  later.  In 
their  family  of  ten  children  were  lame-. 
Mark.  Officer,  Robert,  William  J..  Mrs. 
Jane  Qickinson,  Mrs.  Polly  Craig,  Mrs. 
Sally  Cline  and  Mrs.  Betsey  Britten. 

William  J.  Rutledge  aided  hi-  mother 
in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm  until  nine- 
teei  1  age,  and  made  the  most  of  the 

educational  advantages  afforded  him  by  the 
public  conducted    in    an    old    log 

school-house  near  hi-  home.  He  first  mar- 
ried Mi--  Eliza  Duffield,  a  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Duffield.  She  died  three  years  after 
their  marriage,  leaving  two  children:  Mar- 
tha J.  and  John  A.,  who  died,  leaving  large 
families  that  are  represented  elsewhere  in 
this  work.     For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Rut- 


ledge   wedded    our    subject,  as  previously 
stated. 

In  1838  Mr.  Rutledge  bought  a  claim 
ami  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acre- 
prairie  and  timber  land  on  section  17  of 
what  is  now  known  as  Rutledge  town-hip. 
it  being  named  in  his  honor.  His  tir-t  home 
here  was  a  -mall  log  house,  twenty  by  eight- 
een feet  in  dimensions,  with  two  doors  hut 
no  windows.  There  was  a  large  fireplace 
at  one  end,  with  a  mud  and  -tick  chimney. 
rind  the  furniture  of  the  cabin  was  all  of  the 
mo^t  primitive  sort.  This  house  was  sub- 
sequently replaced  by  a  small  frame  resi- 
dence, and  when  that  was  destroyed  by  lire 
the  present  home  of  Mrs.  Rutledge  was 
built,  though  it  has  since  been  remodeled 
and  enlarged.  In  [846  while  her  husband 
was  working  with  his  oxen  he  -tuck  his 
Cottonwood  whip  in  the  lane  and  it  took  1 
and  grew,  so  that  it  is  to-day  a  beautiful 
tin  standing  in  the  center  of  the  road 
half  mile  ea-t  of  hi-  residence — a  landmark 
of  early  days.      The  oldest  pear  tree  of  Rut- 

_c   township,    if   not    of    DeWitt    county. 
stands  in  his  yard  at  the  corner  of  the  r 
running  north  of  section   17.  and  many  of 
the  1 'Id  residents  of  that  locality  have  eaten 
of  its   fruit.     It   was  grafted  on  an  apple 

tree. 

Mr.  Rutledge  was  a  man  of  exceptional 
business  ability  and  an  able  financier,  and  at 
hi-  death,  which  occurred  July  6,  iSS_\  he 
had  accumulated  over  seven  hundred  acres 
of  land.  Charitable  and  benevolent,  he  gave 
to  all  worthc  enterprises  for  the  public  good, 
and  he  assisted  many  of  the  early  settlers 
in  buying  houses,  often  loaning  hi-  friends 
money  without  interest.  In  politic-  he  was 
a  stalwart  Democrat,  hut  never  aspired  to 
office.  Religiously  he  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church, 
and   was  a  man   highly   respected  and  es- 


IOO 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


teemed,  his  memory  being  cherished  by  all 
who  knew  him.  His  widow  is  in  possession 
of  the  old  homestead,  which  goes  to  the 
grandchildren  at  her  death.  She  is  a  most 
estimable  woman,  who  has  a  wide  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances  who  hold  her  in 
high  regard. 

C1IAKI.ES    \V.    BISHOP. 

Charles  W.  Bishop,  who  lives  with  Mrs. 
Rutledge  on  the  did  homestead,  was  born 
in  McLean  county,  Illinois.  November  -7. 
[860,  and  is  a  son  "f  Jacob  C.  and  Mary 
Ann  1  Little)  Bishop  and  grandson  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  A.  (Weedman)  Bishop.  His 
grandfather  died  in  McLean  county  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years,  and  the 
grandmother  at  an  advanced  age.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  George  and  Charlotte  Weed 
man.  and  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  At 
an  early  da\  she  removed  with  her  parents  to 
Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  from  there  came 
to  McLean  county,  Illinois.  On  the  10th 
of  May,  [821,  -ho  gave  her  hand  in  mar- 
riage t<>  facob  Bishop,  and  at  the  time  of 
her     death     had     thirteen     children,     eighty 

grandchildren  and  five  greal  grandchildren. 
She  was  a  devout  Christian.  Her  children 
were  Sarah  Ann.  Charity,  George,  Jacob. 
Anna  ML,  Charlotte,  Fletcher,  John  S., 
Elizabeth,  Asbury  M..  Joseph,  Harriet  and 
I  lannah. 

Jacob  C.  Bishop,  the  father  of  Charles 
\\'..  is  Mill  living  in  Heyworth,  McLean 
county.  His  wife  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
five  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  namely:  John  \\\.  Mary  Ellen, 
Alice.  Fremont,  Charles  \\\.  James.  Emma, 
Fanny  and  Sanford  Dick. 

Charles  W.  Bishop  was  reared  upon  the 
home  farm  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.     In    1890  he 


went  to  Weldon.  Illinois,  where  he  spent 
one  year,  and  then  located  on  the  old  Rut- 
ledge  homestead,  where  he  still  lives,  his 
time  and  attention  being  devoted  to  the  op- 
tratioii  of  the  farm.  lie  married  Miss  Mar- 
tha   I).    Turner,   a   daughter   of    Dennis   and 

Martha  J.  (Rutledge)  Turner,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Her  ma- 
ternal grandfather  was  William  J.  Rut- 
ledge, mentioned  in  the  preceding  sketch. 
The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bishop 
were  Fred  \\  ..  Mary  A..  Homer  A.,  Alice 
II .  ;  Charles  D.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 
mi  'in h-.  ;  and  Ralph  L.  The  father  is  a 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church,  while  the  mother  is  a  Methodist  in 
religious  belief.  Socially  Mr.  Bishop  affili- 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  In- 
endenl  <  >rder  of  <  >dd  Fellows  at  LeRoy. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  and 

he  has  filled  the  office  of  school  director. 


GE<  >RGE  FRANKLIN   HUFFMAN, 

Among  the  heroes  who  helped  to  lib  th< 
yoke  "f  English  oppression  from  the  shoul- 
ders of  the  Colonists  during  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  was  the  paternal  great-grandfather, 
Christian  Huffman,  who  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  there  lived  for  many  years. 
Added  to  his  service  of  four  and  a  half 
years  under  the  banner  of  Washington,  was 
an  equally  meritorious  and  courageous  serv- 
ice in  the  war  of  iNij.  when  he  fought  for 
eighteen  months  after  his  removal  to  Vir- 
ginia. What  was  most  remarkable  was  the 
fact  that  during  both  of  the  conflicts  he  was 
neither  wounded  or  captured,  or  laid  up  in 
the  hospital.  Both  himself  and  wife,  who 
was  formerly  a  Miss  Cole,  of  Virginia,  lived 
to  an  advanced  age,  and  reared  to  usefulness- 


Till-:   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


101 


a  family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  S 
mon,  the  paternal  grandfather,  was  Ix.rn  in 
Virginia,  and  carried  "ii  farming  enterpris 
in  Pendleton  county,  where  lie  died  in  i> 
at  the  ghty-one  year-.     The  mater- 

nal grandparents  of  <i    F.   Huffman,  John 
•li  (Henslej  i  Vance,  were  born, 
red  and  married  in  Virginia,  and  eventu- 

removed  t  going  from  then 

rmilion  county,    Illinois.     When    but    a 
few  months  in  the  Illinois    home    disaster 
rcame  the   family  through   the  death  of 
the  grandfather,  who  accidentally  shot  him- 
while  cleaning  a  ritle.  his  death  follow- 
in   four  da   -       S  :er    his 
widow.  Elizabeth  (Westfall)  Huffman,  and 
children  ren                 1  )e\Virt  county.  Illii 
where  the  former  died  at  the  ad  vane 

cight\.  at  the  home  of  hei  melius. 

ind  Elizabeth  (Vance}  HurT- 
n,  the  parenU  c   Franklin,  are 

respectively,    of    Pendleton  county, 
Virginia,  and  Athens  county.  <  rtiio,  the  for- 
mer ha  born  August  4.  1833.    The 
lather  removed  to  McLean  county,  Ellin 
•1  after  reaching  his  majority,  and  after 
settled  in  Rutledge  township,  DeWitt 
inty,  where  lie  became  "lie  of  the  promi- 
nent  and  substantial  farmer-  county. 
The  children  born  into  the  family  are:     Al- 
vin  \V.,  who  is  represented  on  another  p 
•his  work;  Sophronia,  who  is  now  Mr-. 
'  1  .  a  -ketch  of  whom 
will  l>e  f(  und  on  another  rd; 
F. :  and    Nora,   who  is  the 
-     E.   Holmes      George    Franklin 
red  and               I  in  Rul  in- 
side from  the  education  acquired 
in  the  publi                     ended  for  a  term  the 
X.  I    C.  Normal  school,  at  Dixon.     Bef 

lining  his  majority  he  combined  with  his 

father  in  the  purchase  of  a  farm  ■•!'  one  hun- 

1  and  til'  in  Santa  Anna  township. 


unty,  his  interest  being  disp 

of  to  hi>  father  at  a  later  day.      He  then  pur- 

1  farm  of  two  hundred  a< 
lion  x>  ion  town-hip.    Piatt  county, 

which  ill)     operated     for    four 

1      ill  own-,  and  which  ha-  pn 
a  most  remunerative  and  satisfactory  invest- 
ment.    In    December,    i</oo.   he   located   in 
Idon  and  engaged  in  the  horse  excha 
livery  business,  in  which  he  is  -till  suc- 
sfully  interested.     Hi-  public  spirit  has 
found  an  outlet  in  vario  -  within  the 

gift  of  the   people,   all   of  which   ha 

ith  satisfaction  to  all  concerned. 
He  i-  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  ha-  Keen 
prominent  in  political  affairs  lx>th  in   Piatt 
and   DeWitt  couties.      He  is  a  member 
the  United  Brethren  church. 

February  11.  iN'>7.  Mr.  Huffman  1 
ried    Emma    L.,    'laughter   of    William    and 
Elizabeth   Riley,  of   Wilson   township,    De- 
Witt   county.     Of  this   union   there 
daughter.  Verna  Belle. 


REUBEN  CLEARWATERf. 

Reuben  Clearwal  j  prominent  con- 
tractor ami  builder  of  Farmer  City,  is  the 
-on  of  Nathan  Clearwater^,  the  honored 
founder  of  that  place.  Hi-  paternal  grand- 
father wa-  Reuben  Clearv  > 
North  Carolina,  who  went  to  Tei 
early  life  and  there  married  lane  Miller, 
who   wa-  ln.rn  on  the  south   branch  of  the 

mac  in  Virginia,  and  removed  with  her 

parents  to  Tennessee  at  an  early  da}       In 

this   worthy  couple,  accompanied  by 

their  children,  emigrated  t..  Highland  coun- 

Ihio,  where  they  -pent  the  followii 
ami  then  remov<  inklin  county, 

Indiana.     Later  the\    lived  m   M 


102 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Putnam  counties,  that  state,  for  a  time,  and 
in  1830  removed  to  Vermilion,  Illinois,  and 
two  years  later  to  Buckle  Grove,  .Mel. can 
county,  where  our  subject's  grandfather 
took  up  a  large  tract  of  land.  He  also  en- 
tend  land  in  DeWitt  county,  at  one  time 
owning   the    II.    Huddleston    farm,   but   he 

spent  his  last  days  in   McLean  county,  where 

he  died  in  [866,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five 
years,  his  wife  in  1864,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-two, and  both  were  buried  in  the  Le- 
Roj  cemetery.  They  were  active  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  held 

3-meetings  at  their  home.  The  grand- 
father was  also  an  active  member  of  the 
.Stui-.  of  Temperance.  Ilis  children  were 
John,  Nathan,  Mrs.  Susan  Westfall,  Mrs. 
M.ilinda  Royston,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Huddle- 
ston, Dr,  Jacob  Clearwaters,  Mrs.  Jane 
Kimbler  and  Dr.   Reuben  Clearwaters. 

Nathan  Clearwaters.  the  father  of  our 
subject,  wa-  horn  in  Greene  county.  Tennes- 
May  7.  (807,  and  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  various  removals  during  his 
boyhood  and  youth,  receiving  fair  educa 
tional  advantages  for  those  days.  On  the 
7th  of  August,  [828,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  M.  Danner,  who  was 
born  in  Harrison  county,  Indiana,  Novem- 
ber 29,  1812.  Her  parents,  John  and  Cath- 
erine (Zenor)  Danner,  wen  pioneers 
of  1  >e\Vitt  county,  where  their  deaths  oc- 
curred. Their  children  were:  Absalom, 
who  was  married  in  [837  1. 1  I.ucretia  ( '<  wc\  , 
this  being  the   first   wedding  performed  in 

ta  Anna  township;  Allen  B. ;  John  Z. : 
Samuel:  Rachel:  David;  William:  Isaac; 
Catherine:  and  Mary  M.  The  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clearwaters  were  as 
foll6ws:  Jane,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six 
years  and  was  the  first  person  buried  at 
Farmer  City;  William  I...  who  died  at  the 
age  of  eight  years:  John   W..  who  died  at 


the  age  of  twenty-two;  Malinda,  wife  of  J. 
Griffith;  Absalom,  a  resident  of  Kansas; 
America,  wife  of  M.  E.  Knight;  Perlina  R., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty:  Patton,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  ten:  Reuben,  our  subject; 
Allen,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifty  ;  and  Pat- 
ton  W.,  a  residenl  of  Farmer  City. 

After  his  marriage  the  father  of  our  sub- 
made  his  home  in  Vermilion  county, 
Illinois,  until  (832,  when  he  removed  to 
what  is  now  Santa  Anna  township,  DeWitt 
county,  hut  at  that  time  formed  a  part  of 
McLean  county,  ami  he  entered  land  on  sec- 
tion 28,  where  Farmer  City  now  stands. 
\t  that  time  he  squatted  and  built  a  log 
cabin  near  the  present  home  of  J,  Q.  Jones, 
but  three  or  four  years  later  creeled  a  good  , 
two  story,  hewed  log  house  where  the  mar- 
hie  works  are  now  located  al  the  south  end 
of  Main  street.  There  he  opened  a  hotel 
for  the  entertainment  of  the  emigrants  on 
their  way  west,  it  being  the  first  hotel  in  this 
section  of  the  state  and  the  only  one  for 
miles  around.  Although  a  rude  structure, 
it  was  a  pleasant  home  for  all,  where  the 
corn  was  converted  into  sweet  pone  cakes 
and  thoroughly  relished  by  the  passing  trav- 
eler. After  conducting  this  hostelry  for 
four  years,  Mr.  Clearwaters  was  succeeded 
by  William  McKinley,  and  then  built  a. 
house  where  Stephen  Covey  now  lives.  In 
1.851  he  bought  the  John  Danner  property, 
on  Clinton  avenue,  owned  to-day  by  0.  J. 
Smith,  and  there  made  his  home  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  December  30,  1SS4. 
lie  turned  the  first  furrow  where  the  city 
now  stands,  and  later  helped  to  la\  "tit  the 
town,  his  wife  giving  it  the  name  of  Mt. 
Pleasant,  which  was  later  changed  to  Farmer 
City.  She  died  December  25.  iS.SC  For 
half  a  century  they  were  prominently 
identified  with  the  development  and  up- 
building   of   this    locality,    and    their    names- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


103 


should  l>c  among  the  foremost  in  the  roll  of 
DeWitt  county's  honored  pioneers. 

Reuben  Clearwaters,  of  this  review,  was 

born  on  the  <>1<1  Covey  farm  in  Santa  Anna 
township,  May  17.  1847,  ;u,('  followed 
farming  until  [870,  when  he  took  up  car- 
penter work,  and  since  1S75  lias  succei 
fully  engaged  in  contracting  and  building, 
erecting  many  of  the  private  residences  and 
business  blocks  in  Farmer  city.  He  gives 
employment  t<>  many  men,  often  having  a 
[  eight.  In  [873  he  purchased  a 
large  l"i  in  Huddleston  second  addition,  and 
erected  thereon  a  house  and  work-shop,  has 
set  out  shade  and  fruit  trees,  making  it  1 
most  attractive  home.  In  1SS1  lie  and  his 
In-other  Wesley  bought  the  Public  Reaper, 
which  they  published  at  Farmer  City  for  a 

r,  and  then  sold  to  R.  M.  Ewing,  who 
Conducted  it  for  the  same  length  of  time. 
The  paper  was  then  changed  to  the  DeWitt 
1  unty  Republican,  and  is  now  published  at 
Weldon,  this  county,  as  the  Weldon  Record. 

Mr.  Clearwaters  was  married  May  31, 
1870,  to  Miss  Catherine  Danner,  a  daugh 
ter  of  Jacob  Danner,  of  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, and  to  them  were  horn  five  children: 
Carrie  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years  ; 
J.  Allen,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one; 
and  Clarke  E.,  Lester  A.  and  George,  who 
are  all  working  with  their  father. 

Mr.  Clearwaters  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  several  civic  societies.  In  [872  he  was 
made  a  Master  Mason  and  a  charter  member 

Lodge  No.  710.  at  Farmer  City,  of  which 
he  is  past  master.  He  is  also  a  charter 
member  and  past  officer  in  the  chapter.   R. 

M.:  became  a  charter  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  in  [875,  and 
served  as  chancellor  eleven  consecutive 
terms,  lie  i~  also  a  member  of  the  Rath- 
lone  Sisters,  an  auxiliary  of  the  latter  or- 
der.     He   is   a   member   of   the    Independent 


Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  served  as  grand 
high  priest  of  his  lodge  four  terms,  has  tilled 
all  the  chairs  in  the  encampment,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Rebekahs.  lie  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Golden  Eagle  and  deputy  of 
the  supreme  chapter  of  the  state:  and  i- 
nected  with  the  Loyal  Sons  of  America. 
During  the  existence  of  the  \ii.'(\  Men's 
lodge  in  Farmer  City  he  was  a  member  of 
that  order,  and  with  the  Good  Templars 
when  in  vogue  here.  In  his  religious  views 
Mr.  Clearwaters  is  liberal,  and  in  politics  is 
a.  stalwart  Democrat.  He  has  always  taken 
great  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  has  prob- 
ably done  more  than  any  other  one  man  to 
advance  the  welfare  of  his  city.  He  has 
served  five  years  as  alderman  of  the  ward 
m  which  he  resides,  and  he  is  pre-eminently 
public-spirited  and  progressive. 


GEORGE  \V.   SMIT 


George  \V.  Smith,  an  energetic  and  pro- 
gressive business  man  of  Waynesville,  now 
dealing  in  grain,  is  one  of  DeWitt  county's 
native  sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Barnett  township.  July  27,  [864.  His  fa- 
ther. Charles  R.  Smith,  was  horn  in  Gibson 
county.  Indiana,  about  [838,  an  '  on 
reaching  manhood  was  there  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  Marvel.  They  con- 
tinued their  residence  in  Gibson  county,  In- 
diana, until  after  the  birth  r>f  two  of  their 
sons,  and  then  came  to  DeWitt  county,  Illi- 
nois. Purchasing  a  farm  in  Harnett  town- 
ship, the  father  devoted  the  remainder  of 
his  life  to  its  improvement  and  cultivation. 
and  died  there  in  [891.  His  wife  still  sur- 
vives him.  In  their  family  were  seven  s.  ,ns 
and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
man    and    womanhood,    and    four    s,  ,ns   and 


104 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


two    daughters    arc    living    at    the    present 
writing,  in   1901,  and  are  heads  of  families. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  passed 
Upon  the  In 'ine  farm,  and  his  education  was 
acquired  in  the  district  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood. B)  assisting  in  the  work  of  the 
farm  he  soon  became  thoroughly  familiar 
with  all  the  duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of 
the  agriculturist,  and  after  reaching  man- 
hood he  had  charge  of  the  place  for  several 
years.     One   year   he   was   engaged   in   the 

m  business  al  Midland  City,  and  from 
there  he  eame  to  VVaynesville  and  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  already  established  hiiM- 
r.ess  of  Baxton  Marvel,  being  associated 
with  him  for  live  years.  In  the  spring  of 
.'-I  he  bought  the  elevator  of  E.  W.  Mar- 
vel, and  is  now  doing  a  successful  business 
dealer  in  grain. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  near  Beason, 
Illinois,  in  [884,  to  Miss  Susan  E.  Ke 
who  was  born  in  I 'ike  county,  Illinois,  but 
was  reared  in  Logan  county.  She  died  in 
September,  1899,  leaving  five  childr< 
namely:  Mary  E. ;  Lottie  1.  :  Wilbur;  Lu- 
cile:and  Helen.  On  the  23d  of  May,  1901, 
in  VVaynesville  township,  this  county,  Mr. 
Smith  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Kate  Hammitt,  a  native  of 
1  leWitt  county.  His  home  is  a  large  mod- 
ern residence,  which  has  ]\--\  heeii  com- 
pleted, is  heated  by  steam  and  tastefully 
furnished. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Smith 
has  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party,  and 
cast  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  Grover 
Cleveland  in  [888.  He  has  efficiently 
served  on  the  town  hoard  ami  was  presi- 
dent of  the  same  one  year,  but  he  has  never 
been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  sack- 
ing. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Tabor  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
he  is  also  a  member  of  Waynesville  Lodge, 


Xo.  172,  E.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  is  now- 
serving  as  senior  warden;  the  Independent 
Order  of  odd  Fellows  at  Waynesville;  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  tamp,  of  which  he 
has  been  hanker  for  three  or  four  years. 
I  lis  strict  integrity  and  honorable  dealing  in 
business  commend  him  to  the  confidence  of 
all;  his  pleasant  manner  wins  him  friends; 
.ud  he  is  one  of  the  popular  and  honored 
citizens  of  Waynesville. 


DR.    EDWARD    PORTER    (Deceased). 

(  »h  March  1st.  [879,  there  passed  away 
from  his  home  in  Clinton  a  well  beloved 
physician,  whose  man)  years  of  faithful  toil 
in  his  profession  made  his  name  a  house- 
hold word  in  that  community.  Nor  had  his 
influence  and  efforts  been  confined  to  pro- 
fessional lines  only,  for  in  all  the  varied  ac- 
tivities of  ntn  common  life  he  had  taken  a 
helpful  part  as  a  loyal  citizen,  devoting  his 
abilities  to  the  cause  of  progress,  Dr.  Porter 
was  a  man  whose  death  was  felt  as  a  loss 
among  all  classes  and  the  following  brief 
account  of  i,ne  so  esteemed  will  he  read 
with    unusual    interest. 

I  >r.  I'orter  was  a  native  of  (  )li  i. .  and  was 
horn  at  Sinking  Springs,  Highland  county, 
February  <>.  [833.  His  father.  George 
Porter,  was  horn  in  Pennsylvania,  hut  when 
a  child  came  to  '  Mi  10,  w  here  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  foil,, we, 1  the  pursuits  ,,f  a  farmer. 
Here  he  married  Miss  Eliza  Lee  Lowe, 
daughter  of  John  W.  I. owe  and  a  second 
cousin  t,.  Robert  I-"..  Lee.  They  reared  a 
family  of  three  children,  as  follows: — Ed- 
ward, whose  name  heads  this  review  ;  John 
\\\.  of  Clinton,  .and  L.  Josephine,  who  mar- 
ried Isaac  X.  Tully,  a  physician  of  Red 
Cloud,  Nebraska.     In    [852  George   I'orter 


EDWARD   PORTER,   M.  D 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    Kl-.O  »KD 


107 


came  with  his  sons  to  DeWitt  county,  [Hi— 
nios,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Barnett 
township.  Where  he  spent  his  remaining 
days,  dying  in  1859,  at  the  age  <>t'  fiftj 
years,  his  wife  attaining  the  age  of  seventy. 
Hi-  >i  <ti  John,  who  is  now  living  retired  in 
Clinton,  served  from  1861  to  [865  in  Com- 
pany I"..  Twentieth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  was  promoted  to  second  lien- 
tenant. 

In  the  place  of  his  nativity  Edward 
Porter  spent  his  boyhood  days  and  attended 
the  common  schools,  lie  was  an  industrious 
lad  and  eager  to  obtain  a  good  education. 
spending  all  his  leisure  time  in  reading  the 
best  literature.  When  seventeen  year-  of 
he  began  teaching,  oftentimes  having  pupils 
older  that  himself.  In  1N51  he  first  began 
the  study  of  medicine  and  in  [852  he  came 
to  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  with  hi-  parents. 
The  following  ten  year-  he  devoted  to  farm- 
ing and  continued  the  study  of  medicine  dur- 
ing his  spare  time.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois  \ 
unteer  Infantry,  in  which  he  faithfully 
served  for  two  year-,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  was  discharged  for  physical  dis- 
ability. On  his  return  to  DeWitt  county, 
in  [864,  he  was  nominated  by  the  Repub- 
lican party  to  till  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer.  and  at  the  ensuing  election  he  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority  and  re-elected  in 
1866.  The  next  two  year-  were  -pent  on 
the  farm,  and  in  the  whiter  of  1868  he  at- 
tended a  course  of  medical  lectures  in  the 
Homeopathii  f    Pennsylvania,  in 

Philadelphia,  and  in  the  spring  of  [869  he 
graduated   with  horn 

(  >n  his  return  to  Clinton,  he  bought  the 
practice  of  Dr.  Mitchell  and  soon  became 
one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  DeWitt 
county.  He  was  a  man  of  great  force  of 
character  and  strong  prejudice,  yet  the  warm 


impulses  of   hi-   nature  made   him   a   gener- 
ous enemy  while  he  wa-  the  truest  of  friends. 

Whatever  he  believed  wa-  right,  he  believed 

with   his    whole   soul,   and    gave   hi-   convic- 
tion the  full  strength  of  hi-  manhood. 

(  >n  June  18,  [856,  he  wa-  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mi--  I.ucv  E.  Mill-,  whose  father 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  |  kWitt  coun- 
ty. As  a  result  of  this  union  the  following 
named  children  were  horn:  Chancey  II.,  of 
Lincoln,  Illinois;  George  1'...  of  South  Da- 
kota: Mrs.  Susan  II.  'Wilson,  county  super- 
intendent of  schools,  of  Clinton,  Illinois; 
Mrs.  Lucy  E.  Turner,  of  Lincoln.  Illinois; 
J.  Guernsey,  a  practicing  physician  of  Clin- 
ton. In  the  spring  of  [888,  he  wa-  L,rradu- 
ated  from  the  Clinton  high  school  and  was 
then  associated  with  the  American  Expn 
Company,  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  but 
later  promoted  to  messenger  and  served  in 
that  capacity  until  [895.  I  lav  ins;  devoted  a 
great  deal  of  time  to  the  study  of  medicine, 
he  entered  the  Chicago  Homeopathic  Medi- 
cal College, where  lie  was  graduated  in  [899. 
He  at  once  came  to  Clinton  where  he  has 
already  built  up  a  lucrative  practice,  and  is 
fast  reaching  the  degree  his  father  held  in 
the  science  of  medicine,  lie  i-  a  member  of 
DeWitt  I,  dge  V  F.  &  A.  M..  Goodbrake 
Chapter  and  Clinton  Council,  all  of  Clinton. 
He  i-  also  a  member  and  examining  physi- 
cian of  the  Modern  Woodmen.  Forest* 
Court  of  Honor,  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  and  Loyal  Sons  of  America. 
Giles  G.,  a  physician  in  Warren.  Arkan- 
i-  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Mr-.  Eliza  I. 
Gatchell;  Mr-.  Nellie  I".  Owen,  and  the 
youngest  member  of  the  family  i-  Freddie 
A.,  a  teacher  of  Clinton. 

Dr.  Edward  Porter  was  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  tin-  men  and  measures  of  the  1 
publican  party  ami   in   religion  wa-  a   firm 
believer  in  the    teachings    of    Swedenb 


ioS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


A  vigorous  writer,  he  could  ably  defend  his 
professional  and  religious  views.  His 
morality  was  of  the  highest  type  and  his 
voice  and  influence  was  at  all  times  on  the 
side  which  favored  and  upheld  good  govern- 
ment. 


ANDREW  M.   PETERS. 

Andrew   M.  Peters  is  one  of  the  highly 
respected    citizens    of    DeWitt  pounty,  and 
owns  and  occupies  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  rich  farming  land  located  on  - 
tions  (j  and  4.  of  Texas  township,  his  resi- 
dence being  on  section  9;     He  was  born  in 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  April  23,  [824,  and 
is  i    son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Trulinger) 
Peters,   the    former  of   whom   was   a   native 
of  Vermont  and  the  latter  a  native  of  Mary- 
land.   John  Peters  moved  into  (  »hio  whei 
young  man  and  engaged  in  farming  in  1 1am- 
ilton  county,  where  he  remained  until  lie  re- 
moved  west.      For  the  last  twenty  years  of 
lis  life  he  was  an  invalid  am!  died  in   1870, 
in  Cincinnati,  <  mio.     When  our  subject  was 
about    four  years  old  his  parents  moved  to 
Indiana,  but  they  remained  there  only  one 
-on,  moving  then  to  (."lark  county,  Mi- 
is,     where     Andrew      was     reared.      The 
mother    remained    on    the    farm    in    Clark 
county  until  our  subject   had   reached  ma- 
turity,  when   it    was   sold,   and   this   devoted 
son  purchased  a  small  farm  for  her.  erected 
:•  comfortable  residence,  and  there  she  lived 
until    her    life    ended    at    ahotit    the    age    of 
sixty-five   years.      She   was   the   mother   of 
seven  children  and  lived  to  see  all  hut  two 
pass  out   of  life.     Although  many  sorrows 
fell  upon  her.  she  was  ever  a  devout  member 
of  the  Methodist  church,  and  many  experi- 
.    ced  her  kindness  and  she  was  universally 
beli  ived. 


Andrew  M.  Peters  obtained  his  early  ed- 
ucation in  Clark  county.  Illinois,  and  grew 
up  working  ami  superintending  the  home 
farm.  In  1S51  he  came  to  DeWitt  county, 
locating  in  Clintonia  township,  where  he 
rented  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  lived  upon 
it  for  two  years.  He  then  moved  into 
Texas  township,  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres. 
and  continued  to  operate  that  for  the  suc- 
ceeding  two  years  and  then  purchased  his 
1  resent  home,  which  consisted  of  fort}  acres, 
;.ml  to  this  he  subsequentlj  added  eighty 
At  the  time  of  purchase  this  was  all 
wild  land,  and  the  first  forty  acres  cost  him 
two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre.  This 
he  cleared  of  timber  and  broke  up  the  land, 
then  built  a  house  and  made  his  home,  tak- 

.i  pardonable  pride  in  it  when  completed. 
tin  January  1.  [864,  lie  was  obliged  to  see 
the  little  home  and  all  its  valued  contents  de- 
stroyed by  lire.  This  disaster  would  have 
discouraged  a  weaker  man.  hut  Mr.  Peters 
was  made  of  sterner  stuff,  and  with  added 
energ)    went  to  work  amidst  the  ruins,  built 

evv  house,  erected  a  tine  barn  and  made 
improvements  in  every  way.  which  has  con- 
verted the  wild  land  into  a  productive  and 
valuable  farm. 

Mr.  Peters  is  a  consistent  membet 
the  (Jniversalist  church.  In  politics  he  has 
been  ever  an  old  Jeffersonian  Democrat. 
He  was  made  one  of  the  first  road  rnmmiv- 
sioners  in  this  township  after  its  organiza- 
tion, and  under  his  supervision  almost  all 
the  roads  have  been  laid  out.  He  held  this 
important  office  for  some  fourteen  year-, 
was  also  constable  at  one  time,  and  for  many 
years  served  on  the  school  hoard.  Although 
he  has  never  desired  any  active  part  in  the 

political  life  of  the  neighborh 1.    he    has 

always  been  public-spirited  and  has  been  an 
.-dvocate  of  men  and  measures  where  he 
could  see  the  community  would  he  benefited 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RED  »RD. 


109 


by  their  advancement.     Since  1862  he  has 
been  connected  with  the  odd  Fellows. 

Tlie  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Peters  w; 
January  17.  [847,  to  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Oker- 
son,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky.  She  died 
in  1878,  at  the  home  in  Texas  township,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-four  year-.  Her  religious 
connection  was  with  the  Baptist  church,  and 
she  was  buried  in  Texas  township,  in  the 
Hill  burying  ground.  She  left  no  children. 
The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Peters  was  in 
[878,  to  Mrs.  Adeline  Deakoff,  the  widow 
of  Frederick  Deakoff,  and  the  daughter  of 
J..hn  Giechee,  who  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, dying  there  some  twenty  years 
on  his  farm.  No  children  have  been  born 
ti    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peters. 

When  Mr.  Peters  first  came  to  DeWitt 

county  it   was  nearly  all  wild  land,  timber 

prairie,  and  his  was  the  fourth  house 

that  was  built  in  the  northwestern  pan  of 

a-  township.  He  has  witnessed  nearly 
all  the  county  changes  from  this  wild  si 
to  its  present  highly  cultivated  condition;  in 
fact,  he  is  one  "t"  those  who  have  helped  to 
brint^  the  change  about.  When  this  pioneer 
came  to  the  county  there  were  but  two  grain 
mills  in  this  township,  one  in  the  east  part 
called  the  Smallwood  mill,  which  had  been 
built  by  a  man  by  the  name  of  Fordyce,  at 
a  very  early  day.  and  this  was  later  used 

carding  mill  as  well.      This  mill  was 

tn  \rd  some  years  ago — an  old  landmark 

e, — but  a  notice  of  it   will  bring  recol- 

ion  tn  many  of  the  older  residents  who 

re  obliged  to  travel  many  mile-  to  reach 

it.     The  other  mill  was  in  the  south  part  of 

the   township   and    was   called    the    Wilson 

Allen  mill.   located   just   where  the   Illinois 

tral    Railroad   now   1  Salt    creek, 

and  it  suffered  destruction   when  the  rail- 

I  was  built.     Another  interesting  remi- 
-   i-   that    Mr.    Peters     ran    the    first 


threshing-machine  that  was  brought  into  the 
Count)',     and     continued     its    operation     for 

.teen  years.  I  lis  first  machine 
called  "Buffalo  Pit,"  anil  the  second  one, 
"Massillion."  He  also  ran  the  first  binder 
in  Texas  township,  and  the  first  reaper,  be- 
ing the  most  progressive  among  his  farmer 
neighbors,  among  whom  he  was  regarded 

1  wonder,  ami  the)  came  long  distai 
to   sci-  him   manage  these   wonderful   con- 
ti  ivai 

Mr.  Peters  has  rented  his  farm,  retain- 
ing only  a  small  portion,  which  he  mana§ 
himself,  as  he  is  very  active  and  enjoys  the 
exercise,  lie  is  a  self-made  man  and  has 
always  enjoyed  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
his  fellow  citizens,  which  they  displayed  in 
'die  offices  in  which  they  have  called  him 
serve. 


GEI  >RGE   11.  BR<  >\\  X. 

e  of  die  most  enterprising  and  thrifty 

farmers  of  Wapella  township  i-  George  II. 
Brown,  whose  home  is  on  section  _>;.  A 
native  of  Illinois,  he  was  horn  in  McLean 
county,  on  the  5th  of  October,  1854.  His 
father.  John  Brown,  was  horn  in  Ohio  in 
1817,  but  moved  to  Kentucky  in  childhood 
and  there  grew  to  manhood  and  married 
Miss  Melinda  Tolle,  also  a  native  of  that 
State,  where  they  continued  to  make  their 
home  until  after  the  birth  of  two  of  their 
children.  About  [852  they  came  to  Illinois 
-.tiled  in  McLean  county,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land 
for  a  few  years,  and  then  purchased  one  hun- 
dred anil  eighty  aires  win  I  his  ~,,ns 
now  resides.  This  was  a  wild  tract,  entirely 
unimproved,  hut  he  s,  h  m  broke  and  i< 
it  and  later  added  to  it  a  trad  of  eighty 
I  le  erected  a   u 1   r<  sub- 


'IIO 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


stantial  barns  and  outbuildings,  tiled  the 
land  and  set  out  fruit  and  shade  trees,  mak- 
ing it  a  very  attractive  and  desirable  place 
His  last  years  were  spent  in  ease  and  retire- 
ment at  Wapella,  where  he  died  in  April, 
[898,  being  laid  to  rest  in  Sugar  Grove  cem- 
etery, llis  wife  is  still  living— a  hale  and 
hearty  old  lady  of  seventy-seven  years — and 
Continues  to  make  her  heme  in  Wapella.  In 
their  family  were  six  children,  namely: 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  W.  Woy,  of  Clin- 
Lon ;  Mary,  wife  of  Rufus  Wilson,  of  Wa- 
pella :  <  ie  >rge  1 1 ..  1  »ur  subject  ;  I  >a\  is,  a  resi- 
dent of  Farmer  City;  Eliazor,  who  is  oper- 
ng  the  old  home  farm;  and  Belle,  wife  ol 
Merrick  Davis,  of  Seymour,  Texas. 

George  II.  Brown  was  educated  in  the 
home  school  and  remained  under  the  par- 
ental roof,  aiding  in  the  work  of  the  farm. 
until  reaching  man's  estate.  On  the  30th 
of  September,  [895,  he  was  married  in  De 
Witt  county  to  Miss  Carrie  Moreland,  who 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  the  city  of 
Clinton  and  successfullj  engaged  in  teach- 
ing prior  to  her  marriage.  Her  father.  John 
\.  Moreland,  was  originally  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  an  early  settler  of  Clinton. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  one  son, 
<  ierald. 

\fter  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Brown 
rented  land  for  several  years  and  success- 
fully engaged  in  its  operation,  but  prior  to 
his  marriage  he  bought  his  present  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixtj  acres  on  section  25, 
Wapella  township,  DeWitl  county,  and  has 
since  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to  its 
improvement  and  cultivation.  He  has 
erected  a  good  set  of  buildings,  and  the  1 
and  thrifty  appearance  of  the  place  plainly 
indicate--  his  careful  supervision,  lie  raises 
a  good  grade  of  stock,  and  in  all  his  under- 
takings is  meeting'  with  g 1  success. 

Like  his  father.  Mr.  Brown  is  an  ardent 


Republican,  having  never  failed  in  his  alle- 
giance to  that  party  since  casting  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes 
in  [876.  lie  served  as  road  commissioner 
■i\  consecutive  years,  and  is  now  tilling-  the 
office  of  school  trustee.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  active  members  of  the  Long  Point 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  of  the 
(.burcti  auxiliary  societies,  and  he  is  now  one 
"f  the  church  stewards,  and  Mrs.  Brown  is 
i  ssistant  superintendent  of  the  Sunda) 
school.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Wa- 
pella Lodge,  No.  -'55.  1.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has 
tilled  all  the  chairs,  being  past  grand  at  the 
present  time.  Upright  and  honorable  in  all 
the  relations  of  life,  he  has  the  confidence 
.  nd  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  is  held 
ill  high  regard  by  all   who  know  him. 


ROBERT  BLACK. 


We  are  now  permitted  to  touch  briefly 
upon  the  life  history  of  one  who  has  retained 
a  personal  association  with  the  affairs  of  De- 
Witt  county  for  forty  five  years,  llis  life 
has  been  one  of  honesl  and  earnest  endeavor 
and  due  success  has  not  been  denied  him, 
so  that  he  is  now  one  oi  the  prosperous  citi- 
zens of  Harnett  township,  his  home  being  on 

tion  32,  adjoining  the  village  of  Midland 
City. 

A  natiw  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Black  was  born 
in  Logan  county,  thai  state.  March  20,  1835, 
and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Nancy  1  Powers) 
Black.  llis  father  was  horn  in  the  north 
of  Ireland  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  and  was 
a  child  when  brought  to  the  new  world  by 
his  father,  Alexander  Black,  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Pennsylvania  and  who  lived  to  the 
remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  and  four 
years.     Our  subject's  maternal   grandfather 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


i  ii 


;ils«  >  reached  an  advanced  age,  being  ninety- 
one  ai  die  lime  of  his  death.  James  Black  wa- 

reared   in    Pennsylvania,  and   there  married 
Miss  Nancy  Powqrs,  a  name  of  that  state. 

At  an  early  day  they  crossed  the  Cumber- 
land mountains  on  horseback  ami  settled  in 
Logan  county,  <  mio,  being  numbered  among 
the  pioneers  of  that  locality.  The  father 
first  purchased  a  small  piece  of  land,  t" 
which  he  subsequently  added  until  he  had 
cue  hundred  and  fifty-six  acres,  which  is 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son.  <  Hiver 
S.  Black.  In  the  family  were  ten  children, 
•f  whom  are  still  living,  namely:  Will- 
iam, a  resident  of  Iowa:  Oliver  S.,  who  Ii 
near  the  old  homestead:  Henry,  who  lives 
with,  our  subject;  Robert,  of  this  review: 
Mrs.  I.etitia  E.  Short,  a  resident  of  Belle- 
fontaine,  Ohio;  and  Mrs.  Nancy  E.  Huber, 
of  Noble  county,  Indiana. 

Our  subject,  who  was  the  seventh  son  in 
this  family,  used  to  aid  his. mother  in  the 
household  work  and  in  spinning  during  his 
boyhood.  He  also  worked  with  his  father 
in  the  fields  and  attended  school  during  the 
winter  months,  when  his  services  were  not 
needed  at  home.  In  1856  he  came  west,  ar- 
riving in  DeWitt  county.  September  8.  and 
here  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  about 
two  years. 

Mr.  Black  was  married  in  this  county 
June  10.  1858,  to  Mr-.  Margaret  Humphrey, 
a  native  of  Madison  county.  Ohio,  and  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  NfcClinans,  with  whom 
-he  came  to  Illinois  in  childhood.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living:  Curtis  L.  is  married  and 
follows  farming  in  this  county:  Mary  Ma- 
tilda is  the  wife  of  William  C.  Wallace,  of 
Midland  City:  Joseph  E.  i-  also  married  and 
is  engaged  in  farming  in  this  county;  Rachel 
-  lied  at  the  age  of  two  years:  David  M.  i- 
married  and  helps  carry  on  his  father's  farm. 


Besides  their  own  children  Mr.  and  Mr-. 
Black  have,  out  of  the  kindness  of  their 
heart-,  given  homes  to  four  other-,  three 
girls,  who  were  aged  four,  five  and  eleven 
year-,  respectively,  when  they  came  to  live 
with  them.  All  are  now  grown  and  married 
and  the  boy  i-  also  grown. 

For  one  year  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Black  wa-  engaged  in  farming  on  rented 
land,  and  then  removed  to  his  present  place. 
which  was  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acre-,  belonging  to  his  wife.  To  the  im- 
provement and  cultivation  of  this  farm  he 
has  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  atten- 
tion ever  since.  There  are  two  houses,  barns 
and  outbuildings  upon  the  place,  and  every- 
thing is  in  first-class  condition.  Mr.  Black 
also  owns  an  adjoining  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  and  has  one  hundred  and 
ten  acre-  of  timber  land,  besides  other  prop- 
erty. For  about  ten  years  he  wa-  success- 
fully engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  stock, 
and  now  gives  considerable  attention  to  the 
breeding  of  standardised  road  horses,  in 
which  he  also  ileal-.  He  laid  out  the  villi 
of  Midland  City  upon  hi-  farm,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  wa-  engaged  in  merchandising 
there.  Mr.  Black  hail  no  capital  with  which 
to  begin  life,  and  his  career  proves  that  am- 
bition, perseverance,  steadfast  purpose  and 
indefatigable  industry,  combined  with  sound 
business  principles,  will  be  rewarded,  and 
that  true  success  follows  individual  effort 
only. 

In  politics  he  has  been  a  life-long  Demo- 
crat and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  iX<h>.  He  ha-  been 
a  delegate  to  state  and  county  conventions 
of  his  party,  has  -er\ed  as  commissioner  of 
highways;  was  a  member  of  the  school  board 
twenty  years:  and  president  of  the  district 
eight  years.  Religiously  both  be  and  hi-  wife, 
are  active  and  faithful  member-  of  the  Mid- 


I  12 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


land  City  Christian  church,  in  which  he 
served  as  both  deacon  and  elder,  and  they 
receive  and  merit  the  high  regard  of  tlie 
entire  community  in  which  they  live. 


WILLIAM    BOOTH. 

William  Booth,  attorney  at  law  and  mas- 
ter in  chancery  of  1  >e\\  itt  county,  resid 
in  Clinton,  was  horn  on  the  -'4th  of  April, 
iNmi.  m  Cedarville,  Greene  county,  Ohio. 
IM-  father,  John  Booth,  was  horn  in  Berke- 
ley county.  West  Virginia,  and  in  early  life 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  married  Rosa 
Piles,  a  native  of  that  state.  During  the 
litter  part  of  tin-  '40s  he  came  to  Illinois 
for  the  purpose  of  herding  cattle  <>n  the  wild 
prairies,  driving  them  back  to  Ohio  in  the 
m11.  Being  so  favorably  impressed  with 
the  country,  he  moved  his  family  to  this 
state  in  1N51  and  settled  near  Waynesville. 
DeWitt  county,  where  he  purchased  a  parti- 
ally  improved   farm.     After  residing  there 

ew  years  he  removed  to  Waynesville, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  died  in  [890,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years,  but  is  still  survived  by  his  wife.  \ 
continues  to  make  her  home  in  Waynesville. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children: 
William,  our  subject;  Mr-.  Mary  Strange; 
Mrs.  Nancy  Williamson;  and  Melda. 

William  Booth  was  only  two  years  old 
when  the  family  came  to  this  county,  and  he 
is  indebted  to  its  public  schools  for  his  early 
educational  advantages.  Later  he  entered 
the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloom- 
ington,  Illinois,  and  was  graduated  at  that 
institution  in  1S74  and  was  admitted  to 
practice  law  in  [879.  Since  then  he  has  en- 
_ed  in  practice  in  Clinton,  being  alone. 
with  the  exception  of  about  a  year,   when 


'■..  S.  Wan  Meter  was  associated  with  him. 
i'  n  mi  1880  until  1892  he  served  a-  state's 
attorney,  being  elected  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  later  he  was  appointed  master  in 
chancery,  which  office  he  still  retains. 

In  [890  Mr.  Booth  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Theresa  Crang,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  Crang,  of  Clinton.  She  pre- 
sides with  gracious  dignity  over  their  beau- 
tiful home  at  j<ij  North  Monroe  street. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  manifested  his  pa- 
triotism by  attempting  to  enlist  at  each  call 
for  troops,  hut  being  too  small,  as  well  as 
1.  0  young,  hi-  services  were  always  rejected 
and  he  was  sent  home  until  [864,  when  he 
accepted  a-  drummer  hoy  for  Company 
1  ine  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth  Illinois  \  ol- 
unteer  Infantry.  lie.  therefore,  has  the 
honor  of  being  one  of  the  youngest  soldiers 
in  the  late  Rebellion  from  this  state,  and  is 
to-day  a  member  of  the  Grand  \rmv  Post 
of  Clinton,  lie  ha-  also  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  prosperity  and  welfare 
1  f  hi-  city,  and  is  recognized  a-  one  of  ii> 
leading  citizens  as  well  as  one  of  its  ablest 
law  yers. 


JAMES  WILLI  \.M  O  IFFMAN. 

(  Ine  of  the  most  prominent  and  progi 
ive  agriculturists  of  DeWitl  county  i-  the 
gentleman  whose  name  head-  this  review. 
lie  was  born  in  Augusta  county.  Virginia, 
near  Staunton,  on  January  8,  1842.  and  is 
■11  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Elizabeth  1  Swick  1 
Milan,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia. In  1853  these  parents  settled  near 
Sweetwater.  Menard  county.  Illinois,  where 
they  remained  two  years,  they  then  moved 
to  [owa  and  were  residents  of  that  -tate  live 
years,  the  father'-  death  occurring  there  in 
1858.     In   i860  his   widow  and  family  re- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


■'3 


turned  to  Menard  county,  where  she  married 
Robert  \\  .  Hardin.  In  iSSj  death  again 
robbed  her  of  her  helpmate  and  she  came  to 
Nixon  township,  DeWitt  county,  where 
she  has  since  resided.  Her  children 
by  her  first  husband  all  grew  to  ma- 
turity, namely:  Cornelia,  now  deceased; 
Maggie,  deceased;  James  VV. ;  Henry  i 
Zachariah  T..  deceased;  Emanuel  F.; 
Charles  I..:  and  Samuel  !>..  deceased.  By 
her  second  union  she  became  the  mother  of 
one  sun.  Thomas   B.    1  lanlin. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Christopher  Coffman,  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  came  to  Pennsylvania  with  his  parents 
and  on  attaining  his  majority  removed  to 
Virginia,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  twice  married  and  became  the  father  of 
eleven  children.  His  demise  occurred  in  that 
state.  The  maternal  grandfather  was  Eman- 
uel Swick,  a  native  of  Augusta  county,  Vir- 
ginia, and  of  German  descent.  He  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer  and  in  later  life 
moved  to  [owa,  where  he:  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  I  lis  wife  was  Miss  Bar- 
bara Croft. 

As  state  before,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view came  to  this  State  with  his  parents  and 
later  removed  to  Iowa.  In  [860  he  returned 
to  Illinois  with  his  widowed  mother  and  in 
1873  settled  in  Nixon  township,  where  he 
engaged  in  teaching,  which  profession  he 
had  previously  followed  for  fifteen  years  in 
Menard  county.  He  continued  teaching  in 
this  county  for  ten  years.  In  1882  he  mar- 
ried, his  wife  owning  eighty  acres  on  section 
[8,  to  which  he  later  added  seventy-two 
acres,  making  in  all  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
two  acres  of  well  improved  land.  lie  has 
placed  it  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  to-day  has  one  of  the  best  farms  in  this 
section  of  DeWitt  county. 

On   March    16,    18N2   he   was   united   in 


marriage  with  Miss  Charlotte  A.,  daughter 
of   Evan  and   Mary    (Applegate)    Barrick- 

inau.  of  Nixon  township.  Her  people  were 
natives  of  Kentucky  and  Indiana,  respective- 
ly. As  a  result  of  this  union  three  children 
were  horn:     Elizabeth  Florence;  James  VV., 

Jr.;  and  Edith,  who  is  now  deceased.  Mrs. 
Coffman  departed  this  life  May  25,   [S 

Socially  Mr.  Coffman  is  a  member  of 
Mo/an  Lodge,  No.  96,  K.  of  P.,  of  Weldon. 
Politically  he  has  at  all  times  taken  an  active 
interest  in  the  Republican  party  and  has  been 
called  upon  to  till  the  office  of  assessor  for 

thirteen  years  and  collector  of  his  township 
for  twelve  years. 


FRANK  K.  HARROLD. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  young  men 
of  DeWitt  count)-  is  Frank  I-'..  Harrold,  who 
is  now  so  creditabl)  serving  a-  clerk  of  the 
circuit  court.  He  is  a  native  of  this  county, 
horn  near  the  village  of  DeWitt,  on  the  6th 
of  January,  [873,  and  is  a  representative  of 
a  prominent  old  family  of  that  locality.  His 
father.  Jesse  F.  Harrold,  was  born  in  Henry 
County.  Indiana.  January  iS.  [838,  and  is 
a  son  of  Eli  and  Carrie  (Ayres)  Harrold, 
both  natives  of  Virginia.  <  >ur  subject's  pa- 
ternal great  grandfather.  William  Harrold, 
was  born  in  England,  and  on  coming  to  the 
United  States  first  settled  in  North  Carolina, 
and  from  there  removed  to  the  Old  1' 
minion,  lie  fought  for  American  independ- 
ence in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  Avrcs 
family  were  among  the  French  Huguenots 
who  settled  in  North  Carolina  at  a  very  early 
dav  in  the  development  of  this  country. 
Their  name  was  formerly  He  Ayres.  In 
[842  Eli  Harrold.  our  subject's  grandfather, 
came  to  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  from  Henry 


114 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


comity,  Indiana,  and  located  on  the  farm  in 
Harp  township  now  owned  by  J.  F.  Harrold. 
There  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
and  his  wife  pased  away  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
four.  They  had  seven  children,  namely: 
.Mrs.  Lucinda  L  William-:  Elicum;  Mrs. 
Frances  Arbogast;  Alfred:  Martha,  who 
first  married  a  Mr.  Walters,  and.  second,  a 
Mr.  Mulkev;  Mrs.  [Catherine  Cardiff;  and 
[esse  1'".  All  lived  to  old  age,  and  all  are  de- 
ceased with  the  exception  of  the  last  two 
named. 

Locating  in  Harp  township  Jesse  F.  Har- 
rold followed  farming  and  stock-raising 
quite  successfully  throughout  his  active  Imsi- 
ness  life,  and  was  one  of  the  first  breeders 
<  if  thoroughbred  (  Chester  hi  igs  in  tin-  count) , 
lie  still  owns  a  well-improved  farm,  lint  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  in  DeWitt,  enjoying 
the  fruits  of  former  toil.  During  the  dark 
days  of  the  Rebellion  he  laid  aside  all  pi 
sonal  interests  ami  enlisted  in  July.   t86l,  in 

Company  F.  Forty-first  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,   as   a   private,   hut    the    following 

sear  was  commissioned  captain  of  his  com- 
pany, lie  is  now  an  honored  member  oi 
James  Hutchinson  Post,  No.  201,  G.  A.  I\.. 
of  which  he  is  past  commander,  and  is  also 

a  member  of  Vmon  Lodge,  No.  261,  F.  &   \. 

M..  of  DeWitt.      In  early  life  he  took  quite  a 

prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  and  in  1X74 
was  elected  state  senator  on  the  Independent 
Reform  ticket.  lie  served  as  school  treas- 
urer for  the  long  period  of  thirty  years.  In 
[865  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  Robbins,  who 
was  horn  in  DeWitt.  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Darnell  F.  Robbins,  and  by  this  union  were 
horn  five  children  :  Lawrence,  a  farmer  of 
Harp  township:  Annie,  deceased  wife  oi  L. 
E.  Reed:  Frank  F...  our  subject;  Ira  0.,  a 
merchant  of  DeWitt:  and  Maud,  at  home 
with  her  parents.  The  early  ancestors  of  our 
Subject    were    members   of   the  Society  of 


Friends,  while  later  they  were  Baptists  in 
religious  belief,  and  his  parents  are  now 
members  of  the  Mehodist  Episcopal  church. 
The  early  education  of  our  subject  was 
acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  this  county, 
and  he  later  attended  the  Normal  College 
at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated in  [893.  Nc  engaged  in  teaching  for 
seven  years,  being  principal  of  the  schools 
of  De  Witt  two  years  of  that  time,  and  then 
with  his  brother  Ira  <  >.  he  succeeded  the  firm 
of  Watt  Brothers  in  mercantile  business  in 
DeWitt  and  still  owns  an  interest  in  the 
Store.      In    [900  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the 

circuit  court  on  the  Republican  ticket  to  suc- 
ceed W.  0.  Rogers,  and  is  now  filling  that 
office  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1900,  Mr. 
Harrold  married  Miss  (Hive  Hammers,  of 
/aiH'sv  illc.i  Hno.  lie  is  a  prominent  member 
and  past  master  of  Anion  Lodge,  No.  -"<>  1 , 
F.  &  A.  M.,  .if  DeWitt,  and  is  aK,.  a  mem- 
ber of  ( j.  lodhrake  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.  :  anil  1  >i 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America,  and  the  Knights 
of  the  Maccabees.  Whether  in  public  or  pri- 
vate life  he  is  always  a  courteous,  genial 
gentleman,  and  is  well  deserving  the  high 
regard  in  which  he  is  held. 


|<  )ll\   (,.   CACKLEY. 

For  many  years  the  sub j eel  of  this  re- 
view was  one  of  the  most  highly  respected 
and  valued  citizens  of  Clinton,  and  was 
prominently  identified  with  her  upbuilding 
and  development.  lie  was  horn  in  l'oca- 
hoiitas  county.  We.st  Virginia,  in  1832,  and 
was  a  son  of  William  and  Jennie  (Cay) 
Cacklev.  who  were  also  natives  of  that  state. 


JOHN   G    CACKLEY. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


117 


The  father  ran  a  general  store  at  Hunt, 
ville.    West    Virginia,    for  many   years,   and 
en     his     retirement      from    active    busil 
came    to    Clinton  about    1856  to  make  his 
!i"ine  with  his   >.  >ns.      Here  lie  died  at   the 
of  sixty-eight  years,  and  his  wife  at  the 
of  seventy.     He  was  a  soldier  of  the  war 
nf   1812  and  took  part  in  many  important 
tents.      \s  "iie  of  the  leading  and 
influential  citizens  of  his  community,  he 
In  >ncred  with  several  important  official 
sitions,  being  a  member  of  the  West   Vir- 
ginia legislature  twelve  years,  and  sheriff  of 
his  county  fur  several  terms.     He  also  tilled 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.     In  politics 
he  was  a  supiwrter  of  the  Democratic  party. 
and  in  his  religious  views  was  liberal.     His 
children  were  Robert,  Mary.  Leah.  William, 
Hannah.    Ann.    Fry.    A.    David,    John    G., 
Sarah.  Louise,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

When  nineteen  years  of  age    John    <  '•. 

kley  came  to  DeWitt  county  empty- 
handed,  and  through  his  own  unaided  ef- 
forts worked  his  way  steadily  upward  to  a 
iition  of  affluence.  He  was  actively  iden- 
tified with  a  number  of  business  enterpris 
and  owned  considerable  real  estate,  includ- 
ing residence  property  besides  his  own  beau- 
tiful home.  He  built  the  block  now  occu- 
pied by  the  National  Bank  of  Clinl 
which  he  continued  to  own  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  and  which  is  now  in  possession 
of  his  son  Clayburn.  He  purchased  the 
Hickman  Mills  farm  o£  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres,  which  is  now  owned  and  car- 
ried on  by  his  widow.  Throughout  life  he 
devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  farming  and  sti  >ck  raising,  mak- 
ing somewhat  of  a  specialty  of  high  grade 
cattle,  and  in  business  affairs  he  steadily 
prospered,  becoming  quite  well-to-do. 

On  April    [3,    1858,    Mr.    Cackley  mar- 
ried  Miss  Alcinda   E.   Cundiff,  a  daughter 

6 


of  Thornton  and  Eleanor  (Beatty)  Cun- 
ditt. Her  father,  who  was  a  native  of  Po- 
cahontas county.  West  Virginia,  came  to 
Clinton  in  1851,  and  for  a  time  conducted 
a  lmtel  where  the  Masonic  block  is  now  lo- 
cated. Later  he  purchased  a  farm  near 
Farmer  City,  this  county,  ami  turned  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits.  There  he 
died  at  the  age  <>i  fifty  \ears,  and  his  wife 
aed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty-two.  They 
had  seven  children,  namely.:  William:  John; 
Alcinda  E.,  now' Mrs.  Cackley:  Sarah,  wife 
of  Captain  James  North:  Mary,  wife  of 
James  Kirk:  Jennie,  wife  of  Richard  Kin- 
e;  and  Amanda,  wife  of  Joseph  Ranier. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cackley  were  born  six 
children:      William    T..    now    a    resident    of 

Texas:  Clayburn.  of  Clinton:  Minnie,  wife 
of  Ernest  Drake,  of  Lexington.  Kentucky; 
Fred  and  liert.  both  of  Clinton:  and  Cay, 
whi '  died  young. 

Mr.  Cackley  died  mi  the  7th  of  June, 
1  Si )<>.  and  his  funeral,  which  was  a  very 
large  one,  was  conducted  by  the  Independent 
<  >rder  of  (  Idd  Fellows,  of  which  he  was  an 
active  member.  He  was  a  great  favorite 
with  bub  old  and  young,  and  was  known 

-  Uncle  John  by  his  many  friends.  He 
lived  an  upright,  honorable  life  and  com- 
manded the  respect  and  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact. either  in  bus- 
iness ,,r  social  affairs.  Although  not  a  mem- 
ber of  any  religious  denomination,  he  leaned 
very  strongly  toward  the  Universalis!  faith, 
and  often  attended  the  services  of  that 
church.  His  nature  was  remarkably  toler- 
ant, patient  and  forgiving,  and  he  was  ex- 
ceedingly charitable  and  benevolent.  His 
estimable  wife,  who  still  survives  him.  is 
a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  her 
pleasant,  genial  manner  makes  her  a  general 
favorite.  Her  husband's  business  was  left 
entirely  in  her  hands  .at  his  death,  and  111 


i  iS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  management  of  the  estate  she  has  dis- 
played remarkable  aptitude  for  business  and 
sound  judgment. 


ISAAC  W.  THOMAS. 

This  well  known  citizen  of  Farmer  City, 
\vh<>    for   over   twenty   years    has    served    as 
constable,  was  horn  in  Indiana,  on  the  8th 
of  February,  [833,  and  came  to  this  county 
with  his  parents  in  1N47.     His  father,  Abra- 
ham Thomas,  was  born  al  Fori  Brownville, 
Pennsylvania,   and   was  a   son   oi    Michael 
Thomas,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war 
and  a   farmer  bj    occupation.     The  family 
came  originally  from  Wales.     The  grandfa- 
ther of  our  subjecl  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  where  he  spent 
his  last  days,     lie  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Elizabeth  Bennett,  who  died 
young,  leaving  two  children,  Abraham  and 
Tabitha.     For  his  second  wife  he  married  a 
Miss   Downing,  by  whom  he  had  five  chil 
dren,    namely:      Michael,    William,    Daniel, 
Mary  and   Rachel.     Abraham  Thomas,  our 
subject's   father,  married   Arlinda  Gardner, 
a  name  of  Pike  county,  (  >hio,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Gardner.     Unto  them  were 
bom  the  following  children :     Michael,  I  ■ 
cas,  Thomas  G.,  Elizabeth,  George  D.,  Nan- 
cy,  Greenbury,    William.    Biddy    Ann,    Ma- 
rion   G.    and    Isaac    W.      The    father   served 
as  an  ensign  in  the  war  of   iSi_\     From  In- 
diana  he   removed   with   his    family   to    De- 
Witt  county.  Illinois,  in  1X47.  and  purchased 
fort)    acres  of    Mr.   Hall,   it   being  now   the 
farm   of    Mrs.    II.    Trinkle.   in    Santa    Anna 
township,      lie  als,,  entered    an    adjoining 
tract  of  eighty  acres,  hut  after  spending  nine 
years  here  he  S(  'Id  1  iut  and  went  t'  1  Iowa.     He 
soon   returned,    however,    and   died    in   this 


county  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years,  llis  wife  died  in  1855,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five. 

During  his  early  life  Isaac  W.  Thomas 
engaged  in  farming  ami  after  locating  in 
Farmer  City  he  first  engaged  in  teaming, 
later  in  plastering,  ami  still  later  in  contract- 
ing, hut  is  now  practically  living  a  retired 
life  on  Mast  Green  street,  lie  was  married 
in  [856  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Stucky,  a  native  of 
Fountain  county,  Indiana,  and  a  daughter 
of  James  Stucky.  She  died  in  [893,  and  the 
live  children  horn  to  them — Anderson,  Will- 
iam. Helen,  Marion  and  James  A.,  all  died 
in  infant 

Mr.  Thomas  was  one  of  the  early  mem- 
bers of  the  Masonic  fraternity  in  Farmer 
City,  and  religiously  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church.  During  the  last  twenty 
years  of  the  nineteenth  century  he  served  as 
constable,  and  was  again  elected  to  that  of- 
fice in  [901.  lie  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  county,  and  has  hosts 
of  warm  friends  in  and  around  Farmei   City. 


CHARLES  R.  ADAIR. 

^mong  the  legal  profession  of  DeWitt 
country  are  many  brilliant  and  brainy  men, 
hut  to-day  then-  are  none  that  stand  higher 
in  the  esteem  of  the  people  than  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  introduces  this  biography. 
Although  a  comparatively  young  man  he  has 
rapidly  forged  to  the  front  in  his  chosen  pro- 
fession and  there  are  few,  if  any.  that  have 
brighter  prospects  than  Charles  R.  Adair. 

A  native  of  Logan  county,  he  was  horn 
March  11,  [868  and  is  a  son  of  James  M. 
and  Sarah  J.  (  Barr)  Adair,  who  at  that  time 
was  a  leading  farmer  of  Logan  county,  Illi- 
nois, but  who  removed  with  his  family  to 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


119 


DeWitt  county  when  our  subject  was  a  small 
child.  Here  he  carried  on  farming  and  stock- 
raising  until  [896,  when  he  returned  to  Lo- 
gan  county,  where  he  has  taken  up  farming 
and  where  he  is  now  residing. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was 

lined  in  the  commi  >n  sch<  n  ils  1  if  this  o  iun- 
ty.  and  was  supplemented  by  a  course  in 
the  Northwestern  University.  He  then  en- 
jed  in  teaching,  which  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed one  year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
entered  the  Kent  Law  School,  of  Chic: 
where  he  was  graduated  in  [894.  Immedi- 
ately thereafter  he  came  to  Clinton,  where  he 

tied  an  office  and  engaged  in  the  practice 

law  for  five  years.  In  July.  1899,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Fred  Ball,  and 
for     -ix     months     they     were     associated 

■ther.      At      the      end      of      this 
Mr.  Adair    took    charge    "f    the     l 
Daily       and    Weekly       Times,    which       lie 
continued    to    edit    tor    one   year,    when    he 
embarked  in  the  practice  of  law. 

'    14.    [895,   -Mr.  Adair  led  to 

the  marriage  altar  Mi--  Mary  A.,  daughter 

-     town,  of  Easton,  Illinois.     As  a 

f  this  union  two  children  have  been 

rn  :    Charles  T.  and  Mary  Ellen. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Adair 
was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  men  and  m< 
ures  of  the  Republican  party  until  [896,  since 
which  time  he  has  voted  and  supported  the 
principles    of    the    Democracy  and   is  now 

retary  of  the  county  Democratic  central 
committee.  In  1898  he  was  the  Democratic 
candidate  for  county  judge,  and  he  has  al- 
ways taken  an  active  and  influential  part  in 
public  affairs.  Upright,  reliable  and  hon- 
orable, hi-  Strict  adherence  to  principles  com- 
mands the  respect  of  all.  The  place  that  lie 
has  won  in  the  legal  profession  is  accorded 
him  in  recognition  of  his  skill  and  ability, 
ami  the  place  which  he  occupies  in  the  social 


world  i>  a  tribute  to  that  genius,  worth  .and 
true  nobleness  of  character  which  are  uni- 
versally recognized  and  honored. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mr-.  Adair  are  active 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Clinton,  and  since  [895  Mr.  Adair  has 
been  a  member  of  the  official  board  and  is 
now  serving  a-  -tew  aid. 


HENRY  QUERFELD. 

Henry    Querfeld,    one  of    the    substan- 
tial    German-American     farmers     of     De- 
Witt    county,    Illinois,    was    horn    in    llan- 
nany,     February    9,     [834,   and 

emigrated  to  the  United  Slate-  in  (868. 
A  happy  inspiration  caused  him  to  direct  his 
steps  to  Illinois,  where  for  a  number  of  years 
he  farmed  on  eighty  acre-  of  rented  land  in 
DeWitt  county.  He  later  rented  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Clintonia 
township,  and  successfully  managed  and 
worked  the  same  until  his  removal  to  Texas 
township,  where  he  rented  another  farm  un- 
til about  twelve  year-  ago.  He  then  became 
the  possessor  of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  at  present  owned  by  him  on  section  17. 
Texas  township,  upon  which  he  has  institut- 
ed  many   improvements,   remodeled  and   in- 

ised  the  size  of  the  house,  and  added 
many  needed  and  substantial  buildings  for 
general  use.  lie  i-  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing ami  Stock-raising  on  a  large  scale,  and 
has  1  >ne  of  the  best  appointed  and  best 
equipped  farms  in  the  county. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Querfeld,  William 
and  Mary  (Magers)  Querfeld,  were  horn, 
reared  and  spent  their  entire  lives  in  the 
fatherland,  and  died  before  their  son  came 
to  America.  There  were  only  three  children 
in  the  family,  the  sister,  Minnie,  having  died 


120 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


two  years  after  her  brother  Henry  left  home. 
In  the  meantime  he  has  never  heard  from 
his  brother,  and  is  in  doubt  as  to  whether 
he  is  alive  or  dead.  .May  20,  [856,  Mr. 
Querfeld  married  Christine  Peters,  at  Mon- 
delsloh,  Germany,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Mary  (Hinneman)  Peters.  Henry  Peters 
was  a  fanner  during  the  greater  part  of  his 
life,  although  for  sixteen  years  he  was  a 
soldier  in  the  British  army.  The  parents 
died  in  Germany,  having  reared  a  familj  oi 
six  children,  all  "i"  whom  with  one  exception 
came  to  America,  but  Mrs.  Querfeld  is  the 
only  one  living  now.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Querfeld  have  been  born  seven  children,  live 
of  whom  are  now  living:  Minnie  C,  who 
was  horn  in  Germany  December  [3,  1857, 
is  now  the  wife  of  Daniel  B.  Stivers,  of  Clin- 
ton, formerly  chief  of  police  of  the  town  for 
many  year.-,  and  has  two  children.  Charles 
and  Waller:  Sophia,  who  was  horn  in  Ger- 
many Februarj  _•_•.  [859,  is  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Hoffman,  of  DeVVitt  township,  and 
has  six  children.  Mildred.  Minnie.  Frank, 
Edna,  Russell  and  Kay.  all  horn  in  DeWitt 
township;  Henry,  who  was  born  in  Pcr- 
manv  1  >Ctober  [8,  [863,  and  died  in  his  na- 
tive land  January  S.  [865,  at  the  age  of  fif- 
teen months  :  Mary  P..  who  was  horn  June 
[3,  1S1.7.  and  died  in  DeWitt  county  June 
14,  [884;  Frank  P..  who  was  horn  February 
_'4.  1N70.  married  Sarah  Beckman,  has  orte 
child,  Helen,  and  farms  in  Clintonia  town- 
ship; and  Hermann  P..  who  was  horn  Jan- 
uary 4.  [872,  is  a  fanner  on  the  home  pi 
was  formerly  president  of  the  Christian  En- 
deavor Society  of  Clinton,  has  been  a  deacon 
in  the  Christian  church  at  Clinton  for  four 
years,  and  is  fraternally  a  Knight  of  Pythias, 
and  a  member  of  Mozart  Lodge,  No.  96,  of 
Weldon  :  William,  who  was  horn  (  )ctober  28, 
[877,  in  DeWitt  county,  and  lives  on  the 
home  farm.     The  children  were  all  educated 


at  the  public  schools  of  Germany,  and  De- 
Witt  county.  Illinois. 

Mr.  and  Airs.  Querfeld  are  members  of 
the  Christian  church  of  Clinton  and  in  pol- 
itics he  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  cared 
f(  >r  <  iflice. 


STONEWALL  J.  McNUTT. 

Stonewall  J.  McNutt,  now  a  resident  of 

I  he  village  of  Wapella,  was  for  s, ,nic  years 
successfully  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  in  Wapella  township,  and  stills  owns 
a  line  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
■  n  section  25.  lie  was  born  in  Lewis  coun- 
ty. Kentucky,  November  26,  [866,  and  is 
a  s,  ,n  of  John  McNutt,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  the  same  county,  in  iS_'S.  his  paternal 
grandfather,  John  McNutt,  Sr.,  being  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  that  locality.  On 
reaching  manhood  the  father  married  Miss 
Sarah  Ann  Fenwick,  also  a  native  of  Lewis 
county,  and  a  daughter  of  William  Fen- 
wick, one  of  its  pioneers.  In  early  life 
John  McNutt,  Jr.,  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,    and    is    si  ill    carrying    on    a    shop    at 

tageville  in  his  native  county,  and  also 
owns  and  operates  a  grisl  mill  there.  Loth 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  that  place  and  are  most  es- 
timable people. 

Mr.  McNutt,  of  this  review,  was  reared 
to  agricultural  pursuits  upon  the  home  farm 
and    acquired    his    literary   education    in   the 

I I  uaii'  in  schi » ils  ■  >f  the  neighbi  irh< « >d.  Leav- 
ing home  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  he 
came  to  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  by  the  month  for  two  years,  and 
then  engaged  in  farming  for  himself  upon 
rented  land  for  several  years. 

At  Wapella.  December  _>g.  1896,  Mr. 
McNutt   was  united  in  marriage  with   Mis- 


Till-:   l;lM«.k Ai'ilhAI.   RECORD. 


i  ji 


Elizabeth  Downing,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  iliis  county.  Her  father,  James 
I  Downing,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  and 
prominent  farmers  of  DeWitt  county,  hav- 
ing come  here  from  Mason  county,  Ken- 
tucky, at  an  earl)  day.  For  one  year  alter 
1 1 !•>  marriage  Mr.  McNutt  continued  t" 

te  rented  land,  and  then  removed  to  the 
ci!<l  Downing  homestead,  where  he  succt 
fully  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  i 
ing  until  the  fall  "t"  1901,  when  he  rented 
his  farm  and  removed  to  the  village  of 
Wapella  on  account  of  hi^  wife's  ill  health, 
buying  residence  property  at  that  place. 
In  connection  with  his  farming  he  was  suc- 
'1  in  raising  a  high  grade  1  if 
k.  making  a  specialty  of  I '"land  china 
hogs  and  Polled  Angus  cattle. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  McNutt  is 
talwart  Democrat  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
tial  ballot  for  Grover  Cleveland,  but  he 
has  never  sought  official  honors.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  connected  with  the  Long 
J'. -int  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which 
lie  i-  one  of  the  official  members  and  trustee, 
and  they  take  an  active  part  in  Sunday- 
school  work.  They  are  widely  and  favora- 
bly known  and  have  a  host  of  warm  friends 
throughout  the  county. 


JOHN  M.  CUNNINGHAM. 

\<>\m  M.  Cunningham,  a  prominent  and 
influential  farmer  of  Wilson  township,  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March  u.  [828,  and  is  a  &  <n  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Magee)  Cunningham.  His  ma- 
ternal grandfather  fought  for  American  in- 
dependence  as  a  private  in  the  Colonial  army 
during  the  Revolutionary  war.     The  father 


of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and 
was  a  small  boy  when  he  came  to  tln^  country 
w  ilh  Ins  father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, lie  made  his  home  in  Pennsylvania 
throughout  life.  After  his  death  his  wife 
came  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  her  life  at  the  home  of  our 
Subject.  Her  remains  were  interred  in  the 
I  lej  worth  cemetery.  She  was  the  mother  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  si\  reached  years  of 
maturity,  namely:  John  M..  our  subji 
Franklin,  a  resident  of  Wapella  township; 
I. ear.  deceased;  Jane,  wife  of  James  Petti- 
bone,  of    Missouri ;  1  lannah.  w  ife  of  William 

sard,  of  Wisconsin;  and  William,  a  r< 
dent  of  McLean  countv.  Illinois. 

During  his  boyhood  John  M.  Cunning- 
ham attended  school  in  summer  and  worked 
through  the  winter  until  twelve  years 
at  which  time  his  education  was  supposed  to 
he  completed.  lie  remained  at  home  until 
about  twenty  years  of  age,  and  then  com- 
menced earning  his  own  livelihood,  following 
various  occupations  for  a  time. 

()u  the  6th  of  December,  1848,  Mr.  Cun- 
ningham married  Miss  Elizabeth  Buckston, 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Buckston, 
who  were  of  German  descent.  By  this  union 
were  horn  eight  children  as  follows;  1  1  ) 
William  is  now  operating  the  home  farm  for 
his  father.  i  _' I  Adeline  is  the  w  ife  of  Rob- 
ert Summers,  of  Wapella  township,  and  the) 
have  four  children:  Lea;  Julia,  wife  of 
Emery  Treat,  of  Wapella  township:  Will- 
iam, a  resident  of  Bloomington ;  and  Ann. 
wife  of  George  Greene,  of  Wapella.  i.^i 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  James  lluhhell.  -i 
Wapella  township,  and  has  se\en  children, 
Lilly.  Ella,  hied,  Cora,  Nora,  Abe  and  John. 

i.|  1    Hannah  is  the  wife  of  Shirlcv    (an. 
Wilsi  'ii  t.  .w  nship,  and  they  ha\  e  ten  children. 
eight    girls   and    two   boys.  ranklin 

died  at  the  age  of  three  years.   (6)    Absalom, 


122 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  resident  of  low  a.  married  Jennie  Ellis  and 
has  five  children.      (7)   Cora  is  deceased. 

In  [858  Mr.  Cunningham  came  to  Illi- 
nois, making-  the  journey  by  way  of  Pitts- 
burg down  the  Ohio  river  to  Cairo,  and  by 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  to  Ileyworth, 
McLean  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  rented  land  for  three  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  removed  to  section  30, 
Wilson  township,  when'  he  purchased  eighty 
acre's  of  railroad  land,  and  to  it  he  subsc- 
quentlj  added  a  tract  of  forty  acres.  This 
he  placed  under  cultivation  and  improved  by 
the  erectii >n  of  a  g< » id  hi iuse,  barn  and  feint's. 
converting  it  into  a  mosl  desirable  farm.  In 
his  fanning  operations  he  lias  met  with 
marked  success,  and  as  his  financial  resources 
have  increased  he  has  added  to  his  lauded 
possessions  until  he  now  has  three  hundred 
and  fiftj  acres  of  valuable  farm  laud  in  Wil- 
son and  Wapella  townships.  1 1  is  life  affords 
an  example  to  the  young  in  thai  he  com- 
menced lure  without  capital,  but  having  a 
determination  to  succeed  he  industriously  ap- 
plied himself  until  he  has  acquired  a  good 
property,  and  1-  now  on^  of  the  well-to-do, 

as  well  as  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zens of  his  community.  Politically  Mr.  Cun- 
ningham is  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  has  efficiently  filled  the  offices  of 
assessor  and  collector  in  his  township.  lie 
and  his  estimable  wife  are  both  active  mem 
bers  of  the  Christian  church  at  Long  Point, 
this  County,  and  he  is  now  serving  as  one  of 
Us    elders. 


Jl  MIX  FULLER. 

One  of  the  ablest  and  most  successful 
lawyers  of  Clinton.  Illinois,  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  He  is 
a  native  of  DeWitt  county,  horn  in  Rutledge 


township.  May  9.  1859,  and  on  both  the 
paternal  and  maternal  sides  is  of  Irish  de- 
scent. His  great-grandfather,  Daniel  Ful- 
ler, St.,  was  a  native  of  Dublin,  Ireland, 
and  on  his  emigration  to  America  joined 
the  early  settlers  in  Fayette  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  followed  the  cooper's 
trade.  There  the  grandfather.  Daniel  Ful- 
ler. Jr.,  was  horn  in  1790,  and  in  early  life 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  a  time,  but  later  gave  his  atten- 
tion to  farming,  his  home  being  in  Greene 
county.  Pennsylvania,  lie  married  Nancy 
Whitlatch,  who  was  born  in  that  county,  in 
1  Son,  and  was  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Nancy  Whitlatch,  natives  of  England,  He 
died  in  j s 7  1 .  and  her  death  occurred  a  year 

1.  Their  children  were  William.  Daniel,. 
Barnett,  David,  Smith.  Bowman,  John  and 
Jonah,  all  of  whom  reached  manhood,  and 
were    members    of    the    liaptist    church. 

\\  illiam  Fuller,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania, 
1)1  nary  hi.  [8231  and  was  there  reared 
and  educated.  For  six  years  he  engaged  in 
teaching  school,  a  part  of  that  time  being 
spent  in  Madison  county,  Ohio,  and  during 
his  vacations  he  bought  cattle  and  hogs  in 
Ohio,  driving  the  former  to  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  .and  the  latter  to  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  In  early  manhood  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Pennsylvania  to  Miss  .Martha  Gil- 
lett,  who  died  with  her  infant  daughter. 
Subsequently  he  was  again  married  in  Madi- 
son county,  Ohio,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Rebecca  Parker,  a  daughter  of 
Solomon  and  Rebecca  (Caskaden)  Parker. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  a 
son  of  Aaron  Parker,  who  was  of  Irish  an- 
cestry and  the  father  of  five  children,  name- 
ly: Mrs.  Betsy  Lodaman,  Mrs.  Mary  John- 
son. Solomon.  Nathan  and  Aaron.  Solo- 
mon   Parker    was   a    farmer   by     occupation 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


'^3 


and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Madison 

county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
fifty-five  years,  his  wife  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ty-rive. Cm.,  them  were  born  the  following 
children:  Samuel,  Harvey,  Betsy,  Mary, 
Eliza,  Rebecca,  Catherine.  Martha.  Rachel, 
Thomas  and  Solomon.  The  children  born  t<> 
William  and  Rebecca  i  Parker)  Fuller  were 
Daniel;  David;  a  daughter  who  died  in  in- 
fancy: .Mrs.  Rebecca  J.  Vance,  who  now 
owns  the  old  homestead  in  this  county: 
Thomas  J.:  Mrs.  Josephine  Mitchell;  John, 
our  subject;  Wiliam  and  Sylvanus,  l«>th  de- 
sed.  In  1848  the  father  came  to  DeWitt 
inty,  Illinois,  and  here  taught  school  and 
read  law  with  E.  H.  Palmer,  being  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  iN<k).  In  1854  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  the  county  and  removed  to 
Clinton,  where  he  ever  afterward  made  his 
home,   being  ssfully   engaged   in    the 

practice  of  his  profession.  For  a  quarter 
"\  a  century  he  never  missed  a  term  of 
court,  and  his  counsel  was  sought  far  and 
near.  He  continued  to  own  his  tine  farm  in 
Rir  wnship  and  took  great  intei 

in  improving  it  and  also  in  the  raising  of 
thoroughbred  short  horn  cattle  and  draft 
horses.  He  was  a  man  of  many  sterling 
qualities  and  was  thoroughly  reliable  in  all 

-  transactions.    In  his  religious  views 
he  was  literal,  in  ik ditics  he  was  a  stanch 
Democrat,  and  in  his  social  relations  w. 
charter  meml>er  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  No. 
04.  of  DeWitt.     He  died  in  1894,  at  the 

nty-one  years,  and  his  wife  departed 
this  life  in  January.  1897,  at  about  the  same 

During    his    boyhood   and   youth   John 
Fuller  attended  the  public  of  this 

linty,  and  then  took  a  literary  course  at 
the  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  iS«)i.  and  from 
the  law  department  of  the  same  institution  in 


the  following  year.     During  this  time,  seven 
years,  he  worked  during  tin-  summer  months 

on  the  farm  and  used  the  money  earned  in 
that  way  t<>  pay  his  own  tuition.  He  imme- 
diately opened  an  office  in  Clinton,  and  the 
same  year  was  elected  state's  attorney,  be- 
ing the  first  and  only  one  elected  to  that  of- 
fice during  the  first  year  of  practice,  which 
-hows  that  his  ability  in  the  line  of  his 
chosen  profession  was  soon  widely  rec 
nized.  This  was  in  the  fall  of  [892.  That 
same  election  Grover  Cleveland  carried  the 
county  by  28  votes,  while  Mr.  Fuller  re- 
ceived 151.  And  the  next  time  he  was  el( 
ed  McKinley  carried  the  county  by  about 
1,  while  he  was  elected  by  a  majority  of 
I'll.  So  acceptably  did  he  till  the  office  that 
he  was  re-elected  for  a  second  term,  serv- 
ing in  all  eight  years,  lie  i-  now  succes 
fully  engaged  in  private  practice,  and  is 
much  interested  in  the  p  of  Clinton, 

where    he    owns    considerable    property,    in- 
cluding a  tine  home. 

On  January  [6,1893,  Mr.  Fuller  married 
Miss  llattie  L.  Fields,  a  daughter  of  James. 
Fields,  who  was  formerly  a  resident  of 
White  county,  but  i<  now  living  in  Wayne 
City.  Illinois.  Socially  Mr.  Fuller  i>  a  mem- 
ber of  the  blue  lodge,  chapter  ami  command- 
ery  of  the  Masonic  order,  the  Knights 
of     Pythias,     the     Independent     Order     of 

1  Fellows,  and  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  all  <<\  Clinton.  In 
1898  he  was  elected  president  of  the 
DeWitt  Courity  Agricultural  and  Me- 
chanical Society,  which  was  established  in 
1854,  and  has  given  much  time  and  atten- 
tion to  promoting  its  interests.  The  Demo- 
cratic party  has  always  found  him  a  stanch 
supporter  of  its  principles,  and  he  takes 
quite  an  active  ami  influential  part  in  public 
affair-.  The  place  he  ha-  won  in  the  legal 
profession   i-   accorded   him   in   recognition 


124 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  his  skill  and  ability,  and  the  place  he  oc- 
cupies in  the  social  world  is  a  tribute  to  his 
genuine  worth. 


WILLI  \M  BRELSFORD. 

If  one  desires  to  gain  a  vivid  realization 
of  the  rapid  advance  in  civilization  which 
the  last  few  decades  have  broughl  about, 
he  can  listen  to  the  Stories  of  men.  who  are 
still  living  among  us,  of  the  early  days. 
The  l"t;  cabin  home,  the  still  ruder  school 
house,  with  its  rough  seats  made  oi  slabs, 
its  limited  range  of  studies  and  its  brief 
terms,  arranged  on  a  subscription  plan,  the 
routine  of  work  at  home,  unrelieved  by  any 
modern  devices  by  which  machinery  is  made 
to  do  in  a  short  time  what  formerly  occu- 
pied the  entire  year,—  these  and  many  sim- 
ilar descriptions  will  bring  up  in  sharp  eon 
trast  the  advantages  of  today.  The  sub 
ject  of  this  sketch,  a  venerable  and  highly 
respected  citizen  of  Tunbridge  township. 
has  many  interesting  reminiscences  ol  the 
pioneer  days,  which  he  takes  pleasure  in  re 
tating. 

William  Brelsford  was  born  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  22nd  of  November, 
1825,  a  son  of  Pierson  and  Mary  1  llntchin) 
Brelsford.  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
who  moved  t"  Ohio,  where  the  father  en 
gaged  in  farming.  Both  passed  their  last 
years  in  that  state.  Of  the  eight  children 
born  to  these  parents,  but  three  are  now  liv- 
ing: Pierson,  a  prominent  farmer  oi  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  operating  the  old  homestead: 
Laura,  wife  of  Mr.  Schenck.  who  resides  in 
Butler  county.  Ohio,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  farming:  William,  our  subject 

William  Brelsford  passed  Ins  boyhood 
davs  in  Butler  county.  Ohio,  receiving  his 
education  and  remaining  on  the  home  farm 


until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when 
he  commenced  farming  for  himself.  After 
four  years  he  determined  to  come  west,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1850  we  find  him  at  Pe- 
oria, Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  several 
weeks,  while  waiting  for  an  Opportunity  to 
reach  DeW'itt  comity.  There  were  compar- 
atively no  roads  at  that  time,  hut  finally, 
after  a  hard  and  tedious  trip,  getting  off 
to  break  the  ice  many  times,  he  reached  De- 
Witt  county  by  wagon  and  located  in  what 
is  now  Tunbridge  township.  Here  he 
bouglll  three  hundred  acres  of  land  and  hav- 
ing no  money,  gave  three  notes,  the  last  one 
falling  due  at  the  expiration  of  three  years, 

but    befi  re  the  tune  had   passed   he   paid   the 

entire  amount  and  had  limit  a  g 1  home 

upon  the  place.  At  the  time  of  his  purchase 
the  land  was  worth  ten  dollars  an  acre,  but 
after  he  had  finished  improving  it.  he  sold 
a  portion  at  a  greatly  advanced  figure  and 
tlu-  remainder  he  still  owns.  To  this 
he  has  added  until  he  now  owns  four  hun- 
dred and  thirty-three  acres  on  sections  14, 
15  and  1  1.  all  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, with  a  large  and  substantial  brick 
home  upon  it.  together  with  other  good  im- 
provements. <  »ur  subject  owns  other  prop- 
cm  in  DeWitl  county,  amounting  in  all  to 
about  eight  thousand  acres  under  cultiva- 
tion, and  upon  of  which  he  has  made  all  the 
impn  >vements. 

William  Brelsford  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lydia  Rhoda  Craig.  Janu- 
ary [3,  [848.  She  was  a  native  of  Butler 
county.  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  James 
Craig,  also  of  that  county.  To  our  suhject 
and  wife  five  children  were  horn,  three  of 
whom  are  still  living:  James  E-.  resides  in 
Kansas,  hem-  an  accountant  in  a  large 
Store.  He  is  also  interested  in  farm  land 
in  that  state.  Everett  is  a  farmer  of  Tun- 
bridge township.     He  married  Mary  Spicer 


WILLIAM   BRELSFORD. 


MRS.   WILLIAM    BRELSFORD. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    REG  • 


and  they  have  three  children.  Vivia,   Lydia 
and    Herbert.      Charles    H.   is   represented 
•where  in  this  volume.     Mrs.  Brelsford, 
who  was  an  earnest,  consistent  metnbei 
the   Methodist  church.  lo  her   final 

reward  on  July  19,  1896,  and  is  interred  in 
the  private  cemetery  of  the  family  in  Tun- 
bridge  township. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Brelsford  ■ 
his  national  r  Democracy,  but  in  li 

elections  for  the  man  he  considers 

qualified  for  the  position,  regardle-s  of  party 
lines.  He  has  never  consented  t<>  hold  any 
office,  preterm  .  his  time  to  his 

tensive  business  int< 

interest  in  anything  tending  to  improve  the 
material  welfare  of  his  adopti  nty. 

1".  r  fifl  [      ears  Mr.   Brelsford  has 

been  a  resident  of  Illinois,  and  is  the 

few  living  pioneers  coming  to  the  • 
men  who  have  witnessed  it-  change  from  a 
;1  wilderness  to  the  most  productive  state 
in  the  union,  and  third  in  wealth  and  j>- >i»r.- 
lation.  In  the  great  changes  that  have  been 
made,  he  has  taken  no  inconsiderable  part, 
and  is  justly  entitled  to  all  the  honors  that 
can  be  conferred  upon  one  who  has  endured 
the  trials  of  pioneer  life.  When  he  came  to 
DeWitt  county  it  was  a-  a  poor  man  with 
-      le    seventeen    dollars  in   hi-  »n. 

The  'ie  has  achieved  has  not  l*en  the 

distance  from  others,  but  through 
his  own  industry,  thrift  and  perseverance, 
and  in  his  life  the  younf  can 

find  much  worthy  of  emulat: 


THOMAS  H.  MILLER. 

Thomas  H.  Miller,  a  leading  and  influ- 
ential citizen  of  Creek  township,  who  is  now 
so  efficiently  serving  a-  supervisor,  was  l>orn 


in  that  township  on  the   15th  of  October, 

1845,   and    1-   a    worthy    rcprc-entati 
prominent  old   family  of  this  count 

son  of  Abraham  K.  and  Rebecca  i 
1  Welch  1  Miller,  whose  -ketch  appear-  el 
where  in  this  volume.  He  tir.-t  attended 
the  old  Jack  Lane  school  a  mile  and  a  quar- 
ter easl  of  the  present  village  of  Lane.  This 
structure  with  -lab  benches  and 
puncheon  tl.  ».r.  and  our  subject  was  a  stu- 
dent here  for  only  twenty-  Ik- 
next  pursued  his  studies  for  three  months 
in  a  red  brick  school  house  north  of  Lane, 
the  school  '  1  ducted  on  1  no- 
tion plan  then  ii  _  mpleted  his 
education  in  the  Clinton  sch<  ols  and  the 
Normal  at  Normal,  Illinios.  He 
then  taught  school  in  Creek  township  for 
ce  that  time  has  devoted 
hi-  attention  to  fanning,  starting  with  forty 
acre-  in  that  township.  He  now  opera! 
two  hundred  and  fifty-six  acres  on  section 
3,  Creek  township,  while  his  son  has  chai 
of  eight-.                       rion  _'_*. 

Mr.   Miller  was  married   November  23, 
1.  to  Miss  Mar§  in.  a  native  of 

Ohio,  in  which  state  her  parents,  James  and 
Barbara  Glenn,  were  also  born.  During  her 
childhood  the  family  came  to  thi<  county  in 
i N 5 . j .  but  afterward  returned  t'  ■  .ml 

did  ni  >t  locate  permanently  here  until    18 
when  they  settled  in  Harp  township,  where 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glenn  -pent  the  remainder  •  •!' 
their   lives.      They   had    fifteen   children,   all 
twins  but  three.      Mr  .and  Mr-.  Miller  h 

en  children,  namely:   Noel  W.,  who  mar- 
ried Rhoda  Miller  and  lives  in  Creek  town- 
ship: Tessie,  wife  oi  Radley,  of  the 
same  township;  Emmett,   Pn 
and  Vesper,  all  at  home. 

For  thirty  years  Mr.  Miller  has  been  a 
minister  of  the  old  Christian  or  \ew  Light 
church  and  has  always  pre  gratuitioi 


130 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ly.  He  lias  been  called  to  points  all  over 
the  stau-  to  deliver  sermons  on  test  ques- 
tions and  doctrinal  points.  In  politics  he  is 
a  stanch  Democrat,  and  has  heen  a  delegate 
to  various  conventions  of  his  party.  lie 
never  fails  to  vote  his  party  ticket  at  National 
elections,  hut  at  local  elections  where  no  is- 
sue is  involved  he  supports  the  hest  men  for 
the  offices  regardless  of  party  lines.  For 
the  pa^t  twelve  years  he  has  efficiently  served 
as  school  trustee,  and  has  ever  taken  an  act- 
ive interest  in  educational  affairs.  lie  is  also 
rilling  the  office  of  supervisor  of  Creek  town- 
ship in  a  most  creditable  and  satisfactory 
manner,  and  is  a  member  of  the  bridge  com- 
mittee and  chairman  of  the  committee  of 
abatement.  As  a  public-spirited  and  enter 
prising  citizen  he  gives  a  liberal  support  to 
all  measures  calculated  to  advance  the  moral. 
educational  or  material  welfare  of  his  town- 
ship and  county,  and  has  always  heen  found 
true  ai:d  faithful  to  every  trust  reposed  in 
him. 

-*♦-• 

REV.   MICH  Ml.   A.    1><  K  ILING. 

As  past  i  of  St.  Joim's  Catholic  church 
Father  Dooling  is  exerting  a  strong  inlhu 
in  Clinton  .and  throughout   DeWitt  county, 
where  '  dcarcd  himself  to  many  peo- 

ple through  his  devotion  to  the  welfare  and 
to  the  material  as  well  as  spiritual  progress 
of  those  who  come  under  his  ministrations. 
lie  has  been  pastor  of  the  church  since  the 
26th  of  December,  [890, — the  first  resilient 
r  in  Clint  in. 

About  twenty  years  ago  C.  II.  Moore 
donated  one  lot  in  Clinton,  at  the  cornet 
North  Monroe  and  Macon  streets  to  the 
Catholic  society  for  a  church.  At  that  time 
Father  Reves  was  resident  pastor  at  VVapella 
and   came   to   Clinton    to   hold   mass   in   the 


homes  of  the  memhers  of  the  parish.  A 
frame  church  was  built  facing  on  Monroe 
street  and  called  St.  John's  Catholic  church. 
The  first  pastor  was  succeeded  in  turn  by 
lathers  Met  hath.  Delhaur,  O'Callahan,  Cur- 
lew Conatey  and   Dooling;. 

The  last  named  was  horn  in  the  city  of 
Carlow,  Carlow  county,  Ireland.  April  11, 
[862,  a  son  of  Michael  and  Catherine  (  Mun- 
hall)  Dooling,  who  came  to  the  United 
States  in  [862,  locating  in  Pottsville,  Penn- 
sylvania. The  father  engaged  in  railroad 
building  and  died  June  _',  1S77,  at  the  age  of 
fifty  years,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in 

April.    [898,    at    the   age   of    seventy.      They 

w  ere  the  parents  1  >f  ten  children,  six  1  if  vvhi  'in 
reached  adult   age. 

Father  Dooling  was  an  infant  when 
brought  to  America.  lie  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  then  entered  St.  Vincent  Col- 
lege, at  Latrobe,  Pennsylvania,  while  later  he 
was  a  student  in  St.  Charles  College,  at  Elli- 
cott  City,  Maryland.  lit'  next  matriculated 
in  Viatorian  College,  at  Kankakee.  Illinois, 
and  after  graduating  in  that  institution  lie 
was  ordained  to  the  priesthood,  at  Kanka- 
kee. June  Hi.  1885.  lie  was  then  made  pro- 
fess, ir  in  the  ci  illege  and  master  1  if  discipline, 
being  thus  engaged  until  [890,  when  he  was 
called  to  the  pasti  irate  of  St.  John's  church  in 
Clinton,  lie  was  resident  pastor  at  VVapella 
for  two  years  before  locating  in  this  city. 
When  he  began  his  labors  here,  there  v 
only  twelve  families  who  were  memhers  of 
the  church,  hut  there  are  now  six  hundred 
Souls  in  this  parish.  father  I  tooling  also 
officiates  at  VVapella  ill  St.  Patrick's  church, 
which  numbers  seventy-five  families,  and  he 
has  remodeled  ami  enlarged  the  house  of 
wroship  there.  1  le  established  a  congregation 
at  VVeldon  and  at  Kenney  and  in  fact  offi- 
ciates and  holds  mass  for  all  the  Catholics 
of    the    cminty    save    those    at    Farmer   City 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


131 


ami  in  the  extreme  northwestern   part   of 
the  county. 

He  now  has  the  plans  for  a  modern  new- 
church  which  is  to  be  erected  on  the  site  of 
the  old  one  in  Ginton  in  1902.  It  will  be  a 
brick  edifice,  modern  in  all  its  appointments 
ami   beautifully   decorated.      It    will    have   a 

: :  1 1 ir  capacity  *>i  five  hundred,  not  includ- 
ing the  galleries.  The  parochial  residence 
which  occupies  the  corner  lot  was  erected  by 
Father  Dooling  and  is  a  very  hands,  .me  mod- 
ern home,  heated  by  steam  and  supplied  with 
and  electric  lights.  He  has  established 
a  number  of  societies  in  connection  with  the 
church,  including  the  Married  Men  of  St. 
Johi  5  ety;  Young  Men  of  St.  Mich:.' 
S     iety;  Married  Ladies  of  St.  Monii 

.  :  Young  Ladies  Society  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin;  and  the  Children  of  Mary's  Society. 
In  his  work  he  was  assisted  by  the  Rev.  Fa- 
ther Jeremiah  Donovan.  He  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  education  and  progressive 
movements  of  Clinton,  is  a  valued  citizen  and 
has  endeared  himself  to  the  people  of  all  de- 
nomination by  reason  of  ids  blameless  life. 

he  teaches  by  precept  as  well  as  example. 


rOHN  L.  ELLIS. 


As   a  representative  of  the  agricultural 

who  has  met  witl 

in  his  independent  calling,  we  take  pleasure 

a  brief  sketch  of  the  gentleman 

name  appears  at   the    head    of    this 

not: 

The   birth    of   our    subject    occurred    in 
Newton,    Hamilton  county.  Ohio,   May    18, 

ami  he  ■  if  James  and  S 

(Curley)   Ellis,  who  were  natives  of  Nova 
Scotia.     About  1820,  they  came  to  <  >hio  anil 
I  land  and  lived  the  life  of  farmer-  but 


in  the  fall  of  1839  they  moved  to  Mor§ 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  carried  on  the 
same  ocupation.  The  mother  died  at  about 
forty-five  \cars  of  aye  and  the  father  at 
eighty-two.  Eight  children  were  bom 
this  worthy  couple,  two  of  whom  are  now 
livii 

When  our  subject  was  hut  twelve  years 
of  age  he  came  with  his  parents  to  [llir 
remaining  with  them  and  assisting  on  the 
home  farm  until  his  marriage  which  1 
curred  September  5.  1S51.  His  choice  was 
Miss  Sarah  Ann  Whorton,  daughter  of  John 
Whorton.  She  was  a  native  of  Illinois,  ami 
her  parents  were  1m >th  originally  from  Ken- 
tucky. One  child  blessed  this  union.  Sarah 
Emma,  now  the  widow  of  Joseph  Worbur- 
ton.  Mrs.  Ellis's  death  occurred  in  i8« 
and  her  remains  were  interred  in  Concord, 
Morgan  county.  Illinois,  and  on  March  25, 
1856,  our  subject  was  again  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Hannah  M.  Funk,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Nimrod  and  Eve)  (Leib)  Funk.    She 

-  a  native  of  Morgan  county.  Illinois,  and 
was  one  of  twelve  children.  To  this  second 
union  eight  children  were  born,  of  whom 
six  are  now  living,  namely:  1  1  1  Milton  G. 
resides  in  McLean  county;  121  Susan  F. 
now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Edward 
Farmer    City,  one    son.    Ralph, 

ddened    their    home:     (3)    Dora    is    the 
win  I  ('Neil,  of  Fanner  City;  14) 

Janu-s  Benton,  deceased  lie  married 

Charles   Johnson,   and    resides     in     DeWitt 
townshi]  Maud  become  the  wife  of 

Colburn  Hammit,  a  farmer  in  DeWitt  town- 
ship:   17)    Xoiiie    is    single    and    resides    at 
home,  she  is  a  teacher  in  DeWitt  township; 
Lydia  als<  1  resides  at  hi  u 
S    ■!)  after  hi  1  marriage  Mr.  Ellis 

removed  to  McLean  county,  and  purchased 
two   hundred   and    forty-six   acr»  od 

farm  land  which  he  improved  and  placed  un- 


132 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


der  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  1  le  only  re- 
mained here  for  a  short  time,  however, 
when  he  moved  to  Jacksonville,  where  lie 
spent  two  years.  He  next  moved  smith  of 
Clinton  and  purchased  nnu-ty  acres  ,it  im- 
proved land,  lie  remained  lure  for  four 
years, when  he  again  made  a  change,  trading 
the  present  farm  for  a  larger  one  but  nol 
mi  highly  cultivated.  After  three  years  in 
this  place,  he  came  to  DeWitl  township  as 
a  tenant  mi  the  C.   II.   Moore  property  of 

i  hundred  and  eighty  acres  and  here  he 
has  since  resided,  making  many  improve- 
ments and  placing  the  land  in  a  high  state 
of  cultivate  'ii. 

Although  he  takes  no  active  part  in  po- 
litical affairs,  he  is  a  linn  believer  in  high 
protection  and  his  ballot  is  always  cast  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  I  lis  first  presidential  \ 
was  cast  for  John  C.  Fremont.     Socially  he 

i  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  is  a 

Master  Mason.      He  has  always  been  an  ac 

live   member  of  the    Methodist     Episcopal 

church.     He  is  deservedly  popular  and  has 

made   host-,  of   warm    friends   since  coming 

to   DeWitt  county,   where  he  is  numbered 

ammig   the    most    valued     and     enterprising 

farmers. 

+~~* 

ROBERT  V  WVK  CUMMING. 

Robert  Vance  Cumming,  the  well-known 
and  popular  proprietor  of  the  Xew  Com- 
mercial Hotel  of  Farmer  City,  is  a  native 
of  DeWitt  county,  born  in  Santa  Anna 
township.  December  n,  1838,  and  is  a 
worth}-  representative  of  one  of  its  oldesl 
and  most  influential  families,  being  a  son 
of  Rev.  Paxton  and  I'riscilla  Eliza  (David- 
son) Cumming.  His  paternal  great-grand- 
father was  born  in  Scotland  of  Scotch-Irish 


ancestry,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  family 
in  America.  The  grandfather.  Andrew  M. 
Cumming,  was  born  in  Rockbridge  town- 
ship. Rockbridge  county.  Virginia,  and  was 
there  married  and  became  the  father  of  seven 
smis.  namely:  Paxton,  James.  Wiliam, 
Harvey,  John.  Joseph,  the  name  of  the  last 
is  not  known,  all  ol  whom  became  preachers. 
At  an  early  day  the  grandparents  removed 
to  Tennessee  and  spent  their  last  years  near 
Know  ille. 

Rev.  Paxton  Cumming.  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  horn  in  Rockbridge  county, 
Virginia,  in  [8oi,  and  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in    Tennessee.      When  a  young  man  he 

became  converted  to  Christianity,  and  en- 
tered the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal  church.  While  traveling  as  a  circuit 
rider  in  the  Holton  conference  of  North 
i  ilina,  he  met  Miss  I'riscilla  Eliza  I  >a 
vidson,  who  became  Ins  wife  on  the  27th 
of  December,  [828.  She  was  horn  in  Hay- 
wood county,  that  state.  September  -'o, 
1X1  1 .  and  was  a  daughter  of  William  Mitch- 
ell and  Elizabeth  (Vance)  Davidson,  the 
latter  an  aunt  of  Senator  Vance.  Her  pa- 
ternal grandparents  were  William  and  Mar- 
garet (McConnell)  Davidson.  In  a  letter 
she  wrote  a  short  time  prior  to  her  death 
she  said  that  the  schools  of  her  locality  were 

very  ] r,  hut  that  her  dear  mother  did  the 

best  she  could  to  educate  her  children.  She 
als, ,  said  that  she  was  always  religiously  in- 
clined, and  in  her  sixteenth  year  united  with 
the  Methodist  church  mi  probation,  and  was 
made  a  full-fledged  member  the  following 
year.  Mr.  Cummings  continued  his  minis- 
terial work  in  'Tennessee  until  [835,  when 
he  came  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  to  es- 
cape the  baneful  influences  of  human  slav- 
ery and  to  rear  his  children  among  the  peo- 
ple who  opposed  it.  On  his  removal  to  this 
county,  he  was  accompanied  by  his  brother, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


133 


Rev.  William  Cummings.     He  was  the  first 

ilar  minister  to  locate  in  Santa  Anna 
township,  and  preached  1". >r  many  miles 
around,  services  being  held  in  log  school 
houses  ami  dwellings.  He  exerted  a  great 
influence  for  good  in  the  new  settlement. 
being  one  of  the  men  whose  judgment  was 
supreme,  and  was  often  called  upon  t"  ad- 
\  ise  his  neighbors  and  settle  disputes,  lie 
brought  with  him  to  the  county  the  tirsi  set 
of  blacksmith's  tools  ever  brought  to  this 

tion  of  the  state,  and  often  assisted  the 
pioneers  in  repairing  their  rude  machinery. 
Mr.  Cummingj  bought  land  grants  and  en- 
tered land  in  this  county,  becoming  owner 
of  considerable  property,  but  his  life  was 
mainly  devoted  to  his  religious  duties  Dur- 
ing the  erection  of  the  preacher's  stand  at 
the   camp   meeting   grove   where    Mr.    Mc 

rd  now  lives,  he  assisted  in  digging  the 

•  holes  and  thus  contracted  a  severe  cold, 
which  developed  into  typhoid  fever,  from 
which  lie  died  August  21,  [839,  honored  and 
lected  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  the 
spring  of  1840.  his  widow  drove  hack  to 
North  Carolina,  being  familiar  with  the  way, 

die  had  driven  a  horse  and  wagon  on 
Coining  to  this  state.  There  she  was  again 
married.  August  21,  1842,  her  second  hus- 
band  being  Rev.  David  White,  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  and  together  they  returned 
to  Farmer  City  by  team.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  served  as  chaplain  of  a  regiment 
and  later  was  chaplain  in  the  regular  army. 
He  finally  located  in  Lawrence.  Kansas. 
where  Mrs.  White  died  March  jj.  1901,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years.  She 
was  a  devout  Christian,  and  was  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
for  almost  three-quarters  of  a  century.  She 
always  took  an  active  part  in  the  class  mi 
ings  and  love  feasts,  often  speaking  and 
praying  in   public,   and    conducted     family 


prayers  in  her  home  half  of  the  time  when 
her  husband  was  there  and  all  the  while 
he  was  away.  She  was  a  faithful  attendant 
at  Sunday-schools,  and  hundreds  of  chil- 
dren owe  their  religious  teaching  to  her. 
By  her  first  husband  she  was  the  mother  of 
six  children,  Andrew  M  .  Jane  Elizabeth, 
James  II..  Ruth,  Celia  A.  and  Robert  \  .. 
and  by  her  second  marriage  she  had  seven 
children,  Amanda.  Wilbur  F.,  Harriet. 
Sarah.  John,  Etta  and  Emma. 

Robert  V.  Cummingj  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  sketch,  grew  to  manhoood  in 
DeWitt  county  amid  pioneer  scenes,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  selling.  \- 
the  best  method  of  obtaining  money  during 
his  early  life  was  by  breaking  prairie,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  that  occupation.  Al- 
though he  had  no  money  his  reputation 
such  as  to  enable  him  to  buy  eight  yoke  of 
oxen  on  credit,  only  two  of  which  had  been 
broken.  He  attached  one  yoke  of  the  broken 
oxen   just  in   front  of  the  plow   and  the  oth- 

ahead  of  these,  driving  them  as  best  he 
could.  The  plow  was  a  rude  affair  made  of 
iron  with  no  handles,  hut  heavy  enought  to 
keep  its  place  and  turned  a  furrow  twenty- 
six  inches  wide.  Mr.  Cummings  hired  a  man 
to  do  the  plowing  at  fifty  cents  per  day. 
lie  entered  land  on  sections  5,  14  and  J 1 , 
Santa  Anna  township,  consisting  of  two 
hundred  acres,  known  as  the  Rowland 
Wheeler  tract  at  W  eednian  Station.  At 
that  time  he  usually  worked  sixteen  hours 
per  day. 

When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  laid 
aside  all  personal  interests  and  enlisted  in 
August,  iSi'j.  in  Company  I.  One  Hundred 
and  Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  as 
a  private,  and  was  promoted  to  first  lieu- 
tenant July  30,  [865.  During  the  battle  of 
Kenesaw  Mountain  he  was  shot  near  the 
right    eye.   shattering  the  bone   and    leaving 


134 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


i<t* 


4 


a  scar  which  will  remain  with  him  1"  his  dy- 
ing day.  He  fell  as  dead  and  was  so  re- 
ported at  home,  but  was  taken  to  the  hos- 
pital, where  his  eye  was  saved,  and  as  SOOI1 
as  possible  he  returned  to  DeWitt  county. 
Mr.  Cummingi  continued  to  follow 
farming  quite  successfully  until  the 
fall  of  1888,  when  he  removed  to 
Farnicri  City  and  rented  the  Com- 
mercial Hotel.  When  it  was  burned 
in  1S95,  he  bought  property  and  erect 
ed  what  is  now  known  as  the  New 
Commercial  Hotel,  which  is  a  brick  struc- 
ture, containing  thirty-five  rooms  with  all 
modern  conveniences,  being  supplied  with 
hot  and  cold  water,  nicely  furnished  and 
hted  by  electricity.  The  cuisine  is  ex 
ceptionally  good,  and  it  is  b)  far  the  best 
hotel  in  DeWitt  county.  As  a  hotel  pro- 
prietor Mr.  CummingS  has  met  with  marked 
success  and  is  wide!\  known  as  a  most 
agreeable  and  obliging  landlord.  In  this 
work  he  has  been  ably  assisted  by  his 
estimable  wife,  who  is  one  of  the  most  pi 
ular  ladies  of  the  city. 

On  December  -7.  [866,  Mr.  dimming^ 
married  Miss  JennieAnderson,  a  daughter 
of  Mitchell  and  Mary  (Clements)  And 
son.  I  ler  father,  who  was  a  farmer  h\ 
cupation,  lived  for  a  time  near  Peoria,  Illi- 
nois, and  later  near  Ottawa,  and  died  at  a 
comparatively  early  age.  I  lis  children  were 
Amelia  A.,  Hugh,  Amanda.  WxA.  Hiram, 
Henry,  Emma,  Martha.  William,  Jennie 
and  Mark,  only  four  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing. Unto  Mr.  and  Mi's.  Cumming^  were 
horn  four  children:  Marvin  L.,  who  , 
ried  Laura  Newell  and  is  now  a  dentist  of 
Clinton;  Annie  Lucile.  who  married  Arthur 
II.  Smith  and  has  two  children,  Robert  and 
Mainard  ;  Maud,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen months:  and  H.  Bert,  a  popular  young 
man,  who  is  now  assisting  his  father  in  the 


hotel.  Mr.  Cumming4  is  a  member  of  the 
blue  lodge  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern 
Star  Chapter.  "Phew  also  belong  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Farmer 
City,  and  Mrs  Cummingl  sings  in  the 
choir. 


W.   II.  MYERS. 


One  of  the  leading  merchants  and  the 
popular  and  efficient  postmaster  of  Lane,  Illi- 
nois, is  \V.  II.  .Myers,  who  was  horn  in  De- 
Witt county,  Illinois,  ,111  February  4,  [876, 
and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Tor- 
Myers. 

Ilie  origin  of  the  Myers  family  was  in 
Germany,  hut  for  many  generations  it  has 
been  a  leading  one  in  the  state  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  Adams  county,  in  that  state, 
on  November  9,  [831,  Samuel  Myers,  who  is 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  horn.  1  It- 
was  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  1  Zigler) 
Myers,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Andrew  Myers  was  a  hatter  by 
trade  and  carried  on  this  business  in  East 
Berlin,  Pennsylvania,  for  a  number  of  years. 
lie  moved  later  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois, 
and  died  there  at  tin-  age  1  if  sixt)  -eight  3  ear-, 
his  wife  surviving  him  for  twenty  years. 
Eleven  children  were  born  to  them  ami  Sam- 
uel was  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 

Previous  to  their  settlement  in  Illinois, 
the  parents  of  Samuel  Myers  lived  for  a 
time  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  there 
the  latter  attended  school  and  there  learned 
and  worked  at  the  shoemaker's  trade.  In 
[857  he  came  to  DeWitl  county  and  estab- 
lished a  shoemaking  business,  giving  em- 
ployment to  four  assistants  and  continued  at 
the  trade  until  1863,  when  he  bought  a  farm 
in  Creek  township.     For  many  years  he  de- 


Till-.    liloLRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


'35 


voted  his  attention  to  fanning  and  stock- 
raising,  accumulating  in  the  meantime  a  val- 
uable  farm  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acn 

[86l,  Mr.   Myers  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Elizabeth  P.  Torbett,  who  w 
U. rn  in  Madison  county,  Ohio,  and  who  v 
a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth   1".  >rl>ctt . 
who  were  natives  of  Delawan  en  chil- 

dren were  born  ti>  this  marriage,  and  our 
subject.  William  11.  Myers  is  the  eighth  in 
order  of  birth.  In  politics  Samuel  Myers  has 
always  been  a  Republican,  but  has  attended 
i  ly  t"  hi>  bn>ine>s  to  find  time  to  seek 
- 

The  family  to  which  William  11.  Myers 
ne  well  and  favorably  known  in 
many  staU.v  Nine  of  the  eleven  children 
still  survive,  these  being,  aside  from  himself: 
Jane,  who  is  the  wife  of  b>hn  Farrell,  a 
resident  of  Hamilton  county,  Iowa;  Sher- 
man, who  resides  in  Kansas  City.  Missouri; 
Lucy,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Mcllvenna,  a 
k  t.  iwnship;  Ida.  who  is  the 
wife  of  John  Stone,  of  Hamilton  county, 
Iov  t.    who    is   a    re-  cek 

township;  Emma,  who  is  the  wife  of  Harry 
Shields,  of  Macon  county.  Illinois;  William 
II..  who  L  our  subject:  and  Myrtle  and 
.  twins,  the  former  residing  at  home, 
the  latter  living  with  his  family  in  Creek 
township. 

William    II.    Myers   received   his   educa- 
i  in  the  common  if  DeWitt  coun- 

ty, and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he- 
ll ::i  which  occupation  he  con- 
tinued for  three  years.  Then  he  purchased 
the  mercantile  business  of  J.  R.  Pennington, 
who  was  a  leading  merchant  at  Lane,  Illi- 
nois, and  has  since  that  time  been  engaged 
in  this  line.  All  his  life  he  has  been  an 
ardent  Republican,  although  not  an  officc- 
•  ker,  his  appointment  being  an  honor  con- 
ferred upon  him  by  President  McKinley  on 


February  [6,  1901,  when  he  was  made  post- 
master  at  Lane. 

'ally  Mr.  Myers  is  connected  with 
Gilmore  Lodge,  No.  455.  K.  of  P.,  in  which 
order   he  hancellor  :   and 

member  of  Lane  Lamp,  No.  [728,  of  the 
order  M.  W.  A.  He  is  one  of  the  energetic 
and  pi  mng  men  of  this  locality, 

and  is  regarded  as  a  truly   representative 

ell. 


1«  MIX  II.  HUME. 


John  H.  Hume,  whose  farm  is  just  out- 
side the  corporate  limits  of  \\  apella.  ■ 
tion  35,  Wapella  township,  is  a  native  of  llli- 

5,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  I 'ike  coun- 
ty, on  the  oth  of   May.    [843.      His   father, 

rge   A.    Hume,    was   born    in    Pendleton 

nty,  Kentucky.  March  4.  1809,  of  English 
and  Scotch  ancestry,  and  he  was  a  lineal  de- 

ndant  of  |  >avid  1  lume,  the  noted  English 
historian.      In   his   native   state  A. 

I  lume  1  d  and  married  .V 

Melinda  Hume,  who  was  born  in  Grant 
county,  Kentucky,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
James    Hume.  lative   of   that    state. 

About    1830  they  came  to  Illinois,  and  : 
settled  in  Brown  county.    It  was  in  Septem- 
ber,   J £57.  that  the  family  removed  to  ! 
Witt   county,   where  the    father   purchased 
four  hundred  acres  of  land  and  dly 

engaged  in  fanning  throughout  the  remain- 
der of  his  life. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  lad  of 
fourteen  years  when  he  located  here.  His 
primary  education  was  obtained  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  this  state,  and  in  185Q,  he  en- 
tered the  State  Normal  at  Normal,  Illin 
where  he  was  a  student  when  the  Civil  war 

broke  out.    Laying  aside  his  text  L., ,ks  ho 


136 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


enlisted,  October  14.  [861,  in  Company  L, 
Fourth  Illinois  Cavalry,  which  was  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  number  of  important  engage- 
ments, including  the  battles  of  Fort  Henry, 
Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Pittsburg  Landing, 
Corinth,  and  Hatchie's  Run;  the  siege  of 
\  icksburg;  the  first  battle  at  Jackson,  Ten- 
nessee; and  the  Meridian  campaign,  besii 
many  skirmishes  and  scouting  expeditions, 

innately  he  was  never  wounded,  though 
a  bullet  once  passed  through  his  cartridge 
box  and  clothing,  grazing  the  flesh  and  1. 
ing  a  swelling.  I  li-  three  years  of  enlistment 
having  expired,  he  was  h<  tm  >rably  discharged 
in  November,   1864,  and  returned  hi. me. 

Mr.  Hume  was  married  in  Brown  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  on  the  27th  of  November,  [864, 
to  Miss  Ann  '/..  Stone,  who  was  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  that  county.  Her  parents. 
Myram  and  Eunice  M.  (Riggs)  Stonewere 
natives  of  Vermont,  and  pioneers  of  Brown 
county,  Illinois.  Her  mother  was  an  own 
cousin  of  President  Arthur.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hume  have  a  fainib  of  nine  children,  name- 
ly: Elton,  wife  of  A.  McHugh,  of  Wapella; 
George  A.,  a  fanner  of  Wapella  township; 
Charles  M..  who  is  carrying  on  the  home 
farm;  Ida  ( i..  wife  of  Alonzo  Swisher,  of 
Wapella:  Jessie  P.,  wife  of  Louis  Williams, 
of  Wapella;  Sadie  E.,  wife  of  Charles 
Swearingen,  of  Wapella  township;  and 
Ephraim  C,  Stacy  A.  and  John  Thomas, 
all  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hume  began  their  domes- 
tic life  «  m  the  1  >ld  hi  imestead,  and  ah.  iut  187J 
removed  to  their  present  farm,  which  con- 
sists of  eighty  acres  on  section  35,  Wapella 
township,  adjoining  the  village.  Here  they 
have  a  nice  home,  surrounded  by  fruit  and 
shade  trees,  and  supplied  with  all  modern 
improvements.  Politically  .Mr.  Hume  has 
been  a  life-long  Republican,  his  first  presi- 


dential ballot  being  cast  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln in  1804,  and  he  has  supported  every 
nominee  of  the  party  since  that  time.  He 
served  one  term  as  township  clerk,  and  has 
been  clerk  of  the  school  board,  but  has  never 
cared  for  official  honors.  He  is  a  member  of 
Wapella  Post,  (i.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  served 
1  ne  term  as  commander,  and  is  a  man  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  kno\\  him. 


<i.  W.  HYDE,  M.  1). 

•  i.  W.  Hyde,  M.  1>..  possessing  the 
typical,  progressive  spirit  of  the  west,  stands 
to-day  a  leading  representative  of  the  medi- 
cal fraternity  of  DeWitl  county.  He  is 
now  located  in  the  city  of  Clinton,  and 
throughout  the  surrounding  country  has  an 
extensive  practice,  which  his  skill  and  ability 
justly  merits. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Derbyshire, 
England,  April  11.  [829,  and  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Susan  (Walker)  Hyde,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  England.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  spent  his 
entire  life  in  his  native  land,  where  our  sub- 
ject was  reared  to  manhood.  His  educa- 
tion was  obtained  in  the  public  and  Episco- 
pal schools,  he  also  studied  and  practiced 
medicine  there.  He  then  determined  to  es- 
tablish a  home  in  the  new  world,  coming  to 
America  in  [857  and  locating  in  Iroquois 
county,  this  state,  where  he  practiced  during 
the  war.  In  1873  he  moved  to  Clinton, 
where,  although  there  were  several  other 
physicians,  he  built  up  a  lucrative  practice, 
which  extended  through  this  and  adjoining 
counties.  Three  years  later  be  took  a  spe- 
cial course  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute 
of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  graduating  in  the  same 
year.     Owing  to  bis  success    in    his    pro- 


G.   W.    HYDE. 


Till  KAI'HU  AI.    RF.O  »RD. 


n,  Dr.  Hyde's  practice  Ik 
that   he  \  to  confine  himself  t<> 

city  \\<>rk  almost  entirelj  some  time 

-  .in  Main  street,  but  In- 
built a  commodious  home,  in  which  he  lias 

•ice.  at  ith     Ma 

street,  where  he  has  always  kep(     - 

sortment  of  n  and  tilled  his  own  pre- 

Along  the  lines   of  his   profession,   the 
well  read,  a  thorough  student  ami 
practitioner,  keej»in^  fully  a' 
with  the  times,  and  socially  anil  profes 
ally     -  high.       There    is    none    more 

flit  after  than  he.  regardless  of  his 
dining  5,    and    the  many    familii 

which  he  has  been  practicing  cannot 

•lv  other  physician. 
•■  subject  w:i~.  married  in  England  to 
.h  Owen,  who  was  born  in   Bir- 
mingham, and  a  daughter 
Six   children   have    gladdened    this    home, 
four   of   whom   are    now     living,     namely: 
Mary    Ann:   Alfred    W.,   who   is   practicing 
medicine  in  South  Dakota:  Walter  i>  follow  - 
:ltural  pursuits  in  South  Dakota: 
and   William   F-,    formerly   a  druggist,  hut 
.1  farmer  in  Jefferson  county.  Illinois, 
ver  rift  i  )r.   Hyde  has  been  a 

meml>er  of  the  Baptist  church,  holding  dif- 
and    contributing  freely  to- 
port     He  is  a  member  of  Mi- 
Eclectic  Society  and  the  National 
Eclectical  Society.     In  jm ditics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, but  has  never  aspired  for  public 
preferring  to  devote  his  whole  time  to 

-Mil. 

He  eautiful  home,  surrounded  by 

well-kept  lawns,  and  very  tastefully  laid  out 

with  shade  tree-,  shrubbery  and  ferns,  and 

r's  own  hands  that  have  made 

tttractive.   1 1  ]>rac- 

_eoiis  in  the  COUn- 


1  >c\\  itt.  and  ha^  won  honor  an 
teem  through  fas  well  chosen  pi  .one 

me  will  be  handed  down  from 

- 


S  \MIT.L  MYI 


Among  the  highly  n  and  infl 

intonia  township,  1  teWitt 
county.  Illinois         :    muel  My< 
lxirn    in   Adams   county.    Pennsylvania 

1831 .  and  he  is  tl  1  I    \n 

drew  and 

whom  were  natives  of  Adams  county.  Penn- 
sylvania, and  of  German  descent,  who 
married    in    Adams    county.    Pennsylvania. 
The  father  was  a  hatter  by  trade  and  in 
or    1834  he  went   I  ty,  (  >hio, 

where  he  started  a  hat  shop  and  conducted  it 
for  about  m\  or  eight  years.  After  this  he 
_cd  in  farming  and  continued  farming 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  To  Andrew- 
Myers  and  wife  w  ere  born  eleven  childn 
wh< mi  live  are  in >w  living,  namely  :  Samuel ; 
Henry,  who  lives  in  Line  •In.  Xehraska.  eti- 
in  the  stm.-k  bus  I.  K..  died  in 

California  ami  he  is  buried  in  Texas  town- 
ship;  Beckey  married   Hames   Nelson,  and 
they  li\e  in  DeVVitt;  Wiliam,  who  li. 
Xehraska  and  is  a  farmer  and  grocer, 
parents  are  now  deceased.       The  father  i> 
buried  in  wnship  ami  the  mother  is 

buried  in  Maroa,  Macon  county. 

The  little  education  Samuel  •■ 

him  in  a  three  months'  course  at  a  sub- 
scription school  w 

ne  dollar   a   month.      He   learned   the 
hatter'^   trade  in  two  his    father's 

shop,  and  then  althoug  en  he  en- 

tered into  an  agreement  for  two  sears  at  a 
salary  of  twenty-five  dollai 


140 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tii  learn  the  shoemaker's  trade.  So  well  was 
Ik*  pleased  at  the  treatment  he  received  thai 
when  the  two  years  expired,  he  remained 
with  the  same  employer  for  four  years  more, 
and  in  1S55  came  to  DeWitl  county  where 
lie  herded  rattle  the  first  summer  which  he 
had  brought  with  him  from  Ohio.  In  the 
fall  of  that  year  he  opened  a  shop  in  the  vil- 
lage Ml"  DeWitt  and  worked  at  his  trade  for 
about  eight  years,  then  sold  out  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  (reek  township  "t"  eighty 
acres  in  [863.  This  land  had  been  broken 
and  it  had  a  small  house  mi  it  fourteen  by 

sixteen  feet  and  the  farm  was  located  in 
section  20.  To  this  eighty  acres  he  later 
added  forty  tin  ire  in  the  same  section.  lie 
also  owns  eighty  acres  in  section  35,  seventy 
acres  in  section  S.  he  owning  in  all  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres  all  well  improved 
and  w  1  n'ked  hv  his  si  nis  at  the  present  lime. 
After  obtaining  Ins  first  farm  Mr.  Myers  be- 
gan farming  and  he  continued  to  operate  his 
land  until  July  1.  [900,  when  he  purchased 
three  lots  joining  the  city  limits  of  Clinton 
and  here  built  a  comfortable  house  where  he 
tii iw  resides  enjoying  the  good  things  'it  life 
his  industry  has  secured. 

Mr.  Myers  was  married  June  <■.  t86l, 
at  DeWitt  to  Miss  Elizabeth  1'.  Torbett,  a 
native  of  Madison  county,  <  Uiio,  and  she  is 
a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  Torbett, 
and  they  were  natives  of  Delaware.  Thi 
parents  had  seven  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Myers  was  the  youngest. 

Mr.  and  Myers  have  had  eleven  children. 
viz.:  Jane,  who  married  John  Ferrell  and 
they  live  in  Iowa,  and  he  was  a  soldier  in  an 
Ohio  regiment,  ami  they  have  -ix  children; 
Sherman  is  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  lives  in 
Kansas  City  and  married  Anna  Robinson; 
Ida.  win  1  married  John  Stone  and  they  live 
in  Iowa  and  have  four  children;  Joseph 
Grant,  who  lives  in  Creek  township  and  he 


married  Dura  Bird  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren: Lucy,  win'  married  John  Mcllvenna, 
and  they  live  in  (.'reek  township  and  have 
three  children  :  Emma,  who  married  Harry 
Shields  and  they  live  in  Macon  county  and 
have  three  children;  William,  who  conducts 
a  grocery  store  and  is  postmaster  at  Lane 
Station,  (reek  township,  a  sketch  of  win  mi 

appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Charles 
married  Mahle  llaitsachs  and  they  have  one 
child,  and  they  live  in  ('reek  township;  Myr- 
tle, a  twin  of  Charles,  lives  with  the  father; 
May.  who  died  June  9,  [876;  Lewis,  who 
died   AugUSl    27,    [879. 

Mr.  Myers  is  an  enthusiastic  member  of 
the  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  takes  an 
active  part  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  that 
li  idge.  I  le  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  sen  i'd 
as  assess  ,v  for  two  years  of  DeWitf  town- 
ship, lie  has  also  been  road  supervisor  in 
I  reek  township  and  is  school  director  of  the 
same  township.  Mrs.  Myers  is  a  membei 
the  United  Brethren  church.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Myers  are  highly  esteemed  m  the  com- 
munity in  which  they  reside  and  their  pride 
in  their  stalwart  sons  and  comely  daughters, 
as  well  as  interesting  grandchildren,  is  wor- 
thy of  notice  ami  no  mote  beautiful  picture 
could  he  imagined  than  these  two  good  peo- 
ple surrounded  by  the  children  they  have 
reared  by  their  own  hard  work  and  trained 
by  good  example  to  noble  manhood  and 
womanhood. 


EDWARD  ALLYX. 


Man)  of  DeWitl  county's  adopted  sons 
served  faithfully  during  the  war  of  the  Re- 
hellion,  and  among  this  number  is  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  intn  iduces  this  review.  He 
is  one  of  Clinton's  most  esteemed  citizens 
ami  one  of  the  oldest  public  school  teachers 


Till-    r.MNikAHllc'AI.    RECORD. 


1. 1 1 


«>f  DeWitt  county,  having  taught  thirty-two 
terms  in  twelve  different  schools. 

Edward  Allyn  first  saw  the  light  ><i  day 
in  I '.  (rtage  d  »unty,  <  )hii >,  w  here  he  was  tx  >rn, 
December  17.  1837,  son  of  Palatiah  and  An- 
geline  (Joslin  )  Allyn,  both  of  whom  wi 
old  New  England  ancestry,  His  father  was 
born  at  Barkhamsted,  Connecticut,  ami  his 
mother  is  a  native  of  Rutland,  Vermont. 
When  our  subject's  father  was  hut  a  child  he 
was  brought  to  (  )hio  where  he  ami  his  father 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  days  as  farmers. 

Palatiah  Allyn  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  and  settled  at  Iliram.  Ohio,  where  he 
took  the  contract  for  building  Hiram  1 

and  most  of  Ids  work  in  this  line  was 
done  at  that  place  and  Garrettsville. 

Edward  Allyn  began  his  intellectual 
training  in  the  o  mmon  sch< « ils  1  if  his  native 
County,  which  was  supplemented  by  a  course 
in  Hiram  College,  graduating  from  that  in- 
stitution in  [859.  The  same  year  he  came  ti  1 
DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  where  he  secured  a 
ion  as  teacher  in  the  Excelsior  school. 
Harp  township.  1  )uring  the  following  sum- 
mer he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  and  in  the  fall 
1  in  Wapella  township.  At  thecli  se  of 
this  term  he  took  a  special  normal  course  for 
teaching  at  Normal,  Illinois.  Just  at  this 
time  the  country  was  thoroughly  aroused  and 
Mr.  Allyn  showed  his  loyalty  and  patriotism 
by  enlisting  in  August,  [861,  in  t  )<  tmpany  A. 
Thirty-third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
served  four  years  and  four  months  during 
the  latter  part  of  which  he  served  as  clerk. 
His  regiment  took  part  in  many  important 
engagements  and  our  subject  was  always 
found  where  duty  called  him. 

<  >n  his  return  to  1  >eWitt  county  he  again 
took  up  the  profession  of  teaching  in  Clin- 
tonia  township.  Later  he  taught  in  DeWitt 
and  Bametl  townships  and  four  terms  in 
McLean  county,  Illinois.      His  thirty-second 


and  last  term  was  taught  in  Clintonia  town- 
ship. 

In  the  early  eighties  he  sen  el  three  \  ears 
in  Clinton  and   the  same  length  of  time   in 

Bement  as  agent    for  the   Pacific   Express 
npany. 

It  is  as  a  teacher  that  Mr.  \llyii  is  best 
known  to  the  citizens  ,.f  hi-  adopted  county. 
Mis  was  the  model  school-room,  ruled  by 
kindness  and  not  by  rod.  The  old  saying, 
"Spare  the  rod  ami  spoil  the  child,"  was  not 
his  motto.'  lie  was  at  all  times  gentle  hut 
firm  with  his  students  and  to-day  he  is  held 

in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  those  who  know 
him  best. 

1  lur  subject  received  a  part  of  his  mental 
training  under  the  able  teaching  of  1 
\.<  .ariield  long  before  that  noble  and  grand 
man  was  called  upon  to  serve  as  presidi 
this  -real  commonwealth,  and  it  was  under 
his  pastorate  that  he  was  converted  and  bap- 
tized, becoming  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church  in  1857. 

(In  March  iS.  1N0-.  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mrs,  Adelia  F.  Thomas, 
widow  of  John  I-'..  Thomas,  who  was  a  farm- 
er by  occupation  and  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
w  ar,  sen  ing  tw<  >  years  as  a  member  of  <  !om- 
pany  F,  Forty-first  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try. He  was  discharged  on  account  of  sick- 
as  a  result  of  expi  'sure  at  Ft  irt  I  ■ 
son  and   from  the  effects  of  which  he  died. 

June  6,  1864,  aged  twenty-three  years.  By 
his  marriage  one  son.  John  !■"..,  was  born. 
I  le  died   aged   1  'lie   \  ear. 

Mis.    \llyn  is  a  daughter  "f  Thomas  S. 
Hutcherson,    who   was   a     native    of     1 
cunty.    Kentucky.      He  came  to   Illinois    in 

11850,  \vlicre  he  bought  ami  engaged  ill 
farming,  and  to  DeWitt  county  in  1 S 5 5 ,  and 
started  the  first  hack  line  ever  in  the  city. 
His  wife.  Susan  1  I  leurv  1  Hutcherson.  was; 
a  direct  descendant  of  Patrick   I  lenrv. 


i42  THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


To  our  subject  and  his  wife  has  been  born  brother,  John  G.  Cackley,  for  a  short  time. 

one  child,  Nellie,  born  July  17.   [872,  who  but  soon  went  oul  on  the  prairie  and  began 

died  aged  three  years,  six  months,  thirteen  to  work  at  Earming.  He  later  went  toPeters- 

days.    Mrs.  Allyn  is  a  member  and  president  burg,    Illinois,  and  engaged  in  the  butcher 

of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps,  and  both  Mr.  business  there  for  three  years,  returning  to 

and  Mrs.    \il\n  are  devout  members  of  the  DeWitt  county  in   [861.    Here  he  engaged 

Christian  church.  for  a  couple  of  years  in  the  butcher  business 

During  the  past  several  years  Mr.  Allyn  at  Clinton,  and  then  came  into  Texas  town- 
has  acted  as  correspondent  to  the  city  press  ship  and  continued  in  the  same  line  for  a 
and  local  papers.  He  has  also  written  many  couple  of  years.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
interesting  articles  on  the  early  settlement  of  bought  five  acres  of  land  on  section  5,  and 
litis  county  and  at  the  present  time  is  a  rcpre-  here  he  began  to  farm,  adding  as  time  went 
sentative  of  the  Union  Publishing  Company  on  eighty-five  acres  more,  and  here  he  has 
of  Chicago,  publishers  of  scientific  works.  erected  a  substantial  and  comfortable  house 

Twenty-eight     years     ago     Mr.     Allyn  and  other  buildings  and  has  successfullj  pn 
bought  lots  and  built  a  small  house  where  his  gaged  in   farming,   fruit-growing  and  gar- 
present  commodious  home  now  stands.  Mir-  dening. 

rounded  b)  beautiful  shade  trees,  making  an  Mr.  Cackley  has  taken  an  interested  part 
ideal  place  in  which  to  spend  their  remaining  in  public  affairs  in  the  township  and  has 
days.  He  is  a  prominent  and  active  member  been  one  of  the  most  efficient  commissioners 
of  the  Grand  Vrmj  Post  of  Clinton,  and  its  [or  t|R.  past  three  years.  In  politics,  he  up- 
present  commander,  in  which  order  he  has  holds  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party, 
served  in  the  various  other  offices.  Pre-  The  marriage  of  Mr.  Cackley  was  in 
eminently  public-spirited,  he  has  always  Virginia,  to  Rebecca  Lowry,  who  was  born 
done  all  in  his  power  to  further  the  ad-  in  Virginia  and  died  at  the  home  place,  about 
vancement  along  educational  lines  of  De-  twenty-nine  years  ago.  She  was  the  '\^ 
Witt  county.  voted   mother  of   six   children,   as   follows: 

Thomas  W.,  who  conducts  a  grocery  busi 

+~~*~-  riess   111   Clinton;    Ella,   who  is  the   wife  oi 

James  Chamberlain,  a  farmer  of  Tunbridge 

JACOB   1     CA<  KLEY.  township;    Richard,    who   is   ,,,    the   saloon 

business   in    Macon   City,    Illinois;  Charles, 

One  of  the  early  and  highly  respected  who  is  in   the  saloon  business  in  Clinton; 

citizens  of  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  who  has  Lulu,   who   married    Samuel    Middletown,   a 

been   a    resilient   of   the   state  since    1X57.    is  merchant  of   Heyworth,   Illinois;  and  an  in- 

lacoh   F.  Cackley,  who  owns  and  operates  fant,  unnamed. 

ninety   acres  of   rich    farm   land,   located   on  When    Mr.   Cackle)    first  came  to  Texas 

section  5,  Texas  township.  township,   the  land   was  nearly   all   covered 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Cackley  occurred  in  with  a  growth  of  timber,  hut  he  has  wit- 
West  Virginia,  February  1  7.  [827,  and  there  nessed  this  all  changed,  and  now  nothing  can 
he  lived  until  he  had  reached  man's  estate,  he  seen  hut  the  beautiful  cultivated  fields 
lie  came  to  Illinois  in  1S57  and  located  at  which  yield  great  crops  of  grain.  Mr.  Caek- 
Clinton,    DeWitt     county,    living     with     his  ley   has  done  his  share  in   this  development 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


U  J 


ami  has  l>een  i>nc  of  the  pi  e  men  of 

this  locality.  Much  is  due  1 1  i ~~  energy  and 
industry  in  making  of  this  county  what  it 
is  to-day,  >.  'me  of  the  richest  land  in  this 
part  of  the  grand  old  state  of  lllii 


JUDGE  Rl  (BERT  WALKER. 

There  arc  in  every  community  men  of 

it  force  of  character  and  exceptional 
ability,  who  by  reason  of  their  capacity  for 
leadership  become  1  >remost 

citizens,  and  bear  a  m<>st  important  part  in 
the  development  and  pr<  .  the  locality 

with  which  they  have  been  connected.  Such 
a  man  was  Judge  Robert  Walker.  \vh<  > 
l*>rn  March  1.  1823,  in  Franklin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  son  of  John  Walk- 
er, who  was  a  native  of  the  same  county,  his 
birth  having  occurred  December  16,  17114. 
His  lather.  Samuel   Walker,  was  na- 

tive of    Pennsylvania.       He   was   eighteen 
[  age  when  the    famous    battle  of 

ndywine  was  fought  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Continental  army  at  that  time,  but 
his  regiment  arrived  too  late  to  take  part  in 
that  famous  conflict  He  was  a  wealthy 
farmer  and  land  owner  ami   in  addition   t<  > 

eral  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Franklin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  he  also  entered  fif- 
teen hundred  acre-  of  government  land  in 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio.  To  him  and  his 
wifi  orn  a   family  of  eight  children, 

four  ~on-  and  four  daughters.  In  religious 
belief  he  was  a  Presbyterian.  He  lived  to 
a  ri|>e  old  a. 

As  bef  ted,  John  Walker,  the 

ther  of  our  subject,  was  I*.™  in  Franklin 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Here  he  received 
the  usual  common-school  education  and 
learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner,  hut  after  oper- 


ating  a  tan  yard  of  his  own.  he  turned  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.     In   1832 

moved  to  Ashland  county,  <  'hi",  where 

'•■wed  farm" 

id  of  which  time  he  disposed  of  his  in- 

ts  in  (  »hi.i  ami  joining  th<  n  tide 

of  emigration.  He  and  his  family  jour: 

1>\    wagon    to    Sangamon    county,   Illinois. 

Here  he  purchased  two  hundred  and  thirty 

of  land  upon  which  he  resided  until  he 
was  sixty-three  years  of  age.  A  few  months 
later  his  wife  passed  away.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Miss  Hliza  Skinner,  and,  like  her 
husband,  was  a  native  of  Franklin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  she  was  born  June  22, 
1  — < j- ..  Her  father  was  of  English  d( 
and  a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth.  For  many 
he  owned  and  conducted  a  tavern  at 
Skinner'^  gap,  on  the  road  from  Baltimore 
ti'  Pittsburg.  At  one  time  he  also  owned  a 
mill  and  died  from  injuries  received  in  it  at 
the  age  of  sixty  \ears.  They  reared  a  fam- 
ily of  twelve  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to 

man  ami  womanh 1.       The  mother  of  these 

children   passed   to  her   final    reward   at   the 

1  ninety  years,  being  a  resilient  of 
Bradford  county.  Pennsylvania,  at  the  time 
of  her  demise.  The  death  of  John  Walker 
occurred  in  September,  1859. 

Judge  Robert  Walker  was  the  third  son 
of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  the  others  be- 
ing as  follows;  Samuel.  Enoch,  Stephen 
A..  John.  James.  Eliza,  Mary  and  Isabel. 
He  was  ten  years  of  age  when  he  a< 
panied  his  parents  on  their  ren  Ash- 

land county,  Ohio.      Here  he  continued   his 
education,  walking  two  miles  to  the  in 
school    which    was    like    all    country    - 

-  in  <  >hio  at  that   time.  mad< 
His  summer  months  were  spent  upon  1; 
ther's  farm,  where  he  remained  until  attain- 
ing his  majority.      That  summer  he  worked 
by    the    month    and    the     following     winter 


144 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


taught  school.  The  next  year  he  worked 
his  father's  farm  on  shares  and  in  a  short 
time  had  accumulated  a  sufficient  sum  to  en- 
able him  t'  i  liny  l'<  irty  acres  of  land  in  \\  i  n  id 
county.  Here  lie  remained  until  the  fall  of 
[849,  when  he  went  t<  1  Macon  county.  Illi- 
nois, where  he  spent  three  months.  He 
m-\t  purchased  seventy-four  acres  of  land 
in  Sangamon  county.  There  he  established 
his  hi  .me  and  resided  thereon  t""i"  fifteen 
years.  By  industry,  economy  and  frugality 
he  added  n>  his  original  purchase  until  he 
owned  two  hundred  and  thirty  five  acres  "f 
land,  most  of  which  was  under  a  high  slate 
of  cultivation.  In  1861  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  DeWitt 
county,  and  in  1865  he  took  up  his  residence 
thereon,  making  it  his  home  up  to  a  few 
years  before  his  death,  when  he  moved  to  his 
beautiful  home  on  section  -.  Harp  town- 
ship. 

In  1845  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
IWiss  Sarah  Fretz,  who  like  himself  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  her  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Bucks  county,  January  29,  [826. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Kate 
(  I  lance  1  Fretz,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  the  same  slate.  Later  they  removed  to 
Ashland  county.  Ohio,  where  they  lived  to 
reach  a  ripe  old  assing  the  remaining 

\ears  of   their   life  in   that  county. 

Judge  and  Mrs.  Walker  became  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children :  Lewis,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eighteen;  Enoch,  a  resi- 
dent of  the  state  of  Alabama,  married  Eu- 
genia Gasard,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
three  children.  Fred,  Ernest  and  Mabel; 
Katie,  the  wife  of  H.  W  cller.  lives  at  Davis 
City.  Iowa:  Carrie  married  1 '.  K.  Wilson, 
of  whom  a  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume;  Charles  is  also  represented  else- 
where in  this  volume;  Jane  resides 
with      her      mother;      Anna     became     the 


wife  of  ( ieorge  Throp  and  they  re- 
side in  Wapella,  Illinois,  being  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  Dwight,  Walk- 
er. Clara.  Esther,  ami  George  Howard; 
Lauretta  married  John  Tackett  and  they  are 
residents  of  Clintonia  township.  They  are 
the  parents  of  live  children.  Lstella,  Lula. 
Dora,  Raymond  and  John  Robert. 

Judge  Walker  believed  it  was  the  duty 
of  those  who  have  the  right  of  suffrage  to 
study  governmental  affairs  thai  they  may  be 
able  to  v < ite  intelligently,  and  51 1  help  n>  make 
our  nation  what  it  should  he.  lie  was  a 
linn  believer  in.  ami  supporter  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party  and  ever  took 
an  active  part  in  politics  since  he  cast  his 
fir  I  0  ite  for  1  lenrv   (  lay. 

In  1870,  Harp  township  took  up  the 
question  of  bonding  the  township  for  a  rail- 
road. Judge  Walker  fought  it  heartily  and 
ran  oil  the  Anti-Bond  ticket,  hut  was  de- 
feated by  three  votes  for  to  one  against.  Wv 
still  opposed  the  bonding  of  the  township 
and  again  in  1S71  he  was  made  the  Anti- 
Bond  candidate  against  the  same  man  who 
defeated  him  the  previous  year,  and  this 
time  he  made  it  a  tie  vote.  (  )n  casting  lots 
he  was  declared  the  supervisoi  Having 
always  the  welfare  of  Ids  township  at  heart 
he  served  it  faithfully  to  the  best  of  his 
ability  and  time  has  proved  that  his  judg- 
ment was  excellent.  In  [873  Mr.  Walker 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  county  judge 
which  place  for  four  years  he  most  credit- 
ably and  acceptably  tilled.  He  was  a  man 
of  rare  business  qualifications, a  great  reader 
and  an  excellent  conversationalist,  lie  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Clinton.  lie  was  an  eider  in  the 
church  for  the  last  sixteen  years  of  his  life 
and  also  taught  the  Sunday-school  in  the 
rural  districts.  The  congregation  showed 
their   confidence    in    him    by    choosing   hint 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    REG  >RD. 


'45 


as  their  delegate  on  several  important 
asions.  But  his  broad  mind  and  great 
heart  did  not  stop  with  his  own  church  for 
he  ever  displayed  a  deep  interest  in  the 
cause  of  Christianity. 

He  died  June  2,  1897,  aj  nty-four 

years,  and  i-  buried  in  Woodlawn  cemetery 
at  Clinton.  He  is  gone  but  not  forgotten 
for  his  good  deeds  live  after  him.  The 
name  of  Judge  Walker  is  one  which  has 
long  been  identified  with  the  history  of  De- 
Witt  county  and  by  his  patriotism  and  wise 
counsel  he  earned  the  right  to  have  his 
name  enduringly  inscribed  on  the  pages  of 
of  its  histi  >rv. 

Mrs.  Walker  now  lives  in  her  pleasant 
house  in  Harp  township  and  many  of  her 
children  and  grandchildren  live  within  a 
few  miles  of  Iter  home.  She  has  been  a 
model  wife  and  mother.  She  possesses  good 
business  qualities  and  is  a  lady  of  rare  in- 
telligence and  Christian  virtues,  a  woman 
worthy  t<>  wear  the  name  of  that  honored 
citixen  and  sincerely  Christian  man.  Judge 
Robert  Walker. 


I.  II.  BRYANT. 


Among  the  prominent  farmers  and  old 
settlers  of  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  J.  15.  Bry- 
ant is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  eminent. 
both  I'll  account  of  his  long  residence  and 
also  from  the  fact  that  his  efficient  service 
a-  road  commissioner  has  entitled  him  to  the 
high  tegard  of  his  neighbors. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Bryant  occurred 
in  Sangamon  county.  Illinois,  on  Fel>- 
ruary     20,     1831,     this     year     being     noted 

the     one     of     the     greatest     severity 

experinced     in     that     part     of     the 

state.     He  was  a  son  of   Reuben  and    Kg- 

nes  (Simms)   Bryant,  the  former  of  whom 


was  born  in  Virginia,  ami  the  latter  was  |„  ,ni 
in   Kentucky.     Reuben   Bryant  came  to 

ir  county,  Illinois,  married  there  and  then 
mo  sangamon  county.     His  death 

curred  in  Menard  county,  after  which  his 
widow  married  William  Mc.Murry.  who 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  |  >eY\  itt  county. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  James  Simms.  who 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Sangamon 
county,  and   was  the  first  man  to  erect  and 

rate  a  grist  mill  in  that  part  of  the  S| 
Usui-  horse-power.  A  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren was  born  i"  Reuben  Bryant  and  wife, 
eight  of  these  children  growing  to  maturity, 
and  of  these,  J.  B.,  who  j.  ,  „,-  subject,  and 
liis  hrother.  Thomas,  deputy-sheriff,  are  the 
only  residents  of  DeWitt  count  v. 

J.  1'..  Bryant  had  hut  limited  educational 
advantages,  and  was  obliged  to  be  contented 
with  a  few  weeks  of  schooling  during  the 
winter  months,  as  at  that  time  this  populous 
and  flourishing  part  of  the  county  was  hut  a 
pioneer  settlement.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  he  rented  laud  in  Sangamon  county  and 
began  t"  engage  in  farming  for  himself,  put- 
ting int..  practice  the  principles  he  had 
learned  during  his  former  years. 

Mr.  Bryant  was  married  on  the  24th 
of  April  1853,  t"  Miss  Matilda  Y.  Duff, 
who  was  horn  in  Sangamon  count  v.  about 
live  miles  west  of  Springfield.  Her  grand- 
father, who  was  Abraham  Duff,  settled  on 
Spring  (reek  when  there  was  hut  one  hi  1 
where  the  city  ..f  Springfield  now  star 
and  the  Indians  were  abundant.  He  was  the 
first  blacksmith  in  this  part  of  the  state,  and 
as  in  those  days  all  travel  was  necessarily  by 
means  of  oxen  or  hows,  he  was  a  very  us 
ful  and  busy  man.  I  le  alsi .  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  reared  a  large  family.  His  son, 
Combs  Duff,  was  the  father  of  Mis.  Bryant, 
and  he  became  a  fanner  of  Sangamon  coun- 
ty and  resided  there  many  years,  then  moved 


146 


II  I  !•:   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


into  DeWitt  n  unitw  later  moving  to  Macon 
comity,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-six 
years,  lie  and  his  wife  reared  a  family  of 
ten  children,  and  of  these,  Mrs.  Bryant  and 
her  two  ho 'ther-,  Benjamin  and  John,  still 
survive.  The  latter  reside  in  Creek  town- 
ship. This  was  a  loyal  family  during  the 
Civil  war.  all  of  the  live  Si  ns  serving  in  the 
Tenth  Illinois  Cavalry  and  returning  in  safe- 
ty t<  1  iheir  homes. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bryant  re- 
sided in  Sangamon  comity  until  [865,  and 
then  came  to  the  present  home  in  DeWitt 
county.  This  is  pleasantly  located  on  ■ 
tion  -'5.  Clintonia  township,  ami  cnsists  ,.| 
fifty-four  acres  of  some  "i  the  besl  improved 
land  in  the  county.  Here  Mr.  Bryant  has  be 
Come  identified  with  all  of  the  leading  inter- 
ests and  for  thirty  consecutive  years  has  been 
the  efficient  road  commissioner  and  general 
overseer  <  »f  n  *ads,  all  1  >f  the  excellent  and  se 

cure  bridges  having  been  erected   under  his 
supervision.      The  township  has  a   reputa 
tn  .ii  For  its  excellent  roads  ami  Mr.  Bryant 
has  received  much  praise  from  the  residents 

for  the  g 1  judgment  he  has  shown,  ^i\  ing 

the  farmers  excellent  highways  w  ithout  caus 
ing  unnecessary   taxation. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bryant  and  family  are  well 
and  favorably  known  through  the  county. 
Si\  children  have  been  born  to  them ;  two  of 
these  died  in  infancy,  a  son  and  a  daughter, 
and  the  survivors  an  :  Jacquess,  who  lives 
in  Sacramento.  California,  married  Mamie 
Williams,  and  they  have  one  son— George; 
John  E.,  who  lives  in  Clintonia  township, 
married  Minnie  Met/  and  has  two  children — 
Clyde  and  Lyle;  Charles  F.,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  shoe  and  hoot  business,  married  Cuby 
Phares,  deceased,  and  has  one  daughter — 
Helen  Louise:  and  Sophia,  who  married 
Philo  S.  T°ncs,  lives  in  Clinton  and  has  two 
children — Clinton  and  Rea. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bryant  are  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church,  having  become 
such  under  the  ministrations  of  the  hoy  evan- 
gelist, 1  larrisoii.  In  this  church  they  are  val- 
ued for  their  true  Christian  characters  and 
most  exemplary  lives.  In  politics  Mr.  Bry- 
ant is  a  stanch  Republican,  hut  cast  his  first 
vote  for  Filmore. 

The  DeWitt  County  Agricultural  Soci- 
ety, at  its  fair  in  [900,  wishing  to  do  honor 
to  these  most  estimable  residents,  presented 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bryant  a  solid  silver  spoon 
in  remembrance  of  their  being  the  oldest 
couple  of  the  county  horn  previous  to  the 
deep  snow  oi  [831,  this  being  a  notable 
event  in  the  history  of  the  state. 


EDMUND  W.   FRUIT. 

The  Fruit  family  were  among  the  early 
settlers  and  pioneers  of  DeWitl  county.  On 
the  paternal  side  they  are  of  Welsh  ances- 
try and  on  the  maternal  of  Scotch-Irish. 
Two  brothers  bearing  the  name  left  Wales 
and  emigrated  to  America  prior  to  the  old 
French  and  Indian  war.  and  one  of  them 
was  witii  Braddock  in  his  disastrous  defeat. 

But  before  the  battle  the  brothers  were  sep- 
arated and  the  one  was  never  heard  of  after- 
wards. 

John  Fruit,  the  survivor,  who  was  the 
founder  of  the  present  family,  after  the  war 
settled    in    the    Carol inas.       Ili-    son.    James 

Fruit,  lefl  I  arolina  and  went  to  Kentucky 

in  the  early  days  of  that  territory,  where  he 
lived  for  many  years,  but  later  came  to  De- 
Witt  county,  in  the  fall  of  1830,  where  he 
died  that  fall.  Thomas  Fruit,  the  father  of 
Edmund  W.,  was  horn  on  October  5.  [784 
In  [802  he  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Kentucky    and    settled    in    Christian    countv. 


EDMUND  W.   FRUIT. 


MRS.   E.   W.   FRUIT. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


>5' 


where  lie  remained  until  1834,  when  he  came 
to  Illinois  and  settled  in  what  is  now  known 
as  DeWitt  county,  but  which  was  then  a 
part  of   Macon. 

The  family  landed  here  on  November  15 
of  that  year.  In  1827,  in  company  with 
>'>me  friends  and  land  explorers,  he  came  to 
the  state  and  entered  land,  hut  he  did  not  lo- 
cate here  permanently  until  1834,  when  he 
ded  on  section  14.  in  what  is  now  known 

lunbridge  township.  Here  he  remained 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  Decem- 
ber 15,  [871.  While  a  resident  of  Chris- 
tian county.  Kentucky,  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Thompson.  July  31.  1  Sot ,.  She  died 
March  28,  1 866.  By  that  marriage  there 
were  lx>rn  six  sons  and  six  daughters.  The 
mother  of  our  suhject  was  a  native  of  North 
Carolina  and  was  sixteen  years  of 
when  she  went  to  Kentucky.  She  was  the 
youngest  child  in  her  family,  and  when  a 
mere  child  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  her 
mother,  who  was  drowned. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Fruit  took  up 
their  residence  on  a  tract  of  six  hun- 
dred acres  of  wild  land  and  he  at 
once  commenced  improving  it  ami  erect- 
ing the  necessary  buildings  and  a 
log  house  for  the  shelter  of  the  family.  He 
and  his  wife  did  the  necessary  labor  of  those 
pioneer  days  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  de- 
veloping a  tine  farm.  The  log  house 
twenty  by  twenty  feet  and  although  the 
property  was  large,  he  fenced  it  and  spared 
no  pains  to  improve  both  his  land  and  home. 
The  name-  of  the  children  horn  to  Mr.  and 
Mr-.  Thoma-  were  a-  follows:  Susan  \V., 
James  S..  Thompson  C,  William  L.,  Mary 
K..  Sabilla,  Sidney  (.'..  Edmund  W..  Mar- 
tha J.,  Enoch  A..  John  1)..  Elizabeth  1'. 
The  survivors  of  this  large  family  are  as 
follows:  Martha  J.,  who  is  the  widow  of 
John    Henson,   and    -he   resides    in    Clinton. 


Illinois,  and  has  a  number  of  children:  John 
1)..  who  is  a  prominent  fanner  of  Tunbrii 
town-hip.  and  Edmund  W..  our  subji 

Edmund   W.    Fruit   was  horn  in  Chris- 

tian  county.  Kentucky.  September  21,  iS 
and  came  to  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  at  the 

•  n  year-  with  his  parent-.      I  I 
he   was   reared  among  the  customary   sur- 
roundings of  pioneer  life.     Hi-  early  educa- 
tion was  obtained  in  the  log  school  hou 
of  the  day,  chinked  with  mud  and   floored 
with  split- puncheons  full  of  -livers.     At  the 
of  twenty  he  began  life  on  his  own  ac- 
count and  worked  at  whatever  he  could 
to  do,  hi-  only  posessions  being  the  clothes 
he  wore  and  one  horse.     1  le  traded  the  hi 
for  a  forty-acre  tract,  which  is  the  nucl< 
of  his  present   large  landed  e-tate  and   was 
the  first  piece  of  land  he  ever  owned.     His 
success  was  wonderful,  as  he  now  owns  over 
twenty-five  hundred  acres  of  land,  as  fertile 
a-  any  in  the  -tate. 

After  his  marriage  he  and  his  wife  be- 
gan housekeeping  in  the  little  log  house  that 
stood  on  the  land  on  section  26,  where  In 
long  resided.  Mr.  Fruit  worked  hard,  and 
in  time  had  money  enough  to  buy  more  land 
and  continued  to  add  to  his  possessions  until 
he  i-  now  one  of  the  wealthiest  landholders 
in  this  vicinity.  His  e-tate  i-  well  fenced 
and  under  a  high  -tate  of  cultivation.  He 
has  he-ides  hi-  farms  in  Tunbridge  and 
Barnett  townships,  valuable  interest-  in  Ken- 
ney.  consisting  of  business  blocks,  dwelling 

On  his  farming  land  he  has  fourteen 
dwelling  houses  and  rent-  most  of  his  farms 
at  present.  In  1891  he  moved  from  the  old 
homestead  to  his  present  location  on  the 
edge  "f  the  town  limit  of  Keuney.  where  he 
owns  one  hundred  and  seventy-one  acres  of 

ellent    land    in    section    15.    Tunbridge 

township,  upon  which  he  has  erected  a  las 
modern   house,    supplied     with    all     modern 


15: 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


conveniences,  and  here  he  resides,  surround- 
ed by  all  the  comforts  of  life. 

Mr.  Fruit  was  married  March  6,  [845, 
to  Elizabeth  Boyd,  he  having  returned  to 
Kentucky  t>>  claim  his  bride.  She  was  born 
and  reared  in  Christian  county,  Kentucky. 
and  died  in  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  August 
28,  [852.  Five  children  were  born  "I 
tins  uni. .n.  namely:  Phoebe  A.  was  Ik .111 
in  Christian  county,  Kentucky,  ami  died 
in  infancy  in  DeWitt  county,  Illinois. 
Sidney  Jane  married  John  Harnett,  a  prom 
inent  farmer  of  Harnett  township,  and  they 
have  a   large,  family   of  children,   namely: 

<  >tlinc  ;  Mary,  who  is  the  w  il'e  of  I  >a\  id 
Hartley,  of  Harnett  township;  Kt'tie.  who  is 
the  wife  <>f  Mosrs  Boles,  of  Clintonia  town- 
ship: Alberta  R. ;  Laura:  Zoe;  John; 
Charles;  Frederick  and  Arthur.  James  V, 
who  resides  in  Tunbridge  township,  married 
Sarah  J.  Stoutenborough,  and  thej  reside 
on  section  _•<>,  where  he  farms,  and  they 
have  three  children,  namely:  Garrett  E., 
Harry  and  Rose.  Mary  married  Frank 
Barnett,  and  thej  reside  on  section  14,  run- 
bridge  township,  and  they  have  live  children, 
namely:  Frank,  George,  James.  William, 
ami  Flody  C.  William,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Mr.   Fruit  married  again  on  November 
5,   [857,   Miss  Sarah   E.   Blue,  a  native  of 

West  Virginia,  and  three  children  were  horn 
to  them,  namely:  Arthur  W.,  who  is  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Tunbridge  township, 
married  Ella  J.  Squires,  and  they  have  seven 
children,  namely:  Charles  ('..  Clementine, 
Elizabeth,  Elsie,  Mabel,  Nellie,  Edmund. 
Laura  B.  is  the  wife  of  Benoni  G.  (lark,  a 
fanner  of  Tunbridge  township,  and  they 
have  two  children,  namely:  Mary  E.  and  Ed- 
mund W.  Charles  T.  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years.  The  mother  of  these  children  died 
on  April  28,   1873.     All  the  children  of  our 


subject  were  horn  in  Tunbridge  township, 
with  the  exception  of  the  eldest,  who  was 
a  native  of  Kentucky.  The  grandchildren 
were  all  horn  in  DeW'itt  county,  in  Tun- 
bridge and  Harnett  townships.  Mr.  Fruit 
married  again  in  1 S 7  ^ .  Susan  E.  Blue,  who 
was  horn  in  West  Virginia,  and  died  Jan- 
uary Hi.  [880,  without  issue.  lie  then 
married  a  sister  of  his  late  wife.  Miss  lsa- 
bella  Hlue.  a  mosl  estimable  lady,  daughter 
of  Garrett  I.  Hlue.  who  was  a  native  of 
Hampshire  county.  West  Virginia.  Mr. 
Blue  was  there  reared  and  died,  having  been 
a  pn  iminent   farmer  in  his  da)  . 

Mr.  Fruit  has  very  decided  opinions 
Upon  all  subjects  and  is  a  Democrat  in  pol- 
itics, hut  was  originally  a  Whig,  casting  his 
firsl  vote  for  Henry  Clay,  and  his  first 
Democratic  vote  for  George  I'..   McClellan. 

lie  is  a  man  who  finds  his  greatest  en- 
joyment in  the  companionship  ol  his  family 
and  friends  and  he  inspires  admiration  for 
his  successful  development  of  hi-  land,  as 
well  as  for  his  many  excellent  qualities. 
Among  his  neighbors  ami  friends  he  is 
recognized  as  a  man  oi  rare  foresight  and 
open  handed  charity,  and  he  enjoys  a  well 
deserved  pi  ipularity. 


Ji  ill.X  F.  HUBBELL. 

This  well  known  and  prominent  citizen 
of  Wilson  township,  who  has  made  farming 
his  life  work,  was  horn  on  the  17th  of  No 
vember,  [833,  in  Lewis  county.  Kentucky, 
and  is  a  son  of  Luther  S.  and  Eliza  (  Ferris) 
lluhhell.  I  lis  father  was  horn  in  Ohio,  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  while  his  mother  was  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky  and  of  Irish  descent.  They 
were  married  in  Lewis  county,  of  the  latter 
state,   and   from   there  removed  to   Fayette 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RE<  ORD. 


:nty.  Indiana,  and  later  t.  i  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  where  the  father  conducted  a  cooper 
shop  for  a  few  years,  employing  several 
hands,  he  being  a  cooper  by  trade.     Sul 

quently  the  family  returned  to  Kentucky,  and 
in  1852  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  whal 
now  Wapella  township,  DeWitt  county,  on 

the  JJil  ■  >f  March.  There  the  father  1 
in  farming  on  rented  land,  and  later  operated 
a  rented  tract  in  Wilson  township,  hut  his 
last  lays  were  -pent  in  the  former  township, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  year-, 
his  remains  being  interred  in  Sugar  Gr 
cemetery  at  Long  Point,  lie  became  the 
owner  of  land  in  both  Wapella  and  Wils 
town-hips.  In  politics  he  was  first  a  Whig 
and  later  a  Republican,  and  as  one  of  the 
leading  and  influential  citizens  of  hi-  com- 
munity.  he  w as  called  up  n  U  >  rill  the  1  (ffice  of 
supervise  ir  of  Wils.  >n  t>  iwnship.  1  '•>  th  he  and 
his  wife  were  earnest  ami  consistent  members 
of  the  Christian  church,  and  he  served  as  one 
>  elders  Mrs.  Hul>l>ell  survived  her 
husband  only  alxmt  eleven  months,  and  was 

".-eight  years  of  age  at  the  time 
her  death. 

This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents 
nine  children,  namely  :  1  Ie<  >rge  T.,  a  resident 
of  Oklahoma,  married  Judith  Bird  and  hail 
ten  children.  Oscar,  Owen,  John.  Minnie. 
Kate.  Maude,  Claude.  Susan.  Margaret,  and 
one  deceased.  1  _'  >  John  F.,  our  subject,  is 
the  second  in  order  of  birth.  1  3  1  Ephraim 
enlisted   in  Company   E    Twentieth    lllii 

unteer  Infantry,  during  the  Civil  war. 
and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  1  4  ) 
Joseph  '  Iscar,  a  resident  of  [owa,  served  in 
the  same  war  as  a  member  of  Compan) 
Forty-first  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
tir-t  married  Catherine  Vance,  who  died, 
leaving  one  child  who  is  still  living,  t  'hai 
anil  for  his  second  wife  he  married  Tillie 
Ellis,  by  whom  he  has  three  children.  I  larry. 


Paul  and  Guy.     151  Fran  a  member 

of  the  same  company  and  regiment  a-  his 
brother,  Joseph   < )..  and   i-   now 
He  married  Olivia  he-,  who  with  her  two 
children,  Charles  and   Fanny,   live-  in   De- 
catur, I Ilii  1  lame-,  a  resident  of  \\a- 

township,  married  Elizabeth  Cunning- 
ham, and  ha-  seven  children:  Lilly. 
Fred,  Cora,  Nora,  Abe  and  John.  171  Paris 
-V.  a  resident  of  [owa,  married  Minnie  Mov- 
er and  has  one  child.  Jess  •  Mary  is 
the  wife,  of  John  T.  Brown,  of  Iowa,  and 
they     have     live    children,     Charl. 

\lma  and  Allie.  S  trah  mar- 

ried Philip  Carr.  and  they  died,  leaving  three 
children,    two    of    whom    are    -till    living, 
L.  and  Jennie. 
John   F.   HubbeH   was  educated   in  the 
ative   state,   and    remained 
with  his  parents  until  he  attained  hi-  major- 
ity, coming  with  them  to  Illinois.     <  m  -tart- 
ing  out  in  life  for  himself  he  v.  fjed  in 

CUttinj  the  tir-t   winter,  cutting   fifty 

•  >f  four-foot  wood,  which  he  -old  to  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company.  In  the 
following  spring  he  and  hi-  oldest  brother 
rented  a  farm  near  Heyworth,  McLean  coun- 
ty, which  they  operated  one  year,  and  then 
ged  in  farming  together  on  rented  land 
in  Wilson  town-hip,  DeWitt  county,  for  live 
yeai 

the  r 3th  of  September,  1856,  our  sub- 
ject was  united  in  marriage  with  Mi--  Eliza- 
beth Terhune,  a  daughter  of  Henry  am 
rail  1  Brown  1    Terhune.  who  were  nativi 
Kentucky    and    Pennsylvania,  tively. 

She  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  their 
famil)   of  -i\  children,  the  other-  beii 
follow-:     1  1  )   Ruth  is  the  wife  of  Alva  El- 

:  [owa,  and  to  them  were  born  nine 
children:  Millard.  John.  Alvin,  William. 
Edward,  Frank,  Emma  and  Fannie,  all  liv- 

ind  Ida.  deceased.     <  ,\  >   Mar}   i-  the 


154 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


wife  of  William  Carr,  of  St.  Louis,  and  they 
have  six  children:  Walter,  Louis,  Harry, 
Charles,  Belle  and  Etta.  (4)  Anna  lives 
near  Lane  Station  in  Creek  township,  this 
county.  (5)  Daniel,  deceased,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Companj  K.  Ninth  Minnesota  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  during  the  Civil  war.  lie 
married  Melvina  Thompson,  who  is  still  liv- 
ing in  Minnesota,  and  they  had  two  chil- 
dren, George  and  Louis.  (6)  Marine,  who 
is  now  living  in  Kansas,  was  a  member  ol 
Company  A,  Second  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry,  lie  married  Mary  Dunbar  and  has 
three  children.  Carter,  Charles  and  Susan. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbell  were  born  the 
following  children :  (1)  Francis  Ephraim, 
a  resident  of  Wilson  township,  this  county, 
married  Catherine  Parlier,  and  they  have  one 
child.  Elmer.  (2)  (  Ulie  is  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward I  »e  \tle\.  of  Wapella.  1  ;,  1  Alice  is 
the  wife  of  Edward  Bell,  of  Wilson  town- 
ship, and  they  have  three  children.  Lyle, 
(  arle  and  (  >pal.  1  |  1  Mary,  and  1  5  I  Will- 
iam, are  bi  >th  at  home. 

His  home  in  Wilson  township  being 
burned  in  (862,  Mr.  Hubbell  then  removed 
ti  1  Wapella  ti  >w  nship,  where  he  rented  a  farm 
tMr  aboul  two  years,  and  then  purchased  one 
hundred  and  si\tv  acres  of  land  "ii  sections 
iS  and  jo.  Wilson  township,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  One-half  of  this  tract 
had  previously  been  broken,  ami  to  its  fur- 
ther improvement  and  cultivation  he  has 
since  devoted  his  energies  with  most  grati- 
fying result-,  lie  has  built  a  nice  residence 
and  barn,  has  set  out  fruit  and  shade  trees. 
and  in  other  ways  has  d<  ne  much  to  enhance 
the  value  and  attractive  appearance  of  the 
place.  At  one  time  he  was  interested  in  the 
breeding-  of  short  horn  cattle  and  made  but- 
ter quite  extensively,  hut  his  specialty  now 
is  Jersey  stock. 

Since  casting  his   first   presidential    vote 


for  John  (A  Frftmotit,  Mr.  Hubbell  has  been 
an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  he  has  been  honored  with  several  local 
offices,  serving  as  assessor  thirteen  years, 
school  treasurer  twenty-three  years,  and  road 
commissioner  three  years.  He  ably  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  these  various  posi- 
tions, and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
valuable  and  useful  citizens  of  his  commun- 
ity— oik-  who  i>  always  ready  to  give  his  in- 
fluence to  any  enterprise  which  he  believes 
will  prove  of  public  benefit.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  church  at 
Point,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  no  cou- 
ple in  Wilson  tow  nship  are  held  in  higher  re- 
gard than  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  John  F.  I  luhhell. 


WILLIAM  WELD. 


In  studying  the  lives  and  characters  of 

our  leading  men.  we  are  naturally  led  to  in- 
quire into  the  secret  of  their  success  and  the 
motives  that  have  prompted  their  action. 
Success  is  a  question  of  genius,  as  held  hv 
many,  hut  is  it  no1  rather  a  matter  of  ex- 
perience and  sound  judgment?'  When  we 
trace  the  career  of  those  who  stand  highest 
in  public  esteem  we  find  in  nearly  every  case 
they  are  those  who  have  risen  gradually, 
lighting  their  wax  in  the  face  of  all  opposi- 
tion. Self-reliance,  conscientiousness,  en- 
ergy and  honesty  are  the  traits  of  character 
that  insure  the  highest  emoluments  and 
greatest  success,  and  to  these  we  may  at- 
tribute the  success  that  crowned  the  efforts 
of  our  subject. 

Mr.  Weld  was  horn  in  Roxbufy,  Massa- 
chusetts, February  4.  i<S_m.  and  was  a  sun 
of  Joseph  M.  and  Lucy  S.  (  Richards  1 
Weld,  natives  .if  Boston  and  Dedham,  Mas- 
sachusetts,  respectively.     It  was    there    the 


WILLIAM   WELD. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


mother  was  reared  and  educated.    She  wa 
daughter  of  Jonathan   Richards  'ier 

of  the  Revolutionary  war.    Our  subject  was 

ilie  sixth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  ol  ten 
children,  the  others  being  Joseph  R.,  Hepsi- 
bah  C,  Daniel  M..  Lucy  11..  Ann.  Jonathan 
R..  Edwin,  Elizabeth  and  Henry  C. 

Mr.  Weill  received  his  education  in  the 
place  of  his  nativity,  and  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enteen entered  the  employ  of  Thomas 
.Mo(.re.  of  Boston,  to  learn  the  art  of  litho- 
ul  was  there  employed  fifteen 
years,  being  foreman  of  his  department  ten 
irs  of  that  time.  <  m  severing  his  connec- 
tion with  Mr.  Morne  he  came  to  DeWitt 
county.  Illinois,  and  purchased  property  in 
Texas  township,  ami  later  purchased  an  ad- 
ditional tract,  where  he  successfully  engaged 
in  farming  until  three  years  prior  to  his 
death,  when  he  removed  to  Clinton  and 
bought  what  was  known  as  the  Hanger 
property,  consisting  of  two  and  a  half  a< 
of  land  on  Jackson  avenue,  with  a  house 
up.  .n  it.  There  he  died  March  12,  (895, 
from  a  stroke  of  paralysis.  He  was  taken 
ill  Saturday  morning  ami  passed  away  on 
Tuesday  morning. 

On  the  uth  of  September,  1870,  Mr. 
Weld  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Rachel  E.  (Giddings)  Hickman.  Her  par- 
ents. Wilton  M.  and  Sarah  Ann  I  T'a\  1  I  lid- 
dings,  were  born,  reared  and  married  in 
Rutland.  Vermont,  and  from  there  removed 
to  Ohio,  living  for  a  time  in  Union  county, 
and  later  in  Champaign  county.  In  1850 
they  came  to  DeWitt  county  and  settled  in 
the  village  of  Clinton,  which  at  that  time 
contained  only  two  houses  that  were  two 
stories  in  height.  They  traveled  with  their 
daughter  in  a  carriage,  while  their  two 
-.  .ns  r..de  in  a  wagon,  it  taking  them  two 
weeks  to  make  the  trip.  They  brought  with 
them  a  few  chairs  and  >.  .me  small  articles  for 


the  house,  hut  most  of  their  furniture  was 
bought  in  Pekin,  Illinois.  Mr.  Giddii 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
prairie  land  in  Clintonia  township,  which  was 
then  in  a  wild  state,  and  also  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  timber  land  in  Creek 
township.  He  placed  his  farm  under  culti- 
vation, set  out  orchards,  built  fences,  barns 
and  a  house,  which  are  still  standing.  Sub- 
sequently he  sold  that  property  and  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  just  south  of 
Clinton,  which  he  owned  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  but' which  has  since  been  sold,  lie 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  followed  that 
occupation  in  connection  with  farming  for 
many  years.  In  politics  he  was  first  an  old- 
line  Whig  and  later  a  Republican,  hut  he 
would  never  accept  office,  lie  died  in  Jan- 
uary. 1S7.V  and  his  wife  in  the  same  month 
two  years  later,  both  being  nearly  sixty-tive 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  their  deaths. 
'Their  remains  were  interred  in  the  Wood- 
lawn  cemetery. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  were  horn  three 
children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Weld  is  the  second 
in  order  of  birth.  Edward,  the  oldest,  was 
horn  in  Vermont,  and  is  now  deceased. 
1  le  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Clinton,  Illinois. 
with  exception  of  the  few  years  he  lived  in 
Florida  and  the  time  he  was  in  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion,  as  a  member  of  Company  I'.. 
One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  and 
for  meritorious  service  was  promoted  to  cap- 
tain of  his  company.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Slater.  ..f  1'ana.  who  still  resides  in  this 
State.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the 
Woodlawn  cemetery  of  Clinton.  Milton 
Giddings,  Mrs.  Weld's  younger  brother,  was 
horn  in  <  ttlio,  and  served  as  a  private  in  the 
company  of  which  his  brother  was  captain, 
and  was  with  Sherman  on  his  celebrated 
march  to  the  sea.     He  married  I'hidclia  Col- 


i58 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


well,  who  died,  leaving  two  daughters,  Min- 
nie ami  Ada.  who  reside  with  him  in  Florida. 
Mrs.  Weld  was  born  and  reared  in  <  Ihio, 
and  as  previously  stated,  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  Clinton,  Illinois,  in  [850.  Three 
years  later  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to 
John  Hickman,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  who 
came  to  this  county  some  years  prior  to  his 
marriage.  B3  trade  he  was  a  blacksmith, 
hnt  principally  followed  farming,  owning 
and  operating  land  in  Clintonia  township. 
lie  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republi- 
can in  politics,  and  was  a  personal  friend  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  lie  died  December  3, 
18511.  and  was  buried  in  the  Hickman  fam- 
ily cemetery,  lie  left  two  children,  John 
Milton  and  Sarah   I...  both  of  whom  died 

at   the  age  of  sixteen  years  and  were  laid  I" 

rest  iii  Woodlawn  cemetery.  Bj  her  second 
marriage  Mrs.  Weld  became  the  mother  of 
three  children :  Nellie,  who  died  at  the  age 
■  >f  fifteen  months;  Fannie,  who  lives  with 
her  mother:  and  Ella  May,  wife  of  \rthnr 
(,  ["ennant,  who  is  a  clerk  in  the  emploj  of 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Clinton,  lie 
was  honi  in  Lancastershire,  England,  and  is 
a  son  of  Walter  and  Eliza  1  Bradburj  1  Ten- 
nant.  llis  father  lived  for  some  years  in 
America,  hnt  died  in  England,  and  his 
mother,  who  is  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  now 
makes  her  home  in  Chicago.  They  had  nine 
children,  of  whom  seven  are  still  living.  To 
Arthur  <i.  Tennant  ami  wife  have  been  horn 
two  children:  William  Weld  and  Fannie 
Evelyn.  They  have  a  line  large  residence 
on  the  corner  of  North  Jackson  avenue  and 
West  Johnson  street,  Clinton,  which  was 
ereeted  by  Mr.  Tennant  at  a  cost  of  thirty- 
five  hundred  dollars,  and  with  them  resides 
Mrs.  Weld,  who  now  rents  her  home  in  that 
city.  She  still  owns  the  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty-six  acres  of  highly  developed 
land  in  Texas  township,  left  to  her  by  Mr. 


Weld,  which  she  rents.  In  addition  to  this 
she  owns  one  hundred  acres  near  Maroa, 
which  is  also  rented.  These  farms  are  well- 
improved,  there  being  good  two-story  resi- 
dences and  new   barns  upon  both. 

While  a  resident  of  Boston  Mr.  Weld 
east  his  first  presidential  vote  for  James  Bu- 
chanan, the  Democratic  candidate,  hnt  later 
became  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 
The  citizens  of  Texas  township  called  upon 
him  to  aet  as  road  commissioner  and  school 
director,  which  offices  he  acceptably  filled, 
and  he  alvvavs  took  an  active  interest  ill 
those  enterprises  calculated  to  advance  the 
welfare  of  his  township  ami  county.  In 
his  home  he  was  an  indulgenl  father,  a  kind 
and  devoted  husband,  and  his  genuine  worth 
and  man}  manl)  virtues  were  widely  recog- 
ni  id.  IK-  never  acted  except  from  honest 
motives,  and  in  all  his  varied  relations  in 
business  affairs  and  in  social  life,  he  main- 
tained a  eh. 11, uirr  .md  standing  that  im- 
press all  with  his  sincere  and  manly  purpose 
to  do  by  others  as  he  would  have  others  do 
by  him.  llis  wife  and  family  are  all  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of 
Clintt  m. 


MRS    MARY 


\\  EEDMAN. 


Mrs.  Mary  J.  Weedman,  widow  of  the 
Amos  Weedman.  is  one  of  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  DeWitt  comity,  and  none 
of  us  citizens  are  better  entitled  to  place  in 
the  annals  of  the  county.  Both  she  and  her 
husband  have  been  noted  for  their  public 
spiril  and  for  tin1  genuine  interest  they  have 
displayed  in  everything  pertaining  to  the 
progress  ami  improvement  of  Farmer  City 
and  vicinity. 

Mis.  Weedman  is  a  daughter  of  James 
Washington  McCord,  who  was  one  of  the 


Til!  GRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


first  settlers  of  the  county,  ha  *  ted 
here  in  1834.  He  was  horn  in  Overton 
county,  Tennessee,  January  25,  181 1,  and 
was  1  James  McCord,  of  whom  men- 

tion is  made  in  the  sketch  of  C.  VV.  McCord 

another  pag  this       lume.     In  early 

manhood  James  VV.   McCord  married   M 
Julia  Wheeler,  a  native  of  Virginia,  ami  a 
daughter  of  Elijah  Wheeler.     She  died   in 
1854,  at  th<      g       •'  forty-one  The 

children  lx>rn  of  this  union  were  Elijah; 
Mary  J.;  Sarah:  James  T. ;  Charlotte;  Har- 
riet: Martlia:  Hannah:  William  A.;  and 
Rebecca  and  Julia,  twins,  who  died  young. 
Besides  their  own  family  the  parents  reai 
two  orphan  children.  For  his  second  wife 
Mr.  McCord  married  Polly  Herold,  by 
wlmm  he  had  four  children.  John,  Amanda, 
C«>ra  and   I. aura. 

In  1830  Mr.  McCord  came  to  DeWitt 
mty,  Illinois,  hut  after  looking  over  the 
prairies  he  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  did 
not  locate  here  until  March  17.  [834,  when 
he  entered  forty  acres  of  land,  this 
the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  section  2  3  ta  Anna  township. 
This  was  the  third  entry  of  land  made  in  the 
township.     When  he  came  to  this  county  a 

nd  time  he  was  accompanied  by  his  fam- 
ily, and  brought  the  few  household  effi 
which  could  he  conveyed  from  his  old  home 
by  team  and  wagon.     Upon  his  land  he  built 
a  log  cabin  :n.  and  then  turned 

his  attention  to  the  improvement  and  culti- 
vation of  his  land.  He  subsequently  en- 
tered another  tract  of  forty  acres,  and  still 
later  a  one-hundred-acre  tract,  and  erected 
a  more  convenient  and  commodious 
house,  around  whose  large  fireplace  his  fam- 
ily spent  many  a  delightful  hour.     Mr.  Mc- 

1  made  many  improvements  upon  his 
farm,  which  is  now  one  of  the  best  in  the 
county  and  is  owned  by  Henrv  Reiser.     Ik 


and  his  wife  were  among  the  six  who  con- 
stituted the  first  Methodist  society  in  this 

locality  and   were  earnest,  consistent 
tian  people,  highly  respected  and  esteemed 
by   all    who   knew    them.       They   assisted    in 
building  the  first  house  of  worship  in  Santa 
Anna  township,  and  always  t'-'k  an  act 
part  in  all  church  work.      In   1S50,  during 
the  gold  excitement  in  California,  Mr.  Me- 
ed  the  plains   and   spent   fifteen 
months  on  the  Pacific  slope,  but  he  often  re- 
marked that  during  that  time  he  saw  noth- 
ing so  grand  and  s, ,  promising  as  the  praii 
of  Illinois.      (  in  his  return  home  he  resumed 
farming  and   carried   it   on  ully 

that  he  accumulated  a  comfortable  property 
which  enabled  him  to  spend  his  declin 
years  in  ease  and  quiet.  He  died  at  his 
home  in  DeWitt.  November  21,  [895,  and 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Fullerton  cemetery. 
Fraternally  he  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
ler,  and  always  lived  up  to  its  teaching 
Mrs.  VVeedman  was  horn  in  Jackson 
county.  Tennessee,  May  25,  [830,  and  grew 
t'  1  wi  >manhood  in  this  o  iunty.  On  Decem- 
ber [6,  1S47.  she  gave  her  hand  in  marfi. 

\mos  Weedman.  who  was  l>oru  in  Perry 
county.  Ohio,  May  12,  1826,  and  in  iv 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  John  and 
Rachel  1  Wilson  t  Weedman.  The  family 
first  located  near  Heyworth,  McLean  coun- 
ty, hut  in  [836  removed  to  Santa  Anna 
township,  DeWitt  county,  where  Mr.  We 
man  spent  his  early  life.  Here  he  made 
his  first  purchase  of  land  in  [850,  hut  sold 
the  property  three  years  later  and  bought 
land  in  I'iatt  county,  where  his  son,  Smith 
Y..  now  resides.    Later  he  purch;  nil 

on    section   32,    Santa   Anna   township.    ! 
Witt  county,  where  he  illy  en- 

eneral  farming  and  stock-raising 
until  elected  sheriff  of  the  county  in  1876, 
on  the  Republican  ticket.     So  acceptably  did 


i6o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  fill  that  office  that  he  was  i\\  ice  re-elected, 
and  after  serving  three  consecutive  terms  re- 
fused a  renomination.  While  in  office  he 
was  called  upon  l"  execute  the  first  man 
hanged  in  this  county — Patsy  Divine,  who 
murdered  Aaron  Goodfellow — this  proved 
a  memorable  occasion  to  Mr.  Weedman  as  it 
occurred  on  his  fifty-sixth  birthday.  Being 
a  man  of  strong  nerves,  cool  and  deliberate, 
he  never  shirked  the  arduous  duties  of  his 
ce  and  he  proved  one  of  the  besl  sheriffs 
DeWitt  county  has  ever  had.  After  his  n 
tirement  from  office  he  located  in  Farmer 
City,  in  1882,  and  there  made  hi-  home 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  lie 
became  prominently  identified  with  munic- 
ipal affairs,  and  served  a-  alderman  of  the 
city  for  a  time,  hut  his  attention  was  mostly 
devoted  to  his  real  estate  interests.  lie 
owned  one  of  the  best  improved  and  most 
valuable  farms  in  Santa  \nna  township. 
Socially  he  was  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge, 
No.  7  in.   F.  &    \.   M..  in  which  he  served  .is 

master:  and  also  belonged  t"  the  chapter, 
No.  60,  R.  A.  M.  :  while  both  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Eastern  Star 
Chapter  and  <>f    the    Methodist    Episcopal 

church.  In  all  of  the  relations  of  life  he 
was  found  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in 
him  whether  public  or  private,  and  he  com- 
manded the  respect  and  confidence  of  the- 
entire  community. 

In  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weed- 
man  were  two  s,  ,,i„,  namel)  :  (i)  William 
Rucker,  a  resident  of  farmer  City,  where  he 
lives  a  retired  life,  married  Kate  Page,  and 
they  have  three  children,  h'.sk.  Wallace  and 
Laura  M.  I  _' )  Smith  Y..  a  farmer  of  Piatt 
county.  Illinois,  married  Lottie  Thorite  and 
they  have  six  children:  Harriet,  who  is  now 
the  wife  of  ( ',.  Burford,  and  has  one  child. 
Freeman  Y. :  Amos:  Otto;  Jessie:  Judson 
S.  ;  and  Ward. 


REMUS  HANTS. 

In  a  little  log  cabin  on  the  east  hank  of 
llanlcy's  Creek,  Davis  county,  Kentucky, 
Remus  Davis  was  horn.  November  7,  [819. 
I  lis  childhood  days  were  passed  in  assisting 
in  the  duties  around  his  father's  farm,  and 
in  attending  the  early  subscription  schools 
whenever  the  home  work  would  permit  of 
his  absence.  I  lis  father.  Phillip,  was  horn 
in  Maryland,  and  his  mother,  Margaret 
1  Reed  1   Davis,  daughter  of  Thomas  Reed, 

was  a  native  of  West  Virginia.  Phillip  Da- 
vis was  a  farmer  during  the  greater  part  of 
his  life,  and  in  [836  emigrated  to  the  west, 
settling  in  what  is  now  DeWitt.  hut  what 
was  then  Macon  county.  Illinois,  where  he 
entered  claim  for  eighty  acres  of  land,  thirty 
acres  of  which  was  prairie.  In  this  wilder- 
ness the  parents  started  to  make  themselves 
a  home,  erecting  a  little  log  cabin  in  which 
the)  entered  upon  their  housekeeping,  hut 
their  plans  were  alas  doomed  to  unexpected 
change,  for  the  following  fall  the  mother 
was  taken  from  her  family  by  death.  Five 
vears  later  the  father  also  died.  There  were 
in  the  family  thirteen  children,  of  whom 
eleven  grew  to  he  men  and  women.  Remits 
being  at  the  present  time  the  only  one  liv- 
ing, lie  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when 
the  family  came  to  Illinois,  and  therefore  a 
large  share  of  the  work  in  the  new  and  un- 
cultivated region  fell  to  his  share,  and  among 
other  things  he  hewed  the  logs  for  the  build- 
ing of  the  cabin.  Though  eighty-two  years 
of  age,  he  recalls  all  of  the  changes  through 
which  he  has  passed,  and  his  memories  and 
active  life  entitle  him  to  a  place  among  the 
very  early  pioneers  of  the  state. 

In  1X4(1  Mr.  Davis  enlisted  in  Company 
E,  fourth  Illinois  Yolunteer  Infantry,  and 
served  through  the  Mexican  war  under  Gen- 
erals Winfield  Scott,  Shields,  Patterson  and 


REMUS   DAVIS. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


163 


Polk,  and  was  at  the  batl  rdo 

and  Vera  Cruz.  He  enjoys  the  distinction 
of  being  the  only  living  veteran  of  the  Mex- 
ican war  in  DeWitt  county.  After  the  war 
lie  came  hack  t<>  his  home  and  bought  land 
which   he  improved,   and   later   bought 

saw -mill  in  this  section,  which  he  con- 
tinued to  run  on  and  off  for  forty  years.     In 

50  he  married  Elizabeth  Jones,  of  Indi- 
ana, and  of  this  union  there  has  been  eig 
children,  although  only  one  survives,  Mary 
the  wife  of  Lew  Mr. 

Foster   -  >f  Andrew  Foster,  who  came 

t"  Illinois  at  an  early  date.  s.'ine  time  in  the 
thirties.  Andrew  Foster  was  born  about 
1818,  and  was  a  farmer  and  millwright  by 
trade,  and  ran  a  saw  and  grist-mill  for  many 
in  1883,  hut  his  wife  sur- 
vive^ him.  and  is  living  with  her  son.  James. 
1  lint"ii.  Illinois.    The  union- of  Lewis 

-:er  and  Mary  Belle  Davis  occurred 
Aug  884,   and  of  this  union  there 

are  seven   children :      Mable,   Edna.    Edith. 

tile,  Homer,  William  J.,  and  Lulu. 

Mr.  Davis  is  now  the  i"    -  f  sixty- 

six   acres  of   finely   improved  land,   having 

I  the  land  that  he  originally  purch; 

the  prairies.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  cast  his  first  v<  >te  f<  >r  William  Henry 
Harrison.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  as  was  also  his  wife  and  helpmate, 
wh  September  5,  1892,  at  the     g 

sixty  years. 

4  ■  » 

WILLIAM  ARMSTRl  >NG. 

England   has    furnished    to   the   United 
nany  bright,  enterprising  y<  iung  men, 
who  have  left  the  L'.ritidi  empire  to  enter  the 
business  circles  of  this  country  with  its  n 
pr<  g  methods,  livelier  competition  and 

advancement  more  rapidly  secured.    Among 


this  number  is  William  Armstrong.  He  in- 
herited somewhat  of  the  Si 
persevering  and  plodding  characteristics  de- 
veloped by  his  early  environment,  which, 
coupled  by  the  livelier  impulses  of  his  Celtic 
blood,  made  him  at  an  early  day  seek  wider 

Is  in  which  to  give  full  scope  t"  hi-  am- 
bition and  industry — his  dominate  qualiti 
He  found  the  opportunity  he  sought  in  the 
freedom   ami   appreciation   in   the   growing 

stern  portion  of  the  country.  Though 
bom  across  the  broad  Atlantic,  he  is  a  thor- 

Ji  American  in  thought  and  feeling,  ami 
his  patriotism  and  love  for  the  -tar-  and 
stripes  is  fully  demonstrated  by  his  valiant 
service  during  the  war  .if  the  Rebellion.  His 
career  i-  identified  with  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  DeWitt  county,  where  he  has 
not  "illy  acquired  fortune  hut  where  he  i-  one 
of  the  most  highly  respected  citizi 

;ir  subject  is  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, horn  in  Cumberland  count}-,  July 
1831,   and  of  Joseph   and    Anna 

(Hetherington)    Armstr  The    former 

was  born  at  Barnetl  nd,  and 

the  latter  was  a  nan  imberland  coun- 

ty. She  became  the  mother  of  five  children  : 
Joseph,  lane.  William,  deceased, 
and  William,  our  subject.  The  mother 
these  children  died  when  in  the  prime 
life,  and  for  his  second  wife  the  father  of  our 
subject  married  Jane  Shinimean.  and  a-  :i 
result  of  this  union  the  following  children 
were  horn:  John.  Elizabeth.  Thomas  and 
James.  After  the  death  of  his  second  wife 
he  married  Mary  Ann  Malson.  Both  are 
no'/  ed. 

The  first  of  the   Armstrong   famil 
come  to  this  country  was  a  brother  of  our 
subject,  George,  who  in  1S5 _■  located  in  ! 
Witt  county.     He  was  followed  by  Joseph 
in    1854,   and   William,    whose  name  intro- 
duce- this  review,  located  here  in  1856. 


164 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Prior  to  the  emigration  of  William 
Armstrong  to  this  county  he  bad  received 
a  very  good  education  in  Ids  native  country, 
after  the  completion  of  which  he  worked  as 
a  farm  hand  and  also  as  a  hrakeman  on  the 
New  Castle  &  Carlisle  Railroad.  The  first 
two  months  after  his  arrival  in  this  country 
lie  w.Tked  as  a  farm  hand,  and  in  [858  he 
began  farming  on  shares  in  Clintonia  town- 
ship. Later  lie  moved  to  Larnctt  township, 
where  he  was  farming  on  rented  land  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war.  Like  so 
many  of  our  foreign  born  citizens,  he  mani- 
fested his  patriotism  1>\  enlisting,  on  Aug- 
ust 1.  [862,  in  Company  l».  One  Hundred 
d  Seventh  Volunteer  Infantry,  hut  later 
he  was  transferred  to  Battery  K.  under  the 
command  of  John  11.  Calvin,  of  Chicaj 
lie  participated  in  several  important  en- 
gagements, and  at  the  battle  of  Lean  Sta- 
tion. December  [4,  [863,  he  was  seriously 
injured  in  the  hip  and  incapacitated 
further  active  service,  and  at  Know  ille. 
Tennessee,  oh  June  [9,  [865,  he  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  of  tin-  United  States 
and  paid  off  at  Springfield,  Mini 
During  his  term  of  enlistment  his  de- 
votion to  his  country  was  fully  tested, 
lie  was  a  gallant  soldier,  and  on  the  field 
of  action  was  always  found  ready  and  will- 
ing to  do  his  duty.  He  is  now  a  member 
of  the  Grand  Army  Post  of  Clinton,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  chaplain  and  is  now 
senii  >r  vice-c  immander. 

On  November  14.  1858,  Mr.  Armstrong 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza 
Ann  M.  Sprague,  who  was  horn  in  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  Charles  L.  and  Mary  (Wat- 
kins)  Sprague.  Her  father  was  a  native 
of  Vermont,  and  soon  after  his  marriage 
removed  to  Ohio  and  later  to  DeW'itt  coun- 
ty, where  he  purchased  a  farm,  which  he 
improved  and  placed  tinder  a  high  state  of 


cultivation,  and  where  lie  died  in  1K77.  Jn 
addition  to  this  he  owned  two  other  fine 
farms.  The  old  homestead  is  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  his  son.  His  first  wife  de- 
parted this  life  in  March,  [866,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-two  years.  For  his  second  wife 
Mr.  Sprague  married  Julia  A.  Smith.  By 
tlie  first  marriage  he  became  the  father  of 
the  following  children:  Frances;  Eliza; 
Mary  L. ;  Samuel:  Peter;  Rebecca;  Joseph; 
Margaret;  John;  James;  Brazella;  and 
Ruth.  There  were  no  children  bj  his  sec- 
ond marriage. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Armstrong  have  hen 
born   the   following  named  children:      1  1  | 

rles  J.,  who  was  horn  September  2, 
[859,  and  died  in   [891.     lie  married  Miss 

Molly  Smith  and  she  died  October  J  |.  n;00. 
They  became  the  parents  of  three  children: 
Freddie;  Maudie;and  Lillian.  1  _• »  Georgei 
I'...  horn  May  iS,  [862,  is  a  farmer  and 
stock  raiser  of  DeWitt  county.  He  married 
Miss  Margaret  Roben,  and  to  them  have 
been  horn  eight  children:  Walter:  Rena ; 
Sylvia;  Eliza;  Goldie;  Deverj  ;  Robert;  and 
Ruby  S.  (3)  William  11..  horn  May  jo, 
[866,  1-  1  lie  of  the  young  and  prominent 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  DeWitt  coun- 
ty. Miss  Edith  Baker  became  his  wife.  As 
a  result  of  this  union  the  following  children 
have  been  horn:  William;  Harry;  Joseph; 
Grace;  Hiram;  and  Blanche.  Two  others 
died  in  infancy.  (41  Edward  J.,  horn 
June  [5,  [868,  is  also  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  in  this  county. 
He  married  Emma  Mathews  and  they  have 
three  children:  William;  Wesley:  and 
Georgie.  15)  John  T..  born  May  14, 
[870,  married  Miss  Leoria  Alwood. 
They  have  four  children:  May:  Louise: 
Floy;  and  Marie.  He  is  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. io|  Jacob  M..  horn  August  _m, 
1872,  died  March  7,  1874.      (7)   Ro]>ert  S., 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


born  October  _*.  1S74.  married  Miss  R 
Bailey,  and  they  have  two  children,  Chai 
and  Leland.     He  1-  als  »ed  in  agri- 

cultural pursuits  in  this  county.  (8)  War- 
ren   Wesley,    born    October    8,    1876,    en- 

'1  in  the  Spanish-American  war  May 
4.  1898.  Soon  after  going  into  camp  at 
Lexington,  Kentucky,  he  was  taken  ill  with 
fever    and     discharged,    Aug 

n  after  his  recovery  he  re-enlisted.  Jan- 
uary 5.  1899,  and  was  sent  to  Manila  from 
California.  He  crossed  the  Suez  canal, 
and.  in  all.  has  traveled  about  fourteen 
thousand  miles.  During  this  time  he  has 
participated  in  several  important  engag 
ments.  and  is  now  quartermaster's  mounted 
orderly  with  the  Fourth  L'nited  S 
Regulars,    Company    1!  Moses    I... 

born  March  25,  [878,  died  September  25, 
1879.      M01    Mary    A.,   born    February    ; 

■  >.  died  in  infancy.  (  1  1  )  Alice  F...  born 
April  3.  [881,  graduated  from  the  Clint,  in 
high  school  in  the  class  of   1901. 

After  the  return  of  William  Armstr 
from  the  war  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
in  Barnett  township,  and  with  the  character- 
istic energy  that  has  marked  his  pathway 
through  life  he  at  mice  began  the  cultivation 
"f  the  same.  He  alsO  entered  into  the  busi- 
ness  of  raising  horses,  cattle  and  hogs  for 
market,  and  in  this  as  well  as  in  his  farm- 
ing operations  he  has  prospered.  With  the 
help  of  his  father-in-law  he  erected  large 
and  substantial  buildings,  and  as  his  means 
allowed  he  supplied  his  farm  with  all  the 
conveniences  ami  accessories  necessary  !" 
carry  on  the  business,  and  in  his  under- 
takings he  has  steadily  prospered,  meeting 
with   nmre  than   ordinary   suca  hat 

he  was  able  to  lay  aside  the  more  active 
duties  of  life  and  remove  to  the  city  of 
Clinton,  where  lie  now    resides. 

Since    earlv    manhood    William    Arm- 


has  been  an  active  member  and  an 
earnest  worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a 
class-leader  and  trustee,  and  in  1*S<>  he  was 
sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  World's  Sunday  - 
ool  Convention,  which  was  held  in  Lon- 
don.  England,  and  in    [890  was  a   d 

the  International  Sunday-school  Con- 
vention, which  convened  at  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania.     He  was 

the  mention     which     was    held     at 

Jacksonville,   this   state,   in    iv 

Such,  in  brief  outline,  is  the  histOT 
William  Armstrong,  who  when  a  young 
man  came  to  this  country  with  a  British 
shilling  and  full  of  determination  to  make 
his  life  a  success.  Hi<  fondest  dreams 
have  been  realized,  and  to-day  he  is  enabled 
t. .    lay   aside   all    busines  and    spend 

his  last  years  in  ease  and  quiet.  It  is  a  just 
reward  for  a  busy  life,  and  when  he  is 
finally  called  to  his  final  rest  he  will  not  only 
be  sadly  missed  by  his  own  immediate  fam- 
ily but  by  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in 

cntact. 

— *—* —       -    * 

J<  IHN  M.JONES. 

John  M.  Jones,  the  well-known  and  effi- 
cient postmaster  of  Midland  City,  Illinois, 
was  born  in  Decatur  county.  Indiana.  <>n  the 
17th  of  February.  1836,  and 
James  S.  and  Nancy  1  Bay)  Jones,  both  na- 
tives of  Kentucky.  His  paternal  grandfa- 
ther. Benjamin  Jones,  was  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  but  from  early  manhood  made  his 
home  in  Kentucky.  There  James  S.  Jones 
was  born  in  [807,  and  on  leaving  home  when 
a  young  man  went  to  Decatur  county.  Indi- 
ana, where  he  followed  farming  me 
years.  He  was  married  in  that  county  and 
there  five  of  his  children  were  born.  In   1851 


1 66 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lie  came  to  DeWitt  county,  [llinois,  and 
opened  up  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  ad- 
joining the  present  village  of  Midland  City, 
en  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
J  lis  death  occurred  in  i S 7 5 .  and  his  wife, 
who  survived  him  for  several  years,  died  in 
1883. 

rhe  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  lad  of 
fifteen  years  when  he  came  with  the  family 
to  this  comity,  and  he  aided  his  father  in  the 
work  of  the  farm  until  after  the  Civil  war 
broke  out.    On  the  9th  of    August,  1862,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and 
Seventh   Illinois  Volunteer   Infantry,   which 
was   assigned   to   the    Twenty-third   Corps, 
Arm\  of  the  Ohio,     lie  was  firsl  under  lire 
at    Elizabethtown,   Kentucky,  and  was  then 
in  the  Burnside  expedition  in  East  Tennes- 
see.     I  le  took   part    in   the  battle  at    II; 
Ferry  on  the  Tennessee  river;  the  enga 
incut  a1  (  ampbell  Statii  m  ami  the  sieg< 
Knoxville.     Later  his  command  went  on  a 
foraging  expedition  through  Tennessee,  and 
assisted  in  driving  I  .<  mgstreel  from  the  st; 
The  following  spring  they  joined  Sherman's 
a1    Tunnel    I  [ill,  ami  took  part   in  all 
the  engage  I  the  Atlanta  campaign, 

after  which  the  regiment  returned  to  Nash- 
ville. Mr.  Jones  was  taken  ill  at  Atlanta, 
and  was  in  the  hospital  at  Knoxville  for  a 
time,  ami  was  then  sent  home  <>n  a  sick  fur- 
lough. <  In  rejoining  his  regimenl  at  \\ . 
ington,  D.  C,  they  went  by  boal  to  Smith 
ville.  North  Carolina,  and  took  part  in  the 
battles  at  Wilmington  and  Fort  Anderson  on 
the  Cape  Fear  river.  They  then  j<  ined  <  ien- 
eral  Sherman  at  Goldsboro  in  time  to  take 
part  m  the  battle  at  that  place,  and  were  then 
mustered  out  of  service  at  Salisbury,  North 
1  irolina,  being  honorably  discharged  at 
Springfield,  Illinois,  in  July.   [865. 

\fter    the    war    Mr.    Jones    engaged    in 
farming  on  the  old  homestead  for  a  number 


of  years,  lie  purchased  the  interests  of  the 
other  heirs  and  succeeded  to  the  place.  I  le 
finally  sold  a  part  of  the  farm  and  removed 
to  Midland  City,  where  he  bought  a  resi- 
dence property,  lie  was  married  in  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  in  [893,  to  Miss  Sa- 
rah Chandler,  who  was  horn  in  Kentucky, 
hut  was  reared  in  that  county,  where  lier 
father,  James  Chandler,  located  with  his 
family  in   [856. 

Tin-  Republican  party  has  always  found 
111  Mr,  Ji  iks  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  prin- 
ciples since  he  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  111  [860.  hour  years 
later  he  again  voted  for  the  marts  1  president 
while  home  on  a  furlough.  During  Presi- 
dent MS  administration  he  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  Midland  City,  and  lie 
ing  re-appointed  under  President  McKinley, 
he  is  now  serving  his  second  term  in  that 
.  luce,  lie  has  heen  three  tunes  elected  JUS- 
1   the  p<  ace.  and  is  also  filling  thai   p 

Hon  in  a  most  creditable  and  satisfactory 
manner.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Midland  City  Cumberland  Presbyter- 
ian church,  ami  he  is  elder  and  clerk  of  the 
session.  Fraternally,  he  is  an  honored  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  Clinton,  and 
is  a  man  who  commands  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in 
either  in  s<  icial  1  ir  business  hie. 


WILLIAM  M.  PHARES. 

William  M.  1 'hares,  one  'if  the  early 
and  successful  farmers  of  DeWitt  county, 
Illinois,  owns  and  occupies  four  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  acres  of  rich,  highly 
improved  land,  on  section  26,  Te 
township.  Although  previously  the  owner 
oi    divers   other   properties   in   the   state,    he 


THE    r.K  i<;RAP1IIC\L    RECORD. 


came  into  ;  n  of  th(  I    farm 

about  seven  yeai  the  hoi 

built  large  and  substantial  barns  and  c 
venient  outhouses,  and  h:i<  since  been  en- 

neral  farming  and  si 
Nor  does  hi>  home  inti  sent  the 

extent  of  his  participati  »n  in  the  affairs 
DeWitt  county,   for  he  is  a  representati 
Illinois   farmer,   in   torch   with  eral 

happenings  in  the  world,  and  keenly  alive  to 
all  that  pertains  to  the  improvement  of  his 
township.      He  has  therefore  taken  an  acl 
part   in   the  administration  of  the  politi 

nch  and 
uncompromising  Republican  has  been  su] 

iur  different  terms,  h.u  i    g 
held  the  n  during  his  thirteen  ye 

residence  in  Macon  county.      Fraternally  he 
iated  with  the  Blue  1    dge  of  Ma- 
Maroa,  Illinois,  Maroa  Chapter,  R. 
A.  M.,  and  the  Commandery  at  Clinton,  and 
of  the  former  li  .  ed  for  ten 

the  worshipful  master.     He  has  also  passed 
all  of  the  chairs  of  the   Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  has  served  as  repre- 
tative  of  the  Maroa  lodge,  to  the  grand 

A  native  of  Greene  county,  Ohio,  Mr. 
Phares  was  horn  November  i.  1828,  and 
mained  on  the  home  farm  until  1S47.  when 
he  came  overland  to  Illinois  with  his  par- 
ents. His  father.  Samuel  C.  Phares,  was 
lH.rn  in  Hamilton  county.  Ohio,  August  15. 
ged  in  farming  until  coming 
t"  Illinois.  He  here  settled  at  first  near 
Waynesville,  DeWitt  county,  where  he 
rented  land  and  where  lie  lived  for  about 
five  years.  After  removing  to  Clinton  he 
engaged  in  the  butchering  business  for 
eral  years,  and  then  located  in  Texas  town- 
ship,  remaining  with  his  -,  ,u.  William,  for 
about    eighteen    years.       He    subsequently 


lived  in  Macon  county  for  some  md 

returned  to  Texas  township,  but  event- 
ually settled  with  his  daughter  in  Clinton, 
where  his  death  occurred   March   23,    19 
at  the  age  of  ninet]  months 

and  When  he  first  came  to  Illi- 

nois he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  hut  afterwards  changed  to  the 
Christian  church.      He  Repub- 

1  and  was  justice  of  tin  lin- 

t'  m  The  •  f  Will- 

iam  Phares,  fonnerl)    Sarah  Marshal!, 
horn  in  Virginia,  and  cai  Ihio  when  a 

small  child.  She  was  the  mother  of  thirteen 
children,  eleven  of  whom  are  living,  and 
her  death  occurred  October  17.  1877,  at  the 
home  of  her  son.  William,  in  Texas  town- 
ship, her  age  being  sixty-eight  y< 

William  M.   Phi  ruled  the  district 

completing  his  early 
education   in   the  public   scln  1  >e\\  itt 

county.  Illinois.  After  leaving  the  home- 
id  he  purchased  a  piece  of  land  in  Clin- 
ton, which  was  later  traded  for  a  farm  in 
Texas  township,  and  that  disposed  of  for 
hi-  present  farm.  October  7.  1858,  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Nagely,  a  native  of  Madison 
inty,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  Aaron  ami 
Eliza  1  Adams  1  Nagely,  who  resided  in 
Ohio  during  the  early   part   of  their  h 

I  came  to  Illinois  about  [849,  settling 
near  Clinton.  The  father  engaged  in  agri- 
culture in  Ohio  and  Illinois,  and  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  in  Clinton,  his  wife  having 
died  about  four  years  ago.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Phares  have  been  horn  tin  >  and 

two  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living: 
Oscar  M.  lives  on  the  home  place  and 
■si-  his  father  in  the  management  of  the 
;e:  Edgar  t'..  who  is  an  unusually  pros- 
perous citi/en  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  en- 
gaged   in    the    lumber  brokerage  busii 


1 68 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


owning  three  lumber  yards  of  his  own,  is 
married  to  -Mary  Craig,  of  Mama.  Illinois, 
and  has  two  children,  William  and  Kyle; 
William  G.,  who  married  Arabella  Wilt,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  has  two  children, 
Lucile  and  Helen,  and  lives  on  the  home 
place  with  his  older  brother;  Eliza  is 
the  wife  nf  Clarence  Sigler,  of  Decatur,  Illi- 
nois, a  traveling  salesman,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren. Beth  and  1'haies;  Emma,  the  oldest 
child,  is  the  w  ife  i if  I  h  ward  Ra) .  >•'< 
Mama,  Illinois.  All  >>i  the  Phares  chil- 
dren were  born  in  the  county,  and  all  re- 
ceived a  substantial  common-school  educa- 
te m. 

While  residing  in  Mama.  Illinois,  Mr. 
Phares  formed  a  stock  company  and  built 
the  Mar. i.i  Masonic  Temple,  at  a  COS)  «'!' 
twentj  two  thousand  dollars.  To  this  work 
he  gave  his  almost  undivided  attention  For 
a  period  oi  six  months,  and  on  its  comple- 
tion had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
they  had  erected  one  of  the  besl  Masonic 
buildings  in  central  Illinois.  To  the  indi- 
vidual efforts  of  Mr.  I 'hares  the  building 
was  made  possible,  and  it  will  ever  stand  as 
as  a  monument  to  his  memory,  as  well  as 
furnishing  a  home  to  the  fraternity  for 
many  years  to  come. 

To  such  men  as  William  M.  Phares  the 
present  prosperous  condition  of  DeWitt 
county  is  largely  t\\w.  The  present  and  fu- 
ture generations  can  little  realize  what  these 
men  had  to  endure,  what  hardships  were 
undergone,  and  under  what  disadvantages 
they  obtained  the  necessary  schooling  "i  the 
day.  The  educational  and  social  advantages 
now  enjoyed  were  made  possible  by  men  of 
this  stamp,  and  those  now  living  can  never 
repay  the  deht  of  gratitude  due  to  the 
pioneers  of  this  fair  state.  Yet  those  pio- 
neers have  erected  to  their  memory  some- 
thing  that  will  endure  for  all  time  to  come. 


The  broad  and  fertile  fields  testify  to  what 
they  have  done,  and  untold  generations  will 
yet  rise  up  and  called  them  hlessed. 


WILLI  \M    M.  SAMPSON. 

-  gentleman  has  been  a  life-long  resi 

dent  of  Waynesville,  and  for  over  a  third  of 
a  century  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  its  business  interests.  Thoroughness 
and  persistenc)  have  ever  characterized  his 
business  career,  and  supplemented  by  care- 
ful attention  to  details  and  by  honorable, 
straightforward  effort,  have  gained  him  a 
most  excellent  and  enviable  reputation. 

Mr.    Sampson   was  horn   in    Waynesville 
mi  the  3d  of  November,   1S44.  anil  is  a  son 
of   Junius    M.    Sampson,    whose    birth     oc 
curred  in  Bath  county,  Kentucky,     llis  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Captain   Francis  Samp- 

.  was  a  native  of  England  and  a  sea  cap- 
tain for  some  years,  making  his  home  in 
Baltimore,  Maryland.  At  an  early  day  he 
removed  to  Kentucky,  and  finally  came  to 
Illinois,  spending  the  remainder  ol  his  life 
in  Menard  county,  lie  was  a  will  educated 
man  and  was  highly  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

Junius  M.  Sampson  was  reared  in  his 
native  state  and  accompanied  his  father  mi 
his  removal  to  Menard  county.  Illinois, 
where  they  opened  up  a  farm.  1  le  was  mar- 
ried in  Sangamon  county,  this  state,  to 
Miss   Elizabeth   Crumb,   who  was  born   in 

Maryland  and  came  west  with  an  aunt.  For 
a  few  years  after  his  marriage  he  followed 
farming  in  Sangamon  county,  and  in  1  s 44 
came  to  DeWitt  county,  taking  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Waynesville.  By  trade  he  was  a 
millwright  and  cabinetmaker,  and  on  lm-at- 
ing  here  he  purchased  a  mill,  which  he  op- 


TIIK   IIIOC.RAPHICAL    RECORD. 


erated  for  some  years.  He  filled  the  offices 
of  justice  of  the  peace  and  postmaster  ;m<l 
w:i>  a  man  of  influence  in  the  communities 
where  he  made  his  home  at  different  times. 
He  died  in  VVaynesville  in  1871,  and  his 
wife  passed  away  two  or  three  years  pre- 
viou 

As    liis    early    school    privileges    were 
rather  limited,  William  M.  Sampson  is  prac- 
tically   a    self-educated  man.      In  January, 
[864,  when  nineteen  years  ■  f  age,  he  joined 
the  !><>>>  in  blue  of  Company   K.  Twenty- 
sixth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  in 
active  service  throughout  the  remainder  of 
the  war.   taking   part   in   the   Atlanta  cam- 
paign and  the  march  to  the  sea  under  Sher- 
man.     He   was   also   in    the   Carolina   cam- 
paign under  General  John   A.   Logan,  and 
wa-  present  at  the  surrender  of  General  Jo- 
h  E  Johnston,  after  which  his  command 
mvrched  to  Washington,  D.  (.'..  and  partici- 
pated in  the  grand  review  at  that  place.  The 
war   having  ended   he  was   honorably   dis- 
charged   at     Springfield.     Illinois,   July    28, 
■    and  returned  home. 
Mr.  Sampson  began  his  business  career 
a  carpenter.     For  six  years  he  served 
deputy  postmaster  of  Waynesville  under  his 
father,  ami  was  then  made  the  first  agent  of 
the  Terre  Haute  &  Peoria  Railroad  at  that 
place,  in   1N74.     He  learned  telegraphy  and 
attended  to  the  whole  duties  of  the  office 
for  twenty-two  years,  when  he  was  succeed- 
ed by  his  sun   William,  the  present  agent, 
his     retirement    from    that    position    he 
ned  a  furniture  store,  which  he  still  ear- 
on  in  connection  with  the  undertaking 
business,   and   has   built    up   a   good   trade. 
Besides   his  business   property   he  owns   a 
nice  residence — one  of  the  best  in  town. 
On    the   4th   of   July.    1867,    Mr.    Samp- 
was  married  in  Waynesville  to  Miss  Re- 
becca Dunham,  also  a  native  of  this  county 


and  a  daughter  "f  Jeremiah  Dunham. 

irly  settlers.  I  Iks  have  a  famil  I 
six  children:  Carrie,  now  the  wife  of  Thur- 
man  I  I  McLean  county,  Illi- 

William,   who   i^  also  married   and   is 
agent  for  the  railroad  company  at  Waynes- 
ville; Jennie,  wife  of  Earl  Buck,  of  \\ 
ville:   and   Gertie,    Maud   and   Glenn,   all   at 
home. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential 
for  I      5.  I      inl  in  1868,  Mr.  Sampson  has 
been  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Repuh 
part\'.  and  he  has  served  as  ;i  member  of  the 
tow  11  hoard  and  as   township  clerk,      i 
iously  he  and  his  wife  are  memliers  of  the 

•yterian    church,    and    socially    he 
member  of  Waynesville  Lodge,  I.  O.  (  >.  I". 
in  which  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs  and  is 
now   •  d.     He  is  public  spirited  and 

thoroughly  interested  in  whatever  tends  to 
promote  the  moral,  social  and  material  wel- 
fare of  his  native  town,  and  has  done  much 
to  advance  its  interests  along  various  lines. 


lolIX  TUGGLE. 


John  Tuggle,  a  well-known  and  prosper- 
ous citizen  of  Harp  township.  lives  in  section 
16.  He  was  born  October  31,  1840,  in 
Harp  township,  son  of  Charles  ami  Mary 
i  Spencer  )  Tu  as  a 

native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  1814,  and  the 
s.  .11  of  William  Tuggle,  who  was  bom  and 
died  in  that  state  v  hail. 
ucated  in  Kentucky  and  married  there,  lie 
came  to  DeWitl  county.  Harp  township,  in 
about  1835  and  rented  land  for  a  number 
of  years.  His  first  purchase  was  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  wild  land,  now  a 
part  of  the  farm  owned  by  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.     He  put  all  the  land  under  cnlti- 


170 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ration,  creeled  good  buildings  and  made 
improvements.  In  this  pleasant  home,  sur- 
rounded by  family  and  friends,  he  spenl  the 
resl  of  his  life,  dying  April  <>.  [863.  His 
wife  died  in  1888  and  both  are  buried  in 
this  township.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing, fames  is  a  fanner  and  lives  in  Har- 
rison county.  .Missouri:  William.  Solomon, 
Allen  and  ( re<  >rge  live  in  this  t<  wnship;  their 
daughters,  Elizabeth  Sarah  and  Mary,  and 
one  1  tries,   are  now   dead  ;   I  haiT  itte 

is  the  wife  of  William  O'Brien,  and  lives 
in  North  Dakota.  Charles  Tuggle  wa 
believer  in  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party.  By  industry  and  thrift  he  became  a 
well-to-do  farmer  and  was  a  good  citizen. 
a  Tuggle  was  the  third  soil  and  fifth 
child  in  hi  father's  family.  1  le  tt 
cated  in  the  district  of  this  township. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  one  he  went  to  Clinton 
ami  worked  at  th  \flcr  a  shi  >rt 

time  he  returned   to  th<  and   at   the 

age  of  twenty  five,  on  September  1  \.  1865, 
he  married  Miss  Martha  Price,  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Louvisa  (Wetldle)  Price. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trice  were  both  natives  of 
Kentucky,  had  been  married  in  that  state  and 
came  to  Texas  township  in  [863.  They 
rented  land  for  a  few  years,  then  purchased 
a  farm.  To  them  were  horn  ten  children, 
five  of  whom  are  now  living.  The  deceased 
are  Rachel.  Elizabeth,  Sophia,  Edna  ami 
Martha,  who  was  the  first  wife  of  the  sub- 
ject  of  this  sketch.  Isaiah  lives  in  Missouri. 
Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Myer  Hansen  and  lives 
in  Kansas.  Leanna  is  now  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Tuggle     Charli  in  Wilson  township. 

John  William  resides  in  the  -late  of  Wash- 
ington. .Mr.  Trice  was  a  strong  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party.  He  died  in  [867 
at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  I  lis  wife  now 
lives    with    Mr.    Tuggle' s    family.      Though 


eighty-seven  years  old  last   March,  she  is  a 
very  active  lady  for  one  of  that  age. 

To  Mr.  Tuggle  were  horn  seven  chil- 
dren. Ills  oldest  son.  William,  married 
Myrtle  Miller  and  lives  in  Harp  township. 
Their  children  arc  Tail,  Ruby,  Verna  and 
Ethel.  Charles  married  Retta  Webb  and 
they,  with  their  three  children.  Clarence, 
Rufus  and  the  baby,  live  in  the  same  town- 
ship. James  died  in  infancy.  Melvin,  Eliza, 
Fred  C.  and  Aletha  still  live  at  home.  Mr. 
gle's  wife.  Martha,  died  \pnl  23,  [897, 
and  is  buried  in  Wilmore  cemetery  in  Harp 
township.  The  next  year  he  married  Le 
anna  I  "rice,  the  sister  of  his  first  wife. 

John  Tuggle  has  been  a  farmer  since 
IS'.;'  and  a  very  successful  one.  lie  now 
owns  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  well- 
improved  land,  which  he  uses  for  general 
farming,  llis  broad  acres  of  waving  grain 
are  a  standing  monument  to  his  industry  and 
thrift.     1u  politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Tern- 

atic  party,  lie  has  held  the  offices  oi 
assessor  and  collector,  which  proves  that  he 
has  won  tlu-  esteem  and  confidence  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lives,  llis  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church. 


CHARLES  BRELSFI  >RD. 

Among  the  leading  citizens  of  Kenney, 
Illinois,  is  Charles  Brelsford,  the  present 
mayor  of  the  town.  lie  is  a  native. son  of 
DeWitt  county,  being  horn  in  Tunbridge 
township.  December  _■<).  (859,  to  William 
and  Lydia  (Craig)  Brelsford,  who  are  rep- 
resented on  another  page  of  this  review. 

Charles  Brelsford,  our  subject,  remained 
on  the  home  farm  until  he  reached  maturity, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  township  and  assisting'  his  fa- 


TH1-:   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ther  "ii  the  farm.  In  1892  he  moved  u>  the 
village  "i  Kenney  and  opened  a  real  estate 
office,  which  business  he  continued  i<>r  some 
and  then  entered  the  insurance  busi- 
ness, being  the  representative  of  all  the 
prominent  old  line  companies.     In  190 

lected  president  of  the  village  board  on 

itizens  ticket,  and  is 
of  the  leading  representatives  of  his  party  in 
this  locality.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member 
of  the  order  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  Kyle 
f  Kenney.  in  which  he  has 
occupied  all  the  chairs,  being  past  chan< 
In  bus  lolitical  and  social  circles  Mr. 

sford  stands  high  and  well  meril 
general  esteem  which  he  receives. 


TAMES  M.  KIRK. 


James  M.  Kirk,  one  of  the  leading  and 
representative  business  men  of  Clinton,  De- 
Witt  county,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Belle- 
fontaine,  <  >hio,  July  26,   1854,  and  is  : 

inge  and  Sarah  1  Robinson  1  Kirk,  and 
a  grandson  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (  Mar- 
shall )  Kirk. 

L.  Kirk  was  a  native  of  the 
Buckeye  state  and  was  born  in  Xenia,  where, 
after  receiving  a  common-school  education, 
he  learned  the  trade  of  brick  masonry.  There 
he  remained  until  1856,  when  he  came  to 
Clinton.  S'H>n  after  hie  arrival  in  this  place 
he  began  the  manufacture  of  brick,  as  the 
]>p  .]ier  clay  for  that  purpose  was  found  in 
the  m  •rth  and  east  part  < »f  the  ti  -w  n.  He  was 
tir^t  associated  with  A.  H.  C.  Barber, 
they  established  a  large  plant.  At  that  time 
the  town  of  Ginton  had  just  been  laid  out, 
with  si>me  three  hundred  people  living  with- 
in its  corporate  limits.  Being  a  new  town 
the  demand  f<  >r  brick  was  large  and  in  their 


enter]. n  met    with    excel!. 

r  Mr.  Barber  retired  from  the  firm  and 
I.  \\  .  Bell  was  taken  into  partnership.  They 
manufactured  brick  for  many  of  the  m 
prominent  buildings  of  the  place,  among 
which  was  the  old  Presbyterian  church  and  a 
number  of  the  present  bi  docks  which 

inding  in  the  central  part  of  the 
city.      In   addition   to  his   brick   business   he 

lit  quite  extensively   in   real 
and  became  one  of  the  leading  business  men 

I  Hnton.      Socially   h<  member  of 

DeWitt  L  dge,  \'o.  84,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.. 

member  of  the  chapter  and   the 
oil. 

B)   his  marriage  with   t  ah   Rob- 

inson he  became  the  father  of  two  children: 

mel,   who   is   a   brick   contractor 

and   James    M..    whose   name    in; 
duces    this    review.     When  but  twenty -one 
years  of  ag(  iber  4.   1855,  Mrs.  Kirk 

was  called  to  her  final  1  buried 

in  the  Bellefontaine  cemetery.  For  his  - 
ond  wife  Samuel  Kirk  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lucretia  Morian,  who  sur- 
vives him.  Mr.  Kirk  departed  this  life  in 
[897,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

The  common  schools  afforded  James  M. 
Kirk  his  educational  advantages,  and  up 
the  time  that  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age  he  gave  his  father  the  benefit  <<i  his 
labors.  October  3,  [876,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Emma  J.,  daughter  of 
Eason  and  Alice  Johnson.  Her  parents  came 
to  Clinton  in  1858  and  purchased  a  tract  of 
farming  land,  which  they  still  own  and  o|>- 
erate.     He  was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Lydia 

•ok  1  Johnson,  who  were  natives  of  Prov- 
idenc.-.    Rhode   Island,   where  his  birth   a 

urred  August  [3,  1 S 1 4 .  Joseph  Join 
emigrated  to  Ohio  with  his  family  and 
tied.    Here  he  began  farming  and  in  his  un- 


174 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


dertakings  prospered,  until  at  one  time  he 
had  some  five  hundred  acres  of  land  under  .1 
high  state  of  cultivation.  In  the  family  were 
the  following  children  :  Ira  C.  Cylinda,  Al- 
lnra.  Joseph,  Lydia  and  one  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Eason  Johnson,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Kirk, 
was  born  and  reared  in  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education,  the 
school  being  held  in  a  log  school  house  and 
in  those  early  days  greased  paper  was  used 
for  windows.  He  remained  in  Ohio  until 
after  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  on 
December  17.  [835,  Miss  Alice  Calendar  be- 
lling his  wife.  As  a  result  of  this  union 
the  following  children  were  born:  Mary, 
who  is  now  deceased:  Amos ;  Huldah;  Ira: 
Alice,  deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  John 
C.  Kirkley;  Joseph  E. ;  Allura,  deceased; 
Lovina,  also  deceased,  and  Emma,  who  is 
the  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  personal 
sketch,     in  [859  Mr.  Johnson,  accompanied 

by  his  family,  went  by  water  1"  Texas. 
where  he  intended  to  remain.  Inn  soon  after 
his  arrival  lie  became  convinced  that  he 
would  nol  Ik-  pleased  with  the  country  and 
determined  !■■  return  to  the  north.  Alter 
a  long  and  tiresome  trip  he  arrived  in  De- 
Witt  county  in  i860  and  located  <>n  section 
3,    Texas    township,    where    he   still    resides. 

Although  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  are 
well  along  in  years  the)    an  and  in 

excellent  health.  By  economy  and  persever- 
ance they  ha\e  accumulated  a  comfortable 
competence  and  to-day  are  recognized  as 
•  Mie  of  the  representative,  families  of  Clin- 
ton county. 

I'm  our  subject  ami  his  wife  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  Marshall 
died  at  the  age  of  two  months;  James  Rob- 
ert is  associated  with  his  father:  Alice  L. 
resides   at    home;    Willoughby    E.    is   a   me- 


chanic; Fred  K.  and  Reuben  \\  .  are  stu- 
dents. 

\iter  working  some  years  as  a  journey- 
man the  subject  of  this  sketch  began  con- 
tracting mi  his  own  account  and  fur  the 
past  twenty  four  years  has  been  actively 
identified  with  the  business  and  commercial 
interests  of  Clinton,  and  is  new  recognized 
as  the  leading  contractor  ami  builder  of  De- 
Witt  county.  Among  the  mure  prominent 
buildings  that  he  has  had  under  his  per- 
sonal supervision  is  the  Register  block,  the 
remodeling  and  enlarging  the  Renick  opera 
house,  Christian  church,  Lincoln  school 
building,  gas  plant  and  many  "thers  tOO  1111- 
m<  n  'Us  ti '  mentii  »n. 

Socially  Mr.  Kirk  holds  a  prominent 
place.  lie  is  a  member  and  recorder  of 
Clinton  Commandery,  No.  66,  K.  T.,  T.  I. 
M.   Clinton   Council.    No.   74,    R.   &   S.    M., 

P.  II.  P.  I [brake  <  Chapter,  No.  59,  R.  A. 

M..  I'.  M.  DeWitt  Lodge,  No.  84,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M..  and  I'.  \\  .  I'.  Myrtle  Chapter.  No. 
[31,  O.  I'..  S.  Iii  polities  he  has  never  taken 
more  than  the  interest  thai  ever)  puhlie  spir- 
ited man  should,  hut  at  all  times  he  stands 
ready  and  willing  to  do  all  in  his  power  to 
further  the  interests  of  his  adopted  city,  lie 
served  one  year — iNNi-iNNj — as  city  mar- 
shal of  the  city  of  Clinton,  and  two  years 
in  the  city  council  from  the  first  ward. 


\\  I'.SI.HY   CLEARWATER!- 

This  well-known  resident  of  Farmer  City 
was  born  on  the  2nd  of  March.  [854,  in  the 
suburbs  of  that  city,  on  a  place  now  owned 
by  ( ).  J.  Smith.  His  parents  were  Nathan 
and  Mary  M.  (Danner)  Cleanvaters,  of 
whom     extended     mention    is    made    in    the 


'in::  r.KKiUAPincAL  record. 


>;- 


sketch  of  Reuben  Clearwaters  on  another 
page  "t  this  volume.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
years  our  subject  entered  the  office  of  J.  S 
Harper,  who  was  then  publishing  a  weekly 
paper  in  Farmer  City,  ami  with  him  served 
an  apprenticeship  t"  the  printer's  trade.  In 
[888    he    established    the    Public    Reaper, 

which  he  Sold  two  year-  later  to  his  brother 
Reuben,  ami  then  removed  t"  Rose  Hill. 
Iowa,  where  he  edited  the  Rose  llill  Sun 
for  nine  months,  lie  next  went  t<  >  Craw- 
fordsville,  Indiana,  where  he  worked  a-  a 
journeyman  printer  until  his  removal  t" 
Petersburg,  that  state.  There  he  started  the 
Tallula  Express,  which  he  conducted  for  five 
months,  and  on  selling  out  returned  to 
Farmer  City,  where  the  following  year  was 
parsed. 

Mr.  Clearwaters  was  next  engaged  in 
the  laundry  business  at  Frankfort,  Indiana, 
for  a  year,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  - 
out  and  opened  a  steam  laundry  in  Farmer 
City,  in  iS<)-i.  it  being  the  first  in  the  place. 
After  conducting  it  for  four  years  he  -old 
out.  and  has  since  worked  with  his  brother 
Reuben  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  though  he 
is  now  practically  living  a  retired  life  on 
account  of  ill  health.  In  the  spring  and 
summer  of  1901  he  assisted  in  building  the 
beautiful  modern  residence — the  largest  in 
Farmer  City — now  occupied  by  himself  and 
family,  together  with  <  >.  J.  Smith,  who  has 
made  his  home  with  them  for  some  time. 
and  is  considered  one  of  the   family. 

In  1875  Mr.  Clearwaters  married  Miss 
llettie  Blandin,  a  native  of  McLean  county, 
Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of    Thomas    ami 

lise  (Myers)  Blandin.  Six  children 
blessed  tin-  union:  Ola;  Ora,  deceased; 
John;  one  who  died  in  infancy;  Darrow  I  >. ; 
and  Grace  E.  The  parents  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
Mr.    Clearwater-   1-   a    stanch    supporter   of 


the  Democratic  party  ami  it-  principle-    lie 
is  widely  and   favorably  known  in  tin 
ti"ii  of  the  county,  where  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  ha-  been  passed,  and  wherever  he 
ha-  gone  he  ha-  made  many  friends. 


I  \.\IKS  CANTRA1  I 

This  well  known  agriculturist,  wl 
home  i-  on  section  32,  Waynesville  town- 
ship, just  south  of  the  village  of  VVaym 
ville.  was  horn  on  dial  farm.  June  [9,  1845, 
and  i-  a  worthy  representative  of  an  honored 
pioneer  familj  of  DeWitt  county.  The  first 
of  the  family  to  come  to  America  was  his 
great-great-grandfather,  Zebulon  Cantrall, 
who  was  born  in  Wale-  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
and  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  new  world  in 
17110.  He  located  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  built  the  first  brick  house  in  that 
city.  In  his  family  were  two  -,  ms,  Joseph 
and  Joshua.  The  latter,  who  was  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject]  fought  for 
American  independence  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  lie  wa-  a  native  1  if  Virginia,  and  died 
there.  Joshua,  hi-  grandfather,  removed  to 
Kentucky  in  [789.  Later  he  went  to  Ohio, 
and  from  there  came  to  Illinois  in  [835,  ar- 
riving in  what  i-  now  DeWitt  county  on  the 
7th  of  October.  Here  he  successfully  en- 
ged  in  farming  and  acquired  eighteen  hun- 
dred acre-  of  land,  which  at  hi-  death  he  left 
ti  >  hi-  children. 

Joshua  Cantrall,  Jr..  our  subject's  fa- 
ther, was  born  in  Clark  county.  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember J'K  1818,  and  was  seventeen  year-  of 
age  on  the  removal  of  his  familj  to  this 
county.       Here  he   wedded    Miss    Mar\    Jane 

Robb,  who  was  born  near  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee, and  was  a  daughter  of  John  Robb, 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  DeWitt  county. 


176 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


She  died  September  20,  [855,  leaving  two 
children,  who  reached  mature  years,  namely  : 
lames,  of  this  review  ;  and  Mrs.  Rachel  C. 
In-hain.  a  residenl  of  Warrensburg,  Macon 
county,  Illinois.  The  father  was  again  mar- 
ried and  continued  to  reside  on  the  "Id  home- 
stead near  Waynesville  until  1X7*1.  when  he 
built  in  Waynesville  and  resided  there  until 
his  death.  March  31,  [897.  Throughoul 
life  he  followed  I        man)   years 

he  was  the  elders  and  a  prominent 

and  active  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Waynesville,  and  ever  took  an 
active  interest  in  Sunday-school  work,  serv- 
ing as  superintendent  for  twi  en  con- 
secutive years,  and  thirty-three  years  in  all. 
He  declined  longer  to  accept  that  office,  hav- 
ing' by  that  time  become  quite  "Id.  though  he 
continued  a  Sunday-school  worker  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death. 

During  his   boyhood   Jai  irall   at- 

tended the  public  and  select  schools  of 
Waynesville,  and  aided  his  father  in  the 
work  "i~  the  farm  until  twenty-five  year 

lie  was  then  married  in  Decatur,  llli- 
nois,  t"  .Miss  Marx  I.  I.anham.  and  brought 
his  bride  t>>  the  old  homestead,  which  lie 
carried  on  for  his  father  during  his  declin- 
ing years.  He  new  owns  the  farm,  which 
consists    of     sixty-eight  of   rich   and 

arable  land,  and  in  connection  with  its  op- 
eration he  has  under  cultivation  over  two 
hundred  acres.  He  has  always  given  con- 
siderable attention  to  breeding,  raising  and 
dealing  in  stuck,  making  a  specialty  ol  line 
draft  horses  of  the  Englishshire  breed.  He 
iimw  owns  a  share  m  Aulhra  George,  a  pure- 
blooded  stallion,  which  is  one  of  the  best  in 
the  county. 

Mr.  Cantrall's  first  wife  died  March  30. 
1889,  leaving  two  daughters.  Nellie  M.  and 
Mabel  C.  On  the  --Nth  of  November,  the 
same  rear,  he  was  again  married  in  Decatur. 


his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Christine 
II.  (Huckleberry)  Stewart,  who  was  born 
in  Indiana,  hut  spent  her  early  life  in  Illi- 
nois. Mr.  Cantrall  and  his  family  all  hold 
membership  in  the  Waynesville  Presbyterian 
church,  and  are  people  of  prominence  in  the 
community  where  thev  reside.  His  political 
support  has  always  been  given  the  men  and 
measures  of  the   Republican  parte  since  he 

i  his  lirsi  presidential  vote  for  General 
I  .  S.  (  Irani,  in  [8l  8,  hut  he  has  never  cared 
office,  his  time  being  wholly  taken  up 
by  his  business  affairs,  lie  is  well  known 
in  the  community  where  his  entire  life  his 
been  passed,  and  all  his  interests  from  boy- 
hood have  been  closely  associated  with  that 

tlity.  He  has  seen  the  wild  land  trans- 
formed into  beautiful  homes  and  farms,  and 
in   the  worl  mpro\  ement   he  has  e\  er 

I  1  ii  ue  his  part. 


ISAAC  C.  THURBER. 

No  one  in  DeWitt  county  is  more  thor- 
oughly identified  with  the  interests  thereof 
than  is  Isaac  C.  Thurber,  who.  for  the  past 
sixteen  years,  has  lived  on  and  managed  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
tion  tvventv  two,  Texas  township.  To  quite 
a  large  extent  he  is  engaged  in  stock-rais- 
ing, making  a  specialty  of  short  horns, 
usually  having  about  a  hundred  head,  he- 
sides  an  average  of  thirty-five-  head  of 
horses  and  four  hundred  and  fifty  sheep. 
In  addition  to  his  other  responsibility  he  has 
charge  of  the  pasture  land  of  the  Moore  es- 
tate of  twelve  hundred  acres  located  on  Salt 
Creek,  the  property  running  a  mile  and  a 
half  east  and  west,  and  one  and  a  half  miles 
north  and  south  along  Salt  Creek, 
in      Texas      township.      Although      prac- 


ISAAC   C.  THURBER. 


MRS.   I.   C.  THURBER. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


181 


tically  independent  in  politics,  he  usua 
votes  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  has  held 
many  important  offices  within  the  gift  of  the 
township.  For  several  years  he  has  been 
constable  and  assessor,  and  has  I  icon  school 
director  nearly  all  of  his  residence  in  the 
county,  ami  still  holds  the  position.  Frater- 
nally he  is  connected  with  Clinton  Lodge, 
No.  84,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

Of  smrdv  Scotch-English  ancestry,  Mr. 
Thurber  was  born  in  Liverpool,  England, 
May  21,  [838,  and  came  to  the  Unite  : 
with  his  parents  when  les>  than  a  year  old. 
His  father.  Benjamin,  and  his  mother,  Per- 
Thurber,  were  horn  respectively 
in  .Scotland  and  England,  and  after  coming 
to  America  the  former  worked  at  his  trade 
<  f  carpenter  and  millwright,  having  been  a 
ship  carpenter  in  the  old  country.  After 
living  for  a  short  time  in  Canada,  the  fam- 
ily located  at  Fort  Wayne.  Indiana,  and  here 
the  father  successfully  followed  his  trade 
until  his  death  at  die  .  sixty    years. 

J  lis  wife,  who  was  the  mother  of  nine 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  died  when 
her  son  [saac  was  seven  ye  He 

remained,  at  home  until  about  fifteen  year- 
old,  at  which  time  he  started  out  to  face  an 
independent  future,  working  on  farms  in  In- 
diana. With  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war 
lie  enlisted  in  Compan)  (  .  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, and  was  a  corporal  under  Captain 
James  M.  Hunter,  serving  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  After  his  honorable  discharge 
September   11.    1865,  at   Memphis.  Tennes- 

he  returned  to  DeWitt  county.  Illinois, 
and  for  several  years  lived  on  rented  farms, 
eventually  settling  upon  the  farm  upon 
which  he  ha-  lived  for  so  many  \i 

In  January  of  1868  Mr.  Thurber  married 
Charlotte  Swisher,  daughter  of  James  and 
Ruth  1  Ma\ all  )  Swisher,  of  whom  the  latter 


i-  deceased,  and  the  former  resides  in 
township  with  his  son-in-law.  To  Mr.  and 
Mr-.  Thurber  have  been  horn  eight  chil- 
dren, -even  of  whom  are  living:  Mary 
Esther,  who  i->  the  wife  of  James  A.  Lane,  a 
farmer  living  near  Weldon,  DeWitt  county, 
and  has  two  children,  Chelsea  and  Harold; 
Florence,  who  died  when  nineteen  months 
old;  Olive,  who  i-  the  wife  of  Ralph  White- 
head., of  Decatur,  Illinois,  and  has  three  chil- 
dren, (.lady-.  Robert  and  Matilda  :  k 
who  married  1 .1  ie  Bennett,  daughter  of 
John  Bennett,  of  (reek  township,  and  is  liv- 

me  place :  Amy.   Ruth.    I 
and   Zettie,   w  living  at   home.     The 

and   daughters    were    educated    in    the 
publii  .   and  all   were  horn  in    Texas 

township.     Mr.  Thurber  stands  high  in  the 
community  of  which  he  is  an  honored  mem- 
ber,   and    numbers    his   tried    and    tr 
friends  bv  th< 


CHARLES  Ill'UD. 


Charles  Hurd,  a  prosperous  and  substan- 
tial agriculturist  of   Wilson  township,   is 
typical  self-made  man.  and  in  the  follow 

rd  of  hi-  career  there  is  much  to  an 
respect   ami  esteem,      lie  has  always  made 
the  most  of  his  advat  tnd  by  his  indus- 

perseverance  and  good  management  has 
worked  his  way  steadily  upward  and  now 
stands  among  the  successful   few. 

A  native  of  New  Hampshire.  Mr.  Hurd 
1). .rn  in  Sullivan  county.  December  27, 
1830,  and  i-  a  son  of  Elisha  and  Florinda 
(Stevens)  Hurd.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  the  same  county  and  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Merihah  (Atwood)  Hurd.  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  -"li  of  Nathan  Hurd.  The 
Hurd  family  came  originally  from  England 


182 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  was  founded  in  Connecticut  by  four 
brothers  soon  after  the  landing  of  the  Pil- 
grims who  came  to  this  country  in  the  May- 
flower. The  father  of  our  subject,  who  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  died  in  New  Hamp- 
shire in  [874,  Inn  the  mother  is  '-till  living 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninet)  one  years  and 
possesses  her  mental  and  physical  faculties 
to  a  remarkable  degree.  She  makes  her 
In  une  with  her  youngest  son,  Bela,  in  New 
Hampshire,  on  the  "Id  homestead.  Relig- 
iously she  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  t"  which  her  husband  belonged,  and 
in  p. >hiies  he  was  a  Democrat.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Jul. ma.  wife  of  (enter  1..  CuttS, 
1  if  Massachusetts;  George  \\ ..  a  resident 
Xew  Hampshire;  Bela,  who  lives  on  the 
old  homestead  in  that  state;  and  Charles,  of 
this   review.       Three  children   died    in   child- 

h 1.  while  Mrs.   Ellen  Gardner  died  after 

reaching  maturity,  as  did  Lois,  who  died  in 
young  womanhood. 

t  lur  subject  grew  t"  manhood  among  the 

hills  of  the  old  Granite  State  and  attended 
the  district  scho,  ,1s  near  his  home  and  later 
the  academies  at  Newport  and  Washington, 
Sullivan  county,  where  he  finished  his  edu- 
cation and  tilted  himself  for  teaching,  to 
which  profession  he  turned  his  attention  at 
the  age  of  twenty.  For  some  tune  he  taught 
in  the  district  schools  during  the  winter 
months,  while  the  summer  season  was  de- 
voted to  farming. 

On  the  17th  of  March.  1S57.  Mr.  llurd 
married  Miss  Sarah  F.  Alden,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Huldah  (Blodgett)  Alden. 
and  granddaughter  of  Levi  and  Boadicia 
(Warner)  Alden.  Her  paternal  great- 
grandfather was  Captain  Thomas  Warner, 
who  served  with  distinction  all  through  the 
Revolutionary  war  as  an  officer  under  Gen- 
eral Washington.  Mrs.  llurd's  father  was 
of  the  seventh   veneration   in  direct  descent 


from  John  Alden.  who  was  immortalized  by 
Longfellow's  poem — The  Courtship  of  Miles 

Standish.    None  of  that  generation  are  now 

living.  Thomas  Alden  died  in  [892,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-five  years,  and  his  wife  the 
same  year,  at  the  same  age.  II is  children 
were  Caroline,  deceased;  Sarah  F.,  wife  of 
1  >ur  subject :  <  re<  irge,  w  hi  1  died  j  1  mng ;  I  telen 
I...  deceased  wife  of  George  W.  Ilurd,  a 
brother  of  our  subject;  Anna  C  deceased 
wife  of  Milton  I'.  Bailey;  and  John,  a  resi- 
dent of  \ew  Hampshire.  Of  the  four  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  llurd  one  died 
in  infancy.  Those  living  are  as  follows: 
(  1  t  John  Alden.  a  residenl  "t  Wilson  town- 
ship, this  county,  married  Isadora  Mason 
and  has  two  children.  Carl  (I.  and  Malvola. 
1  Flora  S.  is  the  wife  of  Melvin  Johnson. 
•  a'  the  same  township,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Raymond.  (3)  Charles  E.  married 
Annabel  1 1  end  rick  sou  and  liv  is  on  the  home 
farm  1  if  1  mr  subject . 

Iii  [863  Mr.  llurd  came  west  and  first 
located  in  Menard  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
had  two  uncles  living,  and  he  taught  school 
there  until  1868.  In  the  meantime  he  ac- 
quired some  farm  land  in  that  county,  which 
he  s, ,1,1  in  [868,  and  then  removed  to  De 
Witt  county,  buying  a  one-hundred-acre 
tract  of  timberland  on  section  28,  Harp 
township.  Here  he  resumed  teaching  and 
continued  to  follow  that  pursuit  for  two 
years.  Selling  his  property  in  1S71.  he  re- 
moved to  Wilson  township  and  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  improved 
land  "ii  sections  28  and  _'«).  and  also  a  ten- 
acre  tract  of  timber  land,  which  he  suhse- 
quently  cleared  and  sold,  lie  also  taught 
school  in  Wilson  township  for  two  years. 
0  day  he  is  the  owner  of  a  line  farm,  well 
fenced  and  tiled  and  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  Along  the  highway  he  has  set 
out  some  lovely  maple  trees,  which  not  only 


THi  RAPHICAL   RECORD. 


add  to  the  beauty  of  his  place,  but  which  a 
cast  a  grateful  shade  over  l 
eler.     In  [891  he  built  a  ni>  and 

erected  a  good  barn  in  [8    .        that  he  now 

has  one  of  the  best  improved  and  most  at- 
tractive places  of  the  township. 

Religiously  lx>th  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hup 
members  of  the  Uni  church  and 

litically  he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party.      His   fellow  citizens,  reo  his 

\\<>rth  and  ability,  have  called  upon  him  to 
rill  several  local  positions  of  honor  and  tr 

township  supervisor  two  terms, 
and       -  r,   township    clerk    and 

school  director.  His  public  service  has  been 
most  exemplary,  and  his  private  life  has  been 
marked  by  the  utmost  fidelity  to  duty.  Hi 
thoroughly  identified  with  the  intei 
hi>  adopted  county,  and  is  well  known  as  an 
enterprising  and  reliable  business  man.  who 
is  held   in   the  big'  em   by   all   with 

wh<  >m  he  is  brought  in  contact. 


ORSOX  T.  SMITH. 


The  world  instinctively .  pays  deference 
to  the  man  whose  success  has  been  worthily 
achieved — one  who  has  overcome  the  ob- 
stacles in  his  path  and  through  his  own  un- 
aided efforts  has  attained  a  position  of  afflu- 
ence. Mr.  Smith,  by  the  improvement  of 
opportunities  by  which  all  are  surrounded, 
teadily  and  honorably  worked  his  way 
upward,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  wealthy 
citizen-  of  Farmer  City. 

A  native  of  Xew  York,  he  was  born  in 
Caoandaigua,  Ontario  county.  July  30,  1827, 
and  is  a  s,  ,n  .  if  Jao  to  and  Submit  (  Jan  • 
Smith.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  John 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  Schoharie  county. 
Xev.    York,  and  died  in  the  western  part  of 


that  state  at  about  I 

He  was  twice  married  and  had  children  by 
Inith   wives.       Those  of  the  first   union   w< 

b.     Nelson,     William.      Ma 
Maria.  Smith,  the  father  of  our  sub- 

■  bom  in  Schoharie  county,  and 
I  t..  (  Intario  county, 
where  he  purchased  the  property  owned  by 
the  Jameson  heirs,  and  successfully  1 
in  farming  throughout  life.     He  died  at  the 
ity-thrc.  hi-s  wJfe  ;,t  the 

nty-four.    The}  had  a  familj 
ten   children,   namely  :      Maria   Jane. 
I..  Hugh  J..  John.  Charles.  Frances  J..  Ann, 
Helen.  Mittie  ( '.  and  Albert. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject 
I   in   the  common   scl 
tive  state,  and  he  commenced  teaching 
at  the  ;i  ghteen  years.  ;it  fifty-: 

ir  months  and  a  half.     With  the 
money   thus  earned  he  paid  his  way  at   the 
my,  and   in  me 

-'..  where  he  could  receive  a  b<  rv. 

He   first   taught    in    Sangamon   county,    Illi- 
nois, and  devoted  his  attention  to  that  ;• 

sion  for  over  twenty  years,  hi 
being    in    Santa    Anna    township.    DeWitt 
county,  where  he  received  sixty  dollars  per 
month.     This  was  in   [866.     In   1857  ne 
removed  to   Blue  Ridge,   Piatt  county.   Illi- 
nois, where  he  made  his  homi  ie  time. 
During   the   time    he     v  in 
teaching  Mr.   Smith   invested  his  money   in 
Illinois    land,   being   fully   convinced   that    it 
was  the  best  in  the  world.     His  first  pure' 
consisted  of  a  tract  of  one  hundred  ami  sixty 
acres   in    I'iatt  county,  bought    of    William 
'it.   and   he   •                               ighl   an   ad- 
joining tract  of  the  same  size,  on  which  be 
has  erected                   <t  of  farm  huildi: 
which     he     still    owns.       H«    bought    the    I. 
White    farm,   comprising  one   hundred 
ten  acn            £     >ta  Anna  township,   DeWitt 


1 84 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


county,  which  he  later  sold  to  V.  S.  Lindsey, 
and  then  purchased  the  A.  Jones  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  on  which  he 
lias  built  a  new  house  and  barn.  He  pur- 
chased forty-four  acres  near  it  of  the  M. 
Johnson  heirs,  and  the  old  Clearwaters  farm 
of  forty  and  a  half  acres  near  Farmer  City, 
mi  which  lie  erected  a  good  residence  and 
barn.  Besides  t hi-  property  lie  owns  six 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  in  Stafford 
county,  Kansas,  near  St.  John,  and  at  differ- 
ent times  has  owned  other  places,  including 
the  line  residence  now  occupied  by  William 
Drybread.  His  ability  as  a  financier  is  wide- 
ly recognized  and  he  has  done  quite  a  suc- 
cessful! in  loaning  monej  forhimself 
and  eastern  firms.  Since  [880  he  has  prac- 
tically lived  a  retired  life  in  Farmer  City. 
though  he  still  looks  after  hi-  investment-. 
I  le  purchased  the  Richard  Webb  property  on 
•;  Water  street,  moved  the  old  residence 
hack,  and  in  i < >o  1  built  an  elegant  fourteen- 
with  basement,  it  being  the  la 

and  finest  in  the  city.  It  i-  supplied  with 
hot  and  cold  water,  heated  by  steam  and 
lighted  by  electricity,  in  fact  it  hi  the 

conveniences  of  a  city  home.  Besides  this 
beautiful  place  Mr.  Smith  owns  several 
houses,  which  lie  rents,  and  some  vacant  lots 
in  Farmer  City. 

In  religious  faith  he  is  a  Universalist, 
and  engaged  in  preaching  for  that  denom- 
ination in  l'i.att  county  from  [868  t"  1875. 
lie  is  an  Ancient  (  >dd  Fellow  and  a  support- 

E  the  Republican  party.  1  le  ha-  filled  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  but  has  newer 
been  an  aspirant  for  political  honors.  A  line 
writer  and  eloquent  speaker,  he  has  heen 
often  called  upon  to  exercise  these  talents. 
lie  has  written  considerable  for  the  press 
and  has  heen  a  regular  correspondent  to  dif- 
ferent journals.  The  extracts  from  hi-  pen 
include  poetry  as  well  as  prose.     As  a  busi- 


ness  man  he  has  been  remarkably  successful, 
and  his  success  ha-  come  to  him  through  en- 
ergy, labor  and  perseverance,  directed  by  an 
evenly  balanced  mind  ami  b)  honorable  busi- 
ness principle-. 


AURELIUS  E.  NEWMAN. 

An  interesting  and  eventful  life  was  that 
01  Aurelius  E.  Newman,  successful  farmer, 
extensive  traveler,  large  laud  owner,  and 
honored  citizen,  who  came  to  an  untimely 
death  May  <>.  1893,  in  DeWitt  county, 
through  the  accident  of  runaway  horses.  In 
1  health  and  spirits  he  left 
his  home  in  the  early  morning,  hi-  destina- 
tion being  the  home  of  his  son-in-law,  Elza 
it  a  mile  distant,  where  he  in- 
get  a  -talk  rake.  The  wagon 
struck  a  stump,  throwing  him  forward  on 
,  and  causing  the  hi >rses  ti  1 
run.     It  i-  thought  that  he  w.a-  dragged  at 

;  forty  rod-  by  the  frightened  horses, 
wh(  1  1  only  when  1  me  1  if  them   fell   ti  1 

the  ground,  .and  it  was  then  red  that 

Mr.  Xew  man's  neck  had  heen  broken,  and 
that  a  wound  seven  inches  long  had  heen 
made  in  the  side  of  hi-  head.  Hi-  Ion-  and 
useful  and  well-directed  life  was  then  re- 
called amid  scenes  of  greatest  sorrow,  and 
the  sympathies  of  the  whole  county  were 
enlisted  for  the  family  to  whom  his  taking 
off  meant  loneliness  and  hitter  grief. 

'  ii  supposed  remote  Iri-h  ancestry,  .Mr. 
Newman  was  horn  in  Guilford  county, 
North  Carolina,  October  1,  1827,  and  his 
life  spanned  sixty-five  years,  seven  months 
and  five  day-.  His  parents,  Joseph  and 
Frances  (Woodard)  Newman,  were  born, 
reared  and  married  in  North  Carolina,  .and 
in  their  native-  -tate  their  last  years 
were    spent.     The     father   was    a     farmer 


A.   E.   NEWMAN. 


Ki«*ajffi^^rt&iSK 


MRS.  A.   E.    NEWMAN. 


Till-.   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


and  wagorunaker,  and  it  is  said  of  him  that 
he  \\a-  an  expert  in  hi-  line,  and  abli 
make  a  complete  wagon  from  rough  hewn 
timber.      In   the   parental    family    were   ten 
sons  and  daughters,  Aurelius  being  fifth  in 

f  birth.     I  le  wa-  reared  in  his 
state  and  acquired  the  education  of  the  pub- 
Iic    •  remaining  on   the  home   farm 

until  1847,  when  he  faced  the  responsibili- 
ties of  self-support  with  courage  and  del 
mination.  Making  his  way  to  Illinois  he 
worked  on  the  farms  ,,f  Butler  county  for 
sixty-two  and  a  half  cents  a  day.  and  owing 
t.>  the  meagerness  of  his  recompense  suf- 
fered at  times  actual  deprivation.  In  [£ 
he  went  down  the  Mississippi  river  with  a 

•  Load  of  ice  t"  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana, 
returning  afterward  t<  •  I.a  Salle  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  worked  by  the  month 
until  the  spring  of  lie  then  started 
out  to  cr.  iss  the  plains  to  California  with  an 

:eam.  his  way  being  thr 

the  American  river,  where  he  staked 
out  a  claim  and  engaged  in  mining  for  a 
few  days      L    er  he  brought  up  in  Eldor; 
county,    California,    then    I       -       .memo. 
finally  arriving  at  a  place  cal 
the    Yuba    river,    where    he   prosecuted  his 

until    1852.     The  same  3 1 
he  returned  east  via  Panama,  and  then  b 

from    Greytown   to    New    Orleans, 
from    where    he    continued    his    journej 

rlc-st. .11.  and  thence  to  Rocky  Mound. 
Virginia.     I  r  into  Kortl 

lina,  lie  remained  for  a  short  time,  and  be- 

•  many  weeks  was  back  in  La  nit- 
ty. 'Mini 

In  1853  Mr.  Newman  came  to  Ik-Witt 
inty,  where  he  worked  by  the  month 

and   then   bought    one  hundred   and 
of  land  on   section  thirty-one, 
Tunbridge  township,  which  he  proceeded 
improve,  and  where  he  lived  for  man, 


In    1865    he    1m  night    f' 

township,  upon  which  he  moved  his  family, 
and  later  added  1  this  prop- 

erty. This  farm  was  disposed  "'  a  couple 
of  years  before  his  death,  and  he  then  bought 
the  land  now  occupied  by  his  wife  and  chil- 
li. A  man  of  u""d  judgment  and  finan- 
cial ability,  he  was  the  soul  of  industry, 

by  the   fact   that  vv  11 

unaided    efforts    he    accumulated    property 
valued    at    $  His    fust    laud    in    I.a 

st   him  one  dollar  p. 
and  the  deed  for  the  same  he  received  the 
he  became  1 

In    1856   Mr.    Newman  married   Sanian- 
tha  Troxell,  a  native  of  DeWitt  county.  Illi- 
nd  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  J 
['roxell,  who  came  to  DeWitt  county 
in  the  early  days,  being  among  the  pi 
He  died   in    Kansas,   while  his   \  in 

DeWitt  county.     Of  this  union  there 
born  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  1 
living:    Albert  died  at  the  .r 

died  when  tv 
now    Mrs.   1         1      tig,  living 

I  and  sixty  acres  'in    I  .  11- 

ship,  and  has  one  child. 

lues  on  the  home  place  with  his  mother,  and 
held  the  school  tn  inn 

if    Jl  'III! 

ship,  and  has  a  daughter  .  and  Fran- 

is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  S  farmer 

iwnship.     Mr.  New  man  \ 
a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  dur- 

his  entire  life  lived  up  to  t! 
tile  ii'  iblest   and  bi 


:l\"  11.  TYLER,  M.  D. 

There  is  no  profession  mot 

talent      than      the   medical.        Advancement 
among  its  representatives  must  he 


190 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  price  of  earnest,  persistent  and  conscien- 
tious effort;  it  must  depend,  too,  upon 
strong  intellectual  force,  readiness  in  grasp- 
ing a  situation  and  correctness  in  applying 
theroetical  knowledge  to  the  needs  of  suffer- 
ing humanity.  Keen  discrimination  is, 
therefore,  one  of  the  concomitants  of  suc- 
and  a  nicety  of  judgment  In  tic  under- 
stood by  the  laity  is  necessary  to  one  who  is 
nut  content  with  mediocrity,  but  would  gain 
a  position  among  the  successful   lew.      Dr. 

.11   the  qualificatii 
which  go  l"  make  the  skilled  physician,  and 
to-day  he  is  the  oldest  medical  practitioner 
and  i  m|"  I  >c\\  in  ci  unity,     lie  is  hon- 

d   by  the  profession  and   the  pub 
hi-  life  merited  the  confidence  ami 

respect  of  his  fellow  men. 

A  native  of  (Hum.  the  Doctor  was  born 
in   Mansfield,  August  _'.).   1827,  his  parents 
thy  and   I  I  y- 

ler.     I  lis  paternal  gi  icr,  Nathan  Ty- 

|<  1 .  Irish  extraction.     His  s<  m,  Tim- 

was  a  native  of  Maine  and 
served  his  country  in  the  war  of  1812.  After 
arri  ;'  maturil  married 

Elizabeth  Taylor,  a  daughter  of  Captain 
San  aring    man.    v\', 

birtl  red  in  Massachusetts.     Mrs.  Ty- 

ler Ijorn  at  Cap  husetts, 

and  By 

her  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  a 
large  family,  but  the  Doctor  is  now  the  only 
sun  I  he  father  died  at  a  comparative- 

ly (  ,  and  the  mother  passed  away  in 

Mansfield,  (  Hum.  in  1854,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
en. 

The  Doctor  pursued  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  near  his  boyhood's  home  and 
in  Mansfield  Academy,  lie  afterward  en- 
engaged  in  teaching  school  for  a  short  time, 
but  determining  to  make  the  practic< 
medicine  his  life  work,  he  began   studying 


under  the  direction  of  Dr.  J.  \V.  Griffith,  in 
Perryville,  Ohio.  lie  pursued  his  first 
course  of  lectures  in  the  Starling  .Medical 
College,  at  Columbus,  and  afterward  began 
practice  in  Perryville,  hut  in  1855  he  de- 
termined to  try  his  fortune  in  a  more  western 
district  and  accordiilgl)  made  his  way  to  I  >e 
Witt  county,  Illinois,  settling  in  the  cit)  of 
1  >c\\'itt.  I  [ere  he  began  practice  in  connec- 
tion w  ith  1  )r.  B.  S.  Lewis.  In  the  fall  of 
1856  he  entered  the  Rush  Medical  College 
of  Chicago,  where  hi  raduated  in  Feb- 

ruary of  the  following  year.  This  partner- 
ship was  maintained  until  1862,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  alone  in  practice.    From  the 

inning  he  has  enjoyed  a  large  patron 
and.  has  easily  maintained   a  1   place 

in  the  ranks  of  the  medical  fraternity,  for 
unlike  many  men,  when  years  are  encroach- 
ing upon  them,  he  h  contented  him- 
self with  the  knowledge  previously  acquired, 
bul  n  continuously  a  student,  read- 
ing and  study  carrying  his  investiga- 
ti'  m  forward  alot 

ing  in  touch  with  the  learning  and  work  of 
his  contemporaries    in    the  profession.      In 
[888  he  sold  his  beautiful  home  in  DeWitl 
to  William  Nixon  and  removed  to  ' 
locating  on  North  (  eet.     In  [891 

ted  a  vers   large  and  handsome  residence 
and  n  South  Center  street,  one  of  the 

finest  homes  in  the  city.  Here  he  has  an 
office  supplied  with  every  modern  conven- 
ience and  appliance  of  assistance  in  carry- 
ins;  on  his  pr<  ifessional  work.  I  le  is  a  mem- 
the  National  Medical  Association,  the 
American  Medical  Association  and  the  De- 
Witt  County  Medical  Association.  The  last 
named  he  aided  to  establish  and  is  now  the 
only  living  charter  member.  For  many  years 
he  served  as  its  president  and  has  been  very 
active  in  making  its  work  effective  and  ben- 
eficial. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


191 


i  >n  the  Jjih  of  March,  [861,  th< 
was  united  in  marriage    to    Miss     Harriet 
Cain,  a  daughter  of  Charles  C  Cain,  am 
nati  "  try  popular  in   • 

ciety  circles  and  as  a  member    of    van 
charitable  ami  church  organizal 
In  il<ls  membership  with  the  Methodist  1  •'.; 

il  denomination  and  i-  very  active  in  the 
work  of  the  church,  the  Sunday-school  and 
society.  For  seven  years  she 
has  been  president  of  the  Woman's  Chris- 
tian Temperance  Union  and  is  an  1 
ad\  woman's  suffrage.     Her  la' 

have  been  very  helpful  in  promoting  inter- 
having  f'>r  their  object  the  benefit  and 
uplifting  of  mankind,  and  her  influence 

lely  felt.     Unto  the  Doctor  and  his  wife 
were  bom  three  children  :    Aldora,  of  wh 
mention  is  made  later:  Charles,  who  died  in 
if    six   yeai^ :   and    Alice 
.  at  In  une. 

The  opinions   and   labors  of   Dr.   Tyler 
have  been  a  potent  influence  in  political  cir- 

-.  and  for  many  years  lie  has  been  known 
truest  Republican.     He  was  1, 

I  by  the  party  with  the  nomination  as  a 
can  eneral  assembly  in  1874, 

and  ■   represent   the   twenty- 

ninth   si  of   De- 

Witt    and    Mai  inties,   in   the   upper 

during  the  twenty-ninth 
ami  thirty-:  and  left  the  imp 

his  individuality  upon  tin  i"ii  en- 

acted at  that  time.     He  laid  .red  earnestl; 

ure  the  adoption  of  those  me.  lich 

he  believed  would  contribute  to  the  general 
1  and  carefully  considered  each  question. 
When  he  determined  upon  his  course  lie  was 
unwavering  in  his  allegiance  thereto,  and 
neither  fear  nor  favor  could  bias  him  in  his 
judgment.  He  was  a  conscientious 
lator  and  hi  mmended  him  to  the 

confidence  of  even  those  opposed  to  him 


litically.  1  member  of  Amon 

A.  M..  and  was  its 
hi ninred  master  for  twenty  years,     i 

hapter,  R. 

A.   M.,  and  Clinton  Council,  X".  74.  K.  & 
1.     Hi-  emely  busy  and 

Whatever  tends  to  prom 
the  interests  of  his  ;  1  and  place  be- 

fore  man    the   key   to   the   1  1    that 

Mem.  which  we  call  life,  attn 
his  interest  and  tion.      He  i-  a  man 

character  and  i 
ly  may  '  the  fi  Ten 

linton. 

— *  ■  » 

FRANCIS  MAY. 

Francis     M  the    influential 

citizei  \y  >rn 

July    hi.    [835,  in   P  nty,  <  >hio.      1  le 

i-  the  s.  .11  of  David  .May.  who  was  born  in 
the  unty  alu  lUt    1 799.      I  li-  motl 

Sarah  iHicklei   May.  a  native  of  the  same 
1  in   1814  and  <i  1  m- 

ber  29,  i^74-     David  May  w  ohn 

May.  a  nati  ania,  whose  an- 

1  lermany. 
John  May,  the  grandfather  of  Francis  May, 

>hio  ami  farmer  b 

pation.      He  in 

ultural  pursuits  and  he- 
came  well  t"  do.  lie  and  his  wife  reared  a 
family  of  two  girls  and  I  whom 

id  May.  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  one.  John  May  was  an  old-line 
Whig,  and  took  an  part   in 

1  le  was  citizen  and 

ligious  man.      He  died  in    ! 
the  age  of  eighty-three  years. 

David  May,  father  of  our  sul  ined 

hi-  education  in  his  native  state,  '  >hio,  in 
1  if   the   1 'Id  I    that    day. 


192 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


After  attaining  manhood  he  became  a  farm- 
er and  owned  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  choice  farm  land  in  Ross  county.  In 
1855  lie  sold  his  property  and  with  his  fam- 
ily, l>v  team  and  wagon,  made  the  overland 
trip  t<>  DeWitt  county  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred acres  "f  land  in  Clintonia  township.  I  le 
impn  >\  ed  the  land  and  lived  there  fi  lur  years, 
and  then  moved  to  \\  ilson  township  upon  a 
rented  farm,  where  he  lived  until  [863,  when 
he  then  took  up  his  residence  in  Harp  town 
ship,  on  the  farm  he  had  purchased.  There 
lie  made  his  home  till  his  death.  February 
14.  [890,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
Though  nol  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
the  county,  he  did  good  pioneer  service  and 
desen  es  a  place  in  the  history  of  its  pi<  meers. 
In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Lutheran  and  in 
politics  a  Whig  and  Republican.  To  him 
and  his  wife  were  born  eight  children,  of 
whom  Francis  is  the  oldest.  His  brother5! 
and  sisters  are  Miranda,  wife  oi  tsaian 
I  tavenport,  who  resides  in  Texas.  Mr.  I  >a\ 
enport  >  ildier  in  Company  A,  Thirty- 

third  Volunteer   Infantry,    of    Illinois,    and 
was    in    the    >er\ice    four    years.      Margaret 
married  James  Morrison;  he  is  dead  and 
res,  1  lintonia  township,  DeWitt  coun- 

ty. Jacob,  who  enlisted  in  Company  B,  1  >ne 
Hundred  Seventh  Volunteer  Infantry,  of 
Illinois,  lives  in  Clinton.  Susan,  who  mar 
ried  Enoch  Betzer,  1-  a  widow  and  lives  in 
Nebraska.  Henry  resides  in  Nebraska.  1 
rus  lives  on  his  father's  old  farm  in  Harp 
township;  Elsina  married  Samuel  Newell 
and  lives  in  Clintonia  township. 

Francis  May  received  his  education  in 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  came  to  DeWitt 
county  w  ith  his  parents.  !  le  li\  ed  with  them 
till  he  was  twentx  seven  years  of  age,  when. 
on  August  6,  1862,  he  enlisted  at  Clinton, 
Illinois,  in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  Sev- 
enth Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Cap- 


tain Kelly,  and  saw  very  active  service.  He 
started  with  Sherman  on  his  inarch  to  the 
sea,  going  thirty  miles  south  of  Atlanta, 
when  his  corps  returned  to  Tennessee,  where 
they  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Franklin  and 
Nashville.  They  then  went  east  to  Wash- 
ington, thence  down  into  North  Carolina  to 
join  Sherman  again.  <  hi  the  way  they  took 
the  two  forts  of  Anderson  and  Wilmington, 
and  were  present  at  the  surrender  of  <  icneral 
Johnston.  The  regiment  was  discharged  al 
Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  and  was  mus- 
tered oul  at  Springfield,-  Illinois.  Francis 
May,  the  honored  soldier,  returned  home 
July  4,  [865.  lie  began  farming  for  him- 
self, and  February  _•_'.  [867,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Eliza  Baldwin,  a  daughter  of  Dan- 
iel and  Hannah  (Williams)  Baldwin.  Her 
father  was  horn  m  Kentucky  and  her  mother 
was  a  native  of  <  >hio.  Mr.  Baldwin  died  in 
(  )hio   m    1 865,  at  tl  e;  entj  three 

mil  his  wife  in  [847,  aged  fort)  five 
I  hej  were  the  pai  ents  1  >i  eight  chil- 
dren, seven  boys  and  one  daughter,  now  the 
wife  of  the  subject  of  this  biography.  01 
the  se\  en  b  >\  s,  six  w  ere  51  ildiers,  who 
in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  the  seventh 
was  prevented  from  enlisting  by  ill  health. 
Warren,  who  enlisted  at  the  first  call,  was 
the  only  one  wounded  in  the  service  oi 
country,  and  he  but  slightly.  Of  the  seven 
loch,  Clark  and  Warren  are  now  dead. 
Uriah  lives  in  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  Jesse 
in  Missouri,  Philander  in  Mississippi,  and 
I  leiiry  in  (  )hio. 

Francis  .May  and  his  wife  have  a  familv 
of  five  children:  Lola,  wife  of  William 
Kinnamon,  resides  in  Wilson  township:  Ed- 
ward married  Blanche  Shaw  and  they  re- 
side m  Harp  township;  Lottie,  Delia  and 
I  Larry  are  all  at  home. 

Mr.  May  owns  and  cultivates  one  hun- 
dred   and    sixty    acres    of    highly    improved. 


THi:   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


land  with  well-kept  buildii  lie  en- 

eral   farming,  ra  -  and 

cattle  for  the  market,  and  makes  a  specialty 
of  Shorthorn  cattle,  lie  votes  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  i*  a  member  ft"  Frank 
I  .  V  R.,  at  Clinton.  I  le  ami 
ife  are  faithful  members  of  the  Pi 
ant  Methodist  church. 


MRS.  MARY  A.  Y<  IUXG. 

Mrs.    Mary   A.  .;    highl; 

med  lady  of  Farmer  City,  where  she  has 
a   very    pleasant    hemic   that    stands    in   the 
midst  of  a  spacious  lawn  adorned  with  t 
ami  flowers.     She  has  in  DeWitt  county  an 

tensive  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintani 
many  of  whom  have  known  her  through  a 
long  period.  She  is  the  widow  of  William 
Young,  a  self-made  man,  who  was  1  ■  •  1 1 ^  ass 
dated  with  the  mercantile  interests  of  he- 
Witt  county.  He  was  born  in  Edinburg, 
:  tland,  April  29,  1  *_>_•.  a  son  of  William 
ung,  and  as  far  hack  as  can  he  traced  his 
ancestors  v  -  of  the  land  of 

hills  and  heather.     In   1829  his  parents  re- 
moved  to   Liverpool,   England,   where  they 

it  their  remaining  days,  and  in  that  city 
William  Young  was  apprenticed  to  a  leading 
merchant.      He  also   acquired   a   ga  »d   edu- 
cation, which  served  a*  the  ba*is  of  his  suc- 
upled  with  his  training  in  the  store. 

Hearing  favorable  rejiort*  of  the  oppor- 
tunities which  America  extended  to  her  citi- 
zen*, and  wishing  to  make  the  most  of  life. 
Mr.  Young  came  to  the  United  States  in 
50,  landing  at  New  Orleans,  whence  he 
made  his  way  up  the  Mississippi  river  to 

He  then  traveled  over  the  coun- 
try to  some  extent.  >-eekiiikr  '■<■  favorable  lo- 
cation,   and    finally    took   up  his  abode  at 


Mount  Pleasant,  now   Farmer  City,  Hiiro 
Here  he  entered  nix  mi  his  business  careei 

lerk  in  the  empl  >r.  Jacob  1 

water  and   later   he   was   with    Mr.    1 
About  i860  he  1  \  busi- 

ness   on    In*  own  account,  buying  the  old 
Brewster  residence,  which  he  converted  into 
a  store.     It  stood  on  the  present  site  of  the 
in.     This  buildii 

yed  by   lire  in   the  conflagration   which 

ept  over  much  of  the  city  in  1871, but  phce- 
nix-like  the  storeof  Mr.  Youi  1  'in  the 

ashes.  I  leerected  a  double  brick  building, but 
in  June.  1879,  tin*  was  also  burned  and  he 

m  built  a  business  block  adjoining  the 
-He  now  occupied  by  hi*  son  Thomas.  There 
he  continued  in  tin  :itil 

1891,  when  he  retired  from  the  Hade,  lb- 
had  enjoyed  a  liberal  patronage  through 
many  years,  resulting  from  his  earnest  desire 
to  please,  hi*  reasonable  prices  and  his 
straightforward  business  method*.  Thus 
hi*  income  was  annually  augmented  until 
he  was  in  ;  :i  of  a  handsome  com- 

petence. At  an  early  day.  in  connection  with 
a  Mr.  A.  S.  Bissell,  he  patented  the  Reading 
cultivator,  which  was  one  of  the  »uc- 

-  nil  machines  here.  Soon  after  the  or- 
ganization of  the  I"ir*t  National  Bank,  Mr. 
Yi  >ung  sen  ed  1  >ne  year  a*  I*  >.  kkeeper. 

In  1853  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Young  and  Mi**  Mary  A.  Bowser,  who  was 
born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  while  their 
wedding  was  celebrated  in  Warren  county. 
Illinois.  The  lady  is  a  daughter  of 
ami  Elizabeth  (Maning)  Bowser.  Her  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  was 

n  of  Guy  Bowser,  who  was  born  in  <  ier- 
manv.  The  former,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  year*,  removed  from  the  Keystone  state 
to  Ohio  ami  in  1N5J  located  in  Warren 
county,  Illinois.  Rater  he  resided  in  Iowa 
and  then  in  Missouri.     Throughout  hi*  act- 


194 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ive  business  career  he  followed  farming.  It 
was  his  plan  to  buy  and  improve  a  farm  and 
then  sell  it  and  in  this  way  he  prospered, 
making  judicious  investments  in  his  land. 
which  brought  to  him  a  good  return,  fie 
died  in  Boone  county,  Missouri,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-one,  and  his  wife  passed  away  four 
years  later,  at  the  same  age.  Their  children 
were  John,  Hannah.  Henry.  Mary  A..  The- 
ophilus  and  Thomas,  all  of  whom  reached 
adult  age. 

The  marriage  of  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  YQling 
was  blessed  with  six  children:  Walter  Scott, 
<me  of  the  leading  real-estate  and  insurance 
men  of  the  county,  living  in  Farmer  City, 
married  Sarah  M.  Hurley,  a  daughter  of 
John  Hurley,  and  they  have  five  children. 
Mabel  7...  Zelpha  1'...  Jane  Mane.  Atha  A. 
and  Wallace  S. ;  Robert  Bruce,  who  is  cash- 
ier of  the  State  Bank  '>f  Clinton,  wedded 
Clara  Harwood,  and  their  children  are 
Emery,  Bruce,  Aleda  and  Harwood;  Celia 
Belle  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years;  Will- 
iam Wallace  died  at  th<  twenty-two 
months;  Zelma,  one  of  the  popular  young 
ladies  of  Farmer  City,  is  at  home  with  her 
mother:  and  Thomas,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
grocer)  bu  ty,  wedded 
Maude  Gilbert  and  has  one  child.  Melva. 

In    1872   Mr.   Young  erected  a  line  n 
dence  on  what  was  then  the  Crawford  farm. 
but  i^  now  within  the  city  limits.     It  is  a  spa- 
cious home,  beautifully  situated,  ami  the  in- 
terior  furnishings  and  exterior  adornments 
indicate  the  cultured  and  refined  taste  of  the 
family.     In  his  political   views  Mr.   Young 
was  a  stanch  Democrat,  but  never  aspin 
office,  although  lie  once  acted  as  city  tr< 
nrer.     lie  was  reared  in  the  old  school  I' 
byterian  church  and  always  adhered  to  that 
faith.     His  life  was  pright  and  hon- 

orable and   when  lie  was  called  to  his  final 
rest  June  23,   [893,  the  community  mourned 


the  loss  of  one  of  its  most  valuable  citizens, 
a  man  whose  record  was  in  every  way 
worthy  of  emulation  and  who  enjoyed  the 
unqualified  confidence  and  regard  of  his 
many  friends.  Mis.  Young  and  her  daugh- 
ter, Zelma.  spent  the  winter  and  spring  of 
1901  in  various  districts  of  California  and 
anions;  the  mountains  of  the  Pacific  slope, 
and  on  their  return  broughl  to  their  many 
friends  valuable  souvenirs  of  their  trip, 
which  are  high!)  prized  l>\  the  recipients. 
Mrs.  Young  and  her  daughter  are  \er\  pop 
ular  in  the  best  social  circles  of  Fan 
City  and  their  home  is  noted  for  its  gracious 
and  genen  >us  hi  ispitality. 


JEREMIAH  DAVENPORT. 

Jeremiah  Davenport,  a  prominent  retired 
farmer  of  VVeldon,  late  of  Creek  township, 
was  horn  in  Clintonia  township,  this  county. 
February  to,  1839,  a  son  of  Isaiah  and 
Nancy  ( ( ihipley  )  I  >avenport,  both  natives  of 
Kentucky.  His  paternal  grandfather  was 
horn    of    Irish    p  in    North    Carolina. 

Later  he  removed  to  Kentucky  and  in  [824 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Morgan  coun- 
ty, later  moved  to  DeWitt  count),  long  be- 
fore DeWitl  county  was  organized.  Here 
he  lived  as  a  farmer  till  his  death  in  [837. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Stewart,  and 
to  them  were  horn  eight  children,  of  whom 
two  were  sons.  Hugh  and  Isaiah.  The  lat- 
ter, who  was  our  subject's  father,  was  horn 
in  Casey  county.  Kentucky,  in  [814,  and  in 
[824  came  west  with  his  parents  and  settled 
in  Morgan  county,  hut  soon  after  came  to 
DeWitt  county,  before    it    was    organized, 

where    he    tilled    the    soil    for    a    livelih 1. 

Later  he  moved  to  Texas  township  and  then 
to  Creek  township,  near  Lane  station,  where 
he  died  in   [885.     He  was  a  soldier  in  both 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  Black  I  lawk  and   Mexican  war-.     For 
his  first  wife  he  chose  Miss  \*ancy  Cliipli 
and  they  were  blessed  with  twelve  children, 
namely:    Elizabeth,  who  became  Mrs.   fohn 
Linbert;  Sarah  A.,  who  married  John  Ben- 
nett; Lucy  S.,  now  widow  of  Jerry  Shu- 
maker;  Jeremiah,  our    subject;    Alsorena, 
now   Mrs.   A.  T.  Corner;   Hugh  ami   Will- 
iam; the  other  five  dying  in  infancy.     His 
•lxl  choice  wa--  Miss  Jane,  daughter  of 
brie!    Bennett,  of  Creek   township.      Hi- 
nd marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  six 
children,  a-  foil  fbrie'  I'..:  Green  1.. : 

Laura  B.,  who  became  the  wife  of  Ami; 
Bell;  John;  Goldman,  and  Nancy  A.,  who  is 
now  Mrs.  1  louglas  Sutton. 

Jeremiah  Davenport  was  reared  in  < 

-  and  Creek  townships,  tin-  coun- 
ty, and  .>n  attaining  his  majority  he  began 
life  a-  a   farmer  in  (.'reek  township,  but   in 
I   to  Missouri.      When  the  Civil 
war  broke  out  he  was  a  member  of  the  Mis- 
militia  and  entered  the  govern- 
ment service  in  August,  1862,  as  a  nun 
of  Company  A.  Thirty-fifth  Missouri  Volun- 
teer Infantry.     He  took  part  in  s<  kir- 
mishes;  battle  of   Helena.  Arkansas.  July  4. 
3,   and                  1   in   the  battle  at    Shell 
Mound,   Mississippi,  the  same  year,  and 
July    16,    1  Si .5.  was  honorably  discharged 
m  the  United  Si                          For  eij 

sided  in  Missouri,  hut  at  the  end 

•hat  time,  in    1869,  he  returned  to  (reek 

nship,  where  he  purchased  eighty  a< 

'  ind,    to   which   he    -  ntly    added 

tw<  •  -.  making  a  very  desirable  farm 

•ne  hundred  aero,  which  he  placed  under 

a   I  of   cultivation.      Here   he 

mained  for  several  f  a 

ing  disposition,  working  early  and   1 
he  was  enabled  in  the  year  1 
the  care-  of  the  farm  and  move  to  Weldon, 
where  he  ha-  since  lived  a  retired  life. 


(  >n  January  28,   1S5S.  he  led  to  tin 

tar  Mi--  Sarah  I.,  daugl  ihn 

and   Rel 

township.    To  this  \  ouple  were  born 

five  chil  •    whom    four  jrrcw   I 

turity,   namely:      Laura,   who   became    M 

her  Dillavan;  Marion  C. ;  Farn   B.,  who 
became  the   wife  of   Gilbert    l  m;   ami 

John.      All 

who  married   M  me.  and 

the  old  homestead. 

Mr.  Davenpeirt  and  wife  are  membei 
the  Shiloh  United  Brethren  church,  and  the 
Abner  McNier  Post,  X  I.  A.  R 

Weldon.      Politically   he  affiliates   with   the 
1  )em<  cratic  party. 


ALDORA  J.   TYLER,   M.   1  >. 

Dr.  Aldora  J.  Tyler  is  the  only  lady  phy- 
ian  practicing  in  DeWitt  county.     Her 
reer  pn  that  the  sterner    - 

have  no  monopoly  upon 

ntative  of  t;  ier 

place  in  its  ranks  in  this  porfion 
than    Dr.    Tyler,  whose  broad  and  com] 
hensive  km  ami   accurate   skill    h 

en    her    pre  many  who  1 

much  longer  been   followers 
art.       She    ha-   always   resided   in    DeWitt 

nty  ami  I  >r.  J.  11.    Tyler. 

She  attended   the  hi{ 

city — DeWitt — ami  was  afterwai  cut 

in    the    Weslevan    l"ni\  1 

111  life  work  she  matriculated  in 
Woman'-    Medical    ' 
where  she  \ 

dent  of  het  ml  then  spent   I 

month-  in  the  h  of  that  institution  in 

■  aining  was  broad  and  tl 
gh,  the  theoretical  knowledge  of  th 


196 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


room  being  supplemented  by  the  practical 
work  in  the  hospital.  Her  equipment  was 
thus  unusually  good,  and  returning  to  Clin- 
ton she  found  that  her  talent  and  skill  in 
the  profession  --nun  won  recognition  in  a 
liberal  patronage,  and  it  was  nol  long  before 
she  held  a  place  in  the  medical  profession  in 
the  o  unit)  sea  <ni\  to  nunc. 

In  1  Nil)  Mr.  Aldora  Tyler  pursued  a 
post  graduate  course  in  Mew  York  City. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  DeWitt  Count) 
Medical  Societ)  and  served  for  one  year  as 
its  president,  where  her  knowledge  of  parlia- 
mentary law  was  demonstrated  in  the  able 
way  in  which  she  handled  the  discussions 
and  conducted  the  meetings  of  the  organi 
zation.  The  splendid  equipment  in  the  of- 
fice of  Dr.  Tyler  and  her  father  are  of  ma- 
terial assistance  to  her  in  her  work.  She 
has  a  large  consult!  tice  and   is  the 

family  physician  in  many  a  household.  Deep 
and  earnest  is  her  interest  in  her  profession, 
arising  from  a  love  of  scientific  research  and 
troin  a  sympathetic  nature,  without  which 
the  physician  is  never  truly  a  success.  I  [er 
skill  in  general  medicine  is  marked  and  she 
devotes  special  attention  to  the  diseases  of 
women  and  children. 

In  social  circles  Dr.  Tyler  is  also  widely 
and  favorably  known.  She  has  many  warm 
friends  throughout  the  county,  gained  out- 
side of  professional  life  and  her  broad  mind 
and  interesting ' conversation  render  her  a 
favorite  in  tln.se  gatherings  where  intellect 
and  true  worth  are  received  as  passports. 


MRS.   MARTHA   WILSON. 

The  present  prosperity  of  the  great  com- 
monwealth of  Illinois  is  largely  due  to  the 
endurance,  courage  and  bravery  of  the  pio- 
neers  who   faced  privations  and  overcame 


the  terrors  of  the  wilderness  when  the  now 
flourishing  towns  were  wild  timber  land 
and  grass-grown  prairies.  Among  those 
who  are  honorably  enrolled  on  the  enduring 
list  of  the  pioneers  of  Illinois  is  Mrs.  Martha 
(Vandeventer)  Wilson,  who  was  horn  in 
Claybourn  county.  Tennessee,  October  31, 
[819.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Ra- 
chel (Hughes)  Vandeventer.  Jacob  Vande- 
venter was  born  in  Sullivan  county,  Ten- 
see,  and  his  ancestry  goes  hack  to  a 
Scotch  ancestor,  while  the  Hughes  family 
he  traced  hack  to  an  Irish  ancestor.  The 
first  American  ancestor  of  the  Vandeventer 
family  came  to  this  country  soon  after  the 
Re\  >  flutii  >n. 

Jacob  Vandeventer  and  wife  were  mar- 
ried in  Sullivan  county.  Tennessee,  and  later 
the)     moved    i"    Claybourn     county,     that 

stale,  and   111  the   fall  of    [83]    the)    settled  oil 

the  hanks  of  the  north  branch  of  Salt  Creek, 
in  what  is  now  Wilson  township.  There 
they  took  up  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
ol  timber  and  prairie  laud  ami  erected  a 
house,  which  contained  four  rooms,  two 
below  and  two  above.  In  one  of  the  lower 
rooms  a  tire  place  was  built  and  there  all  the 
cooking  and  baking  was  done.  The  bed- 
steads were  the  old  "cord"  ones  and  they 
had  great  fat  feather  beds  to  put  on  them. 
Jacob  broke  up  the  land  and  raised  whi 
and  corn,  and  ai  an  early  date  all  of  it  had 
to  he  hauled  by  team  to  Chicago.  Several 
farmers  would  start  together  on  Mom 
morning  and  if  they  met  with  no  delays 
would  get  hack  by  Friday  night.  They 
would  haul  in  their  produce  and  bring  back 
the  necessary  provisions  and  clothing.  The 
fall  the  familv  settled  in  Wilson  township 
was  the  year  of  the  great  snow  and  Mrs. 
Wilson  distinctly  remembers  the  hardships 
they  all  suffered  and  wonders  that  any  es- 
caped. 


MRS.   MARTHA  WILSON. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


"99 


To  Jacob  ami  Rachel  Vandeventer  were 

1). tii  four  ijirls  and  threi  John; 

ivid,  who  was  a  minister  of  the  Cuml 
land  Presbyterian  church;  .Martha,  now 
Mrs.  Wilson;  Mary,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Rut- 
ledge,  and  she  lives  in  the  township  of  that 
name,  this  county,  the  township  being  ca 
after  her  husband;  Mahala.  deceased,  and 
her  twin  sister,  Marana.  who  married  a  Mr. 
Hurley,  and  they  live  in  Iowa;  lame-,  who 
is  also  deceased,  Jacob  Vandeventer  died 
in  183;      s  nty  years,  and  is  buried 

in  the  LeRoy  cemetery.      The  mother  died 
me    of     Mrs.     Wilson     at     the 
ghty-three    and    is    also    buried 
in  LeRoy  cemetery.     Both  these  good  1 
pie  were  Presbyterians  of  the  old  school. 

Mrv  Wilson  lived  with  her  mother  until 
she  married,  in  [838,  Edward  Wilson,  who 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  was  a  son  of  Asa 
Wilson.  Asa  Wilson  was  S  tch  descent, 
and  an  account  <>t"  the  Wilson  family  will  he 
found  in  the  sketch  of  Andrew  Wilson,  :■ 
nephew  of  Edward  Wilson,  which  will  lie 
fmind  elsehere  in  this  volume.  Edward 
Wilson  and  the  father  of  Andrew  Wilson 
came  to  this  country  together.  Edward  Wil- 
son located  on  what  is  now  section  thirty- 
five.  Wilson  township  1  the  township  is 
named  for  him),  and  when  he  married,  Mrs. 
Wilson's  mother  gave  her  forty  acres  ad- 
joining the  property  of  Mr.  Wilson.  This 
land,  together  with  his  own.  Mr.  Wils 
cultivated  and  resided  upon  until  his  death. 
which  occurred  in  May.  1861.  He  is  buried 
in  Walter's  cemetery,  and  he  attained  the 
of  sixty  year>  when  he  died.  To  hhn- 
and  wife  were  lx.rn  the  following  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  ww  living: 
James,  deceased,  married,  and  his  widow 
resides  in  DeWitt  and  has  five  children: 
Rachael,  deceased:  Noah  married  (  allie 
Last,  and  he  lives  in  Clinton  and  he  has  one 


child.  Maude,  who  married  William  Xael. 
lave  two  children:  Sarah,  de- 
Mary,  deceased:  Isaiah  lives  in  Rut- 
ledge  township,  and  he  is  married  and  has 
two  children.  Ella  and  Ethel,  and  these  two 
are  both  married:  Mahala.  deceased;  Louisa 
married  a  Mr.  Spidle  and  -he  resides  with 
her  mother  in  Clinton;  one  child  died  in  in- 
fancy :  James,  deceased. 

When  Mr.  Wilson  died  he  left  his  wife 
with  a  family  of  small  children  and.  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  to  man; 
and  the  way  she  succeeded  in  doing  both 
would  retlect  credit  upon  anyone.  She  lived 
upon  this  farm  until  about  1SS5.  when  • 
purchased  a  pleasant  home  on  North  Madi- 
son ami  East  Julia  street-,  in  Clinton,  Illi- 
nois, and  there  she  has  since  resided.  Mrs. 
Wilson  well  remembers  the  early  days  of 
the  county  and  the  hardships  endured  by  all 
the  people  at  that  time.  The  wolves  would 
come  tip  to  the  very  door  of  the  cabin,  as 
did  also  wild  game  of  all  kinds,  and  the  In- 
dians passed  up  and  down  the  hanks  of  the 
creek  in  front  of  their  little  home,  often  in 
crowd-  of  two  ami  three  hundreds.  After 
her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Wilson  went  to 
market  at  Wapella.  which  was  eight  miles 
distant,  on  horseback,  with  her  butter,  eggs 
and  bacon  in  a  large  willow  basket  in  front 
of  her  and  one  of  the  children  on   behind. 

was  a  woman  of  keen  intellect,  and  thor- 
oughly understood  farming  in  all  its  details. 
This  excellent  farm  she  now  rents  and  is 
very  proud  of.  forty  acres  of  it  never  hav- 
ing passed  from  her  possession  since  it  was 
given  her  by  her  mother  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage,  and  it  is  a  portion  of  the  original 
land  taken  up  by  her  father  in  1831.  Mrs. 
Wilson  is  a  stanch  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  of  Clinton  and  is  a  lad)  of 
rare  judgment,  kindly  hospitality  and  gentle 
character.      Many  women  placed  a-  she  was 


200 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


with  a  large  family  on  her  hands  and  alone 
on  a  tract  of  only  partially  improved  land. 
would  have  given  up  in  despair,  but  such 
was  not  the  character  of  Mrs.  Wilson.  With 
determination  she  conquered  the  difficulties 
and  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  her  chil- 
dren and  their  children  after  them,  grow  up 
about  lu-r  and  her  propert)  become  some  of 
the  most  valuable  farm  lands  in  the  state. 
She  is  In  mured  by  her  neighbors  and  friends 
as  well  a-  beloved  by  her  family,  and  is  a 
in  .1  ilc  type  of  the  American  woman  who 
have  d.me  s.  >  much  towards  placing  the 
American  nation  in  it s  position  to-day. 


T.    B.    SAM  11  I. 


The  deserved  reward  .if  a  well-spent  life 
i-  an  In  inured  retirement  from  business  in 
which   tn  enjoy   the   fruit-  of    former   toil. 

day,  after  a  useful  ami  beneficial  career. 
T.  I'..  Samuel  is  quietly  living  at  hi-  pl< 
ant  In une  in  llallsville.  lie  was  born  near 
Indianapolis,  in  Marion  county,  Indiana. 
March  23,  1836,  and  1-  a  son  of  Rol 
Samuel,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Virginia 
in  171)7.  Hi-  paternal  grandfather,  Si|uirj 
Samuel,  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia,  from 
which  state  he  removed  to  Kentucky  about 
1805,    being   among    the     I  ttlers   of 

urbon  county.      Robert   Samuel   grev 
manhood    in    Kentucky    and    married    Ellen 
Anderson,  a  native  of  that  state,  where  they 
continued   to   make   their  home   until    ai 
the  birth  of  three  of  their  children.     They 
then    remo  Indiana,   becoming  pio- 

rs  of  Marion  county,  where  in  the  midst 
of  the  forest  the  father  of  our  subject 
cleared  and  improved  a  farm,  and  he  sub- 

uently  owned  and  operated  a  sawmill. 
In  the  fall  of  1 S 5 1  he  came  t< >  DeWitt  coun- 


ty, Illinois,  and  purchased  a  tract  of  wild 
land  in  Harnett  township,  t"  which  he  sub- 
sequently added  until  he  had  a  nice  farm. 
There  he  died   in   March.    1S74.  his   wife  in 

mber,    [870.      They    were    the    parents 

leven  children  who  reached  year-  of  ma- 
turity, hut  only  three  are  now  living, 
namely:  John  1\,  a  resident  of  Pierson, 
Illinois;  Charles  G.,  of  Clinton;  and  T.  B., 
1  if  this  review  . 

Our  subject  -pent  the  first  fifteen  years 
of  hi-  life  in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  and 
then  came  with  the  family  to  DeWitt  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  where  lie  engaged  in  breaking 
prairie  for  three  years  and  aided  in  the 
ardu  sk    of    developing    a    new     farm. 

On  leaving  the  parental   roof  at   the  age  of 

teen  years,  he  commenced  farming  on 
vented  lain!,  and  while  thus  engaged 
al-o  owned  and  operated  a  threshing  ma- 
chine for  ten  seasons  or  more.  In  [866  he 
made  hi-  first  purchase  of  land,  consist 
of  sixty  acre-,  which  he  operated  in  con- 
nection with  other  lands  that  he  rented. 
Selling  hi-  pn  perty  in  1S7J.  he  removed  to 
Xeo-ha   county.    Kansas,   on   account   of  his 

ih.  and  while  hi-  smis  engaged  in  farm- 
ing he  turned  his  attention  to  the  Stock 
business.  In  the  fall  of  1S74  he  returned 
to  this  county,  bringing  with  him  one  hun- 
dred head  of  cattle,  which  he  fed  for  mar- 
ket, lie  rented  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  acre-  in  Harnett  town-hip.  mi  which 
lie  lived  for  fifteen  years,  and  in  connection 
with    it-   operation   continued    t'  in 

buying  and  -hipping  stock,  lie  subse- 
quently purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  and  later  bought  an  adjoining 
tract  of  forty  acre-,  where  he  made  hi-  home 
until  1889,  when  he  rented  the  farm  and 
moved  to  Ilall-ville.  Purchasing  a  half  in- 
terest in  a  -tore,  he  was  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising at  that  place  for  two  year-,  ami 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


20I 


then  sold  out  and  returned  to  the  farm,  but 
in  1895  he  again  came  to  Hallsville,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  grocery  bus  1   two 

'hi  disposing  of  that  business,  he 
became  interested  in  the  grain  trade  :it  Ken- 
ney,  where  he  spent  several  months.  After 
living  retired  for  a  year  or  so,  he  bought  an 
interest  with  his  son  in  the  grain  business 
at  Bos  well,  Indiana,  where  he  rem  . 
fifteen  months.  Since  then  he  has  lived  a 
retired  life  ;it  Hallsville,  Illinois,  enjoying 
a  well-earned  n 

In  Barnett  township  Mr.  Samuel  was 
married,  February  3,  1859,  t"  Miss  Eliza- 
beth  I.  Williams,  who  was  born  in  Posej 
county,  Indiana,  and  was  a  child  of  thir- 
teen years  when  she  came  to  DeWitt  county, 
Illinois,  with  her  father.  Simon  Williams, 
in  1851.  By  this  union  were  born  ten  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Spencer  A.  married  and 
died,  leaving  one  daughter,  Maud:  Amedia 
J.  i^  the  wife  of  William  Conner,  of  Bar- 
nett township,  and  they  have  two  children. 
Elva  and  Willis:  Willi-  and  Frank  are  en 
I  in  the  grain  business  in  partnership 
at  Bos  well,  Indiana;  Lora  B.  married 
Charles  Downs  and  died,  leaving  one  son, 
Dudley,  who  now  finds  a  home  with  our 
subject;  llattie  is  the  wifi  I.   Kirby, 

of  Barnett  townshilp,  and  has  two  sons, 
Harold  A.  and  Warren:  Ella  married  John 
II  McKinney  and  is  now  deceased:  llet- 
the  wife  of  W  .  A.  Yoder,  agent  for 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Mt.  (Hive. 
Illinois,  and  they  have  one  child,  Maurine; 
Thomas  E.  is  employed  in  a  st,,r, 
town,   Illinois;  and  at   home  with 

parents. 

Mr.   Samuel  and  his  wife  and  daughter 
are  memb  the     Hallsville  Christian 

church.  Politically  he  has  always  been 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party  since 
casting     his     first     presidential 


Stephen  A.   Douglas  in   i860,  but  has 
eared    for   political   positions,   prefi 
give  his  tune  ami  attention  t"  his 
interests,     lie  started  out  in  life  for  hi 
empty-handed,   hut.   being  industrious 

ic  and  enter] 
pered,  and  is  to-daj   one  of  the  1 
citizens  of  his  community,  as  well 
the  honored  residents  of   Hallsville, 


\\  II. I  AM  ARG<  I. 


Prominent  among  the  business  me: 
Clinton  is  William  Argo,  who  throug 
life  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  in- 

1  is  now   pn 
the  State  Hank  at  that  place.      He  was  born 
1  mi    the    20th    of    March.    1S4.4.    in    th( 
where  he  still  resides,  and  Alex- 

ander   and     Eliza    A.     1  Walravei 
llis  paternal  grandfather  was  Moses    Vrgo, 
win  1  was  born   in    New     I  1    French 

try,  and    from   that   state  removed   t<> 
Virginia   and   later   to   <  Ihii  1.      I  Ic    w 
farmer  by  occupation  and  a  soldier  of  the 
of  1 S 1  _> . 

Alexander  Argo,  the  father  <>f  our 
ject,  was  born  in  the  Buckeye  state  in 
and   was  reared  b)    his  uncle,    Robert    Wat- 
kins,   with   whom   he   served   i  r  ap- 
prenticeship   t"    the    wagonmaker's    trade. 
which  he  continued  to  follow  t"  somi 
tent   throughout    his    active  life. 
Me  acquired  some  property  in  Ohio,  which 
he  traded  for  a  lot  of  spinning  wl 

lie   shipped   by   boat   dow  11   the   (  Hiio 
and    up   the    Mississippi    air 
t<  •  Pekin,  this  s'  then 

•  •  land     to     Clinton     and 
throughout    i!  »n,    manj    being    still 

found   in   I  >e\\  nt   county.     M 


202 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


visited  this  locality  in   [840,  ami  purchased 
the  old  homestead  of  Daniel  Newcomb,  but 
did  not  locate  permanently  here  until   1844, 
when  he  opened  a   wagon  shop  in  .Clinton 
and  made  by  hand  the  first  and  most  sub- 
stantial wagons  used  by  the  pioneers  oi  the 
vicinity.     He   also   devoted    some   time   to 
the    cultivation    and     improvement    of   the 
propertj   purchased  in   [840.      Being  a  man 
of   good   business   ability   and   sound   judg 
mem.  he  acquired  a    fortune,  and   was  re- 
garded  as   one  of  tlie   leading   citizens  oi 
nti  m       The    railroad    now     passes    1  <\  er 
the  site  of  his  second  shop.     He  had   just 
began   the  erection   of   this    when   the   rail- 
road was  surveyed,  and.  as  it  passed  over 
ihe  site,   he  moved   it   up  town,  where  alter 
a  time  it  was  occupied  by  R.  R.  Craig.     In 
early  life  Mr.    ^rgo  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and   was  instrumental   in 
establishing    and    building    the    church    in 
Clinton,  of  which  he  was  an  active  member 
until    death.      In    politics     he     was     first     a 
Whig  and  later  a    Republican.      lie  died  at 
his  home,  on  the  corner  of  Madison  and  Jet' 
ferson    streets   in    [883,   honored    and     re 
spected  by  all   who  knew    him.      Ills  estim- 
able   wife,   who   was   horn    September    19, 
[815,    in     Clermont   county,   Ohio,   passed 
away    August     17.     [899.     They    were    the 
parents     of     si\     children,     namely:     Mrs. 
l'hilena    Campbell;    Samuel    M.;    Emanuel 
»,.;   Thomas  J.;   William,   our   subject;   and 
Martin  Luther,  who  died  in  infancy. 

William  Argo  received  his  early  train- 
ing Upon  the  home  farm  and  obtained  his 
literary  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  neighborhood.  In  iSj<>  he  embarked 
in  the  ice  husincss  with  his  brother  Eman- 
uel, and  continued  to  carry  on  that  husi- 
ness  in  Clinton  until  1899.  when  he  sold 
out.  The  brothers  own  considerable  real 
estate,  including  eighty  acres  of  fine  farm- 


ing land  on  section  n,  I  hup  township,  and 
two  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  on  section 
32  and  33.  the  same  township.  On  the  1st 
of  July,  [890,  he  assisted  in  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Stale  I  lank  of  Clinton,  which 
was  organized  with  a  capital  of  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars.  Its  first  officers  were  Thomas 
II.  Slick,  president;  Dr.  J.  X.  Wilcox,  vice- 
president;  and  James  II.  Harrison,  cashier. 
Late  '■  Slick  was  succeeded  by  Thomas 
M.  Levett  as  president,  and  since  then  J.  I'.. 
Holderman  and  D.  T.  Ga)  have  also  tilled 
that  office,  while  Mr.  Argo  has  served  in 
that  capacitj  since  [898.  Dr.  Wilcox  has 
always  been  vice-president,  and  the  other 
officers  at  the  present  time  are  Lewis  Mur- 
pby,  cashier;  George  G.  Argo,  assistant 
cashier;    and    A.    R.    Young,    bookkeeper. 

Ihe  hank  purchased  a  new  block  erected  hv 
lohu  ( i.  Cackley,  and  have  built  a  tire  and 
burglar-proof  vault  with  deposit  boxes  and 
.  nine  lo,k  safe.  It  is  now  in  a  flourishing 
condition,  ami  is  considered  one  of  the  most 
reliable  financial  institutions  of  the  county. 
lis  success  is  eeiiaiulv  due  in  a  large  mei 
ure  to  Mr.  \.rgO,  who  is  one  of  the  most 
conservative  business  men  and  ablest  finan- 
ciers of  Clinton,  lie  is  a  man  of  keen  dis- 
crimination ami  sound  judgment,  and  in  all 
his  undertakings  has  been  quite  successful, 
lie  occupies  a  prominent  position  in  husi- 
ncss circles,  and  is  a  worthy  representative 
of  an  old  and  honored  family  of  DeWitt 
count  v. 


GEORGE  W.  MOORE. 

George  W.  Moore,  now  deceased,  was 
one  of  the  leading  men  of  Wilson  township. 
1  >eWitt  count  v.  Illinois,  and  during  his  later 
davs  he  resided  on  section  thirty,  lie  was 
horn  in  Casey  count  v.  Kentucky,  in  Fehru- 


GEORGE  W.    MOORE. 


MRS.   GEORGE  W     MOORK. 


THE    BI<  (GRAPHICAL   REC<  >RD. 


-°7 


ary.    iSjo,  and  he  w;  of   Henry  and 

Elizabeth  (Cooley)   Moore. 

lli-  education  was  received  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Kentucky,  and  although  the 
advantages  wore  few,  he  managed  to  secure 

od  foundation  for  it.  to  which  he  added 
during  his  life  by  reading.  In  1830  he  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Sangamon  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  but  later  moved  back  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  in  [843  was  there  married 
Miss  Matilda  Porter,  who  was  bqrn  in  Cas 
county,  Kentucky.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Margaret  (Grammer)  Porter, 
both  of  whom  were  native-  of  Virginia,  and 
who  were  married  in  their  native  state  and 
moved  to  Kentucky,  \yhere  they  lived  and. 
died,.  Mr.  Porter  was  a  well-to-do  fanner, 
and  he  and  his  wife  were  the  parent-  of  nine 
children,  namely:  Isaac;  Samuel,  deceased; 
John,  deceased;  Mrs.  Porter;  Jeffere 
who  died  in  infancy:  Abigail,  who  resides 
in  Casey  county,  Kentucky:  Lucinda,  who 
married  James  Mitchell  and  they  reside  in 
Washington  county,  Illinois;  James;  and 
Delia,  deceased. 

After  marriage  our  subject  remained  in 
Kentucky  f<  rs,  then  returned 

to  Sangamon  county.  Illinois,  where  he 
mained  until  he  removed  to  DeWitl  county 
just  a  few  day-  prior  to  the  assassination 
of  President  Lino 'In.  Mr.  Moore  settled 
upon  eighty  acre-  of  land  which  was  partly 
improved  in  Wilson  township,  and  there  he 
-pent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  lli-  days 
were  peacefully  spent  in  farming  and  he 
brought  his  land  into  a  fine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. The  buildings  upon  the  place  he  ei 
ed,  and  he  took  great  pride  in  keeping  the 
entire    ''arm    in    excellent    condition.        lite 

fence-    were    all    kept    in    g 1    order;    the 

hedges  neatly  trimmed,  while  hi-  ham  and 
building  never  allowed  to  get  out  ol 

repair.     Not    far  from  the  house  he  planted 


a  line  orchard,  a-  well  a-  some  shadi 

and  his  widow,  who  resides  upon  this  model 

farm,  can   -ee  the  result  of  his  careful  man- 

nent   "ii  ever)    side.      Later    Mr.    Mot 
added  forty  acre-  to  hi-  eighty  acre-  and  the 
farm    now     consists    of    one    hundred    and 
twent)    acre-.     In  addition  he  also  owned 
sixty-five  acre-  of  timber  land  in  Wapello 
township,   which    he   partly   cleared.      From 
this   tine  strip  of  timber  land   Mr.    Ma 
hauled  the  last  load  of  wood  the  President 
ever  used  and  he  wa-  an  intimate  friend 
Mr.  Lincoln  and  never  tired  of  relating  en- 
tertaining   incident-    of    the    great    man's 
kindly   life.      No  man    wa-   to,,  humble    for 
his  notice,  and  in  his  -ad  death   Mr.  Mi 
always  claimed  the  country  received  a  blow 
from  which  it  could  never  recover. 

A  brother  of  Mr.  Moore  married  a  Miss 
Sarah  Foster,  who  wa-  a  daughter  of  Aimer 
and  Ellender  (Moore)  Foster,  both  of  whom 
were  native-  of  Virginia.  Mr.  ami  M 
Foster  were  married  in  Kentucky  and  lived 
there  a  few  years,  then  removed  to  K.n 
in  the  early  fifties  and  there  they  died,  he 
in   1887  at  the  age  of  sixty-five,  and  -he  in 

07  at  the  age  of  seventy-thre< 
the  brother  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  \ 
horn    the    following    family.      Elvira    n 
ried   Thomas     Highfield    and    the; 
in    Kansas.      Ellen    married     Henry     Hick- 
man,  and   they    have   two   children:      R 
Nellie,  who  married  L.  II.  Longbrake,  and 
they  have  one  child.  George  Wilbur;  and 
Katie.     Mr.    Longbrake   rents   the   farm 
Mr-.    Moore,  and  they  make  their  home 
her.     Mary  i".  resides  in  Kansas.     M 

|ohn     and       Miner     an 
lia    married    William    Goff,    who 
in     Kai             samuel     and      I. 
side  in  Kansas.     One  child  wa-  l>orn 
to    Mr.    and    Mr-.    Moore,    John    Hamilton, 
hut  he  died  in  childhood.     Mr.  M e  v\ 


208 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Republican  in  politics,  but  would  never  ac- 
cept public  office,  believing  thai  he  could 
serve  his  township  better  as  a  private  citi- 
zen and  also  being  absorbed  in  his  duties 
pertaining  to  his  farming  life.     Both  he  and 

his  excellent  wife  early  joined  tile  Methodist 
church  and  he  always  took  an  active  part  in 
its  work.  'I'lie  example  of  a  good  life  well 
spent  is  great  and  no  better  heritage  can  he 
left  than  an  untarnished  name.  Mr.  Mo 
was  a  man  whose  whole  life  was  without 
blemish.  Hard-working  and  frugal  he  labor- 
ed earnestlj  to  provide  for  hi--  beloved  wife 
and  leave  her  in  comfortable  circumstances. 
To  his  neighbors  he  was  always  a  kind 
friend,  and  no  "lie  in  need  ever  appealed  t" 
him  in  vain.  His  life  was  above  reproach 
and  he  died  as  he  had  lived,  a  truly  Christ 
man.  In  the  township,  among  the  church 
members,  and  more  illy  at  his  own 

fireside,  is  this  good  man  missed,  and  his 
can  never  he  tilled. 


VIES  I.    M<  >RR<  IVV. 

James   1 ..    Morrow  is  one  •  arly 

and  highly  respected  citi  He- 

Witt  county,  residing  on  a  fruit  farm  of 
forty  acres  on  section  [3,  in  Texas  town- 
ship. He  w;  m  the  village  of  LeRoy 
Mel. can  county.  Illinois,  on  January  ~. 
1840,  and  remained  there  until  he  was  about 
twelve  year  ..  when  he  moved  with 
iarents  t>  1  Bli  ©mington,  Illin 

The  parents  of  James  1,.  Morrow  were 

■iard  P.  and  Sarah  I-"..  1  Williams  1  Mor- 
row, the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of 
the  state  of  Ohio,  and  came  to  Illinois  about 

50,  locating  in  McLean  county.  By 
trade  he  was  a  saddler,  and  he  followed  that 


occupation  for  many  years  jn  LeRoy,  ami 
later  in  Bloomington,  where  he  also  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  brick.  Upon 
coming  to  DeWitt  counl\'.  with  Thomas 
Snell  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
brick,  and  one  year  later  engaged  in  the 
business  alone,  following  this  interest  in 
Texas  township  until  about  the  time  of  his 
death,     also     doing     some     farming,     llis 

;h  occurred  when  he  was  aboul  sixty- 
live  years  of  age.  Although  a  stanch  Dem- 
ocrat, he  had  never  accepted  party  publicity, 
although  he  was  always  interested  in  public 
affairs  and  ready  to  use  his  influence  in  the 
direction  of  improvements,  llis  burial  was 
in  Rose  'cemetery,  t 'reek  township,  his 
widow  survived  him  some  nine  years  and 
died  at  the  home  of  our  subject,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  For  aboul  nine 
le  had  been  a  helpless  hut  patient  in- 
valid, and  was  the  mother  of  nine  children, 
live  of  the   i .111  nix    still  surviving. 

James  1..  Morrow,  of  this  sketch,  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  district  scho 
of  Texas  township,  and  .is-isu-d  his  father 
both  in  his  farming  and  in  his  brick-making 
erations  until  his  death,  and  then  took 
care  of  his  loved  mother,  filling  this  filial 
duty  with  care  and  affection  until  her  de- 
He  took  charge  of  the  home  place 
and   farmed  it.  and  still  resides  there. 

Mr.  Morrow  has  planted  his  whole  forty 
acres  in  fruit,  and.  nearly  all  of  his  trees  are 
in  bearing  condition  and  are  yielding  great 
returns.     Like    his    father,    he    i  inch 

Democrat,  hut  has  never  sought  office,  al- 
though he  consented  to  serve  through  one 
term  as  road  commissioner.  During  that 
time  he  proved  his  capacity  and  inaugurated 
many  needed  reforms. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Morrow  was  in 
1  Si.i.  in  Clinton,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Amanda 


11 


IRAPHICAL   RECi  >RD. 


Miii. 'wen,   who  was   a  dau 

Mi  ■  ttler  of  i 

Wit t   county.     Mr.    Mc< 

isted   foi  in 

tin-  ■  ling  lieuten. 

pan  wentieth    Illin. -i^    Volunt< 

duty  until  tl 

urred  at  his 
home  at   Princeton,   Bureau  county,  wh< 
number 
dren  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
rrow,   \  i. ■ :      Le<  ward,    who  in 

-ts  his  father  in  the 
fruit  bu  and  who  married  Alii 

1  they  have  il :  and 

n,  who  did  not  live  be- 
infancy. 

marriage   of    Mr. 

lock,  wb  'i"n 

in  De\\  ity,  and  win 

nd  Margaret  (  Mam 
f(  irmer  ■  I  >e\Vitt 

in  tarn  vn- 

leath  occurred  more  than  a 
p,  at  the  fty- 

children  have  been  born 
Morrow,   viz :    I. 
m  April  4.  the 

kvnship,  and  he  has 
•  h.-me  all  his  life,  obtaining  hi-  edu- 
n  the  tlistr :■  mi- 

ii,    Frank,   died   at 
■  ■ 
Mr.  Morrow  has  a  vivid  re  n  of 

unty  when  it  was  all  prairie  and 
timl>er   land.     There    were    but    few    build- 
very  few  school-hou 
which  hurches.      The   men 

wh«>  have  changed  all  these  conditions  v 
tillers  of  the  soil.     DeWitt  county  i>  a  t< 

nial  to  the  energy,  the  tireless  industry 
ami  the  pn  such  men  a-  our 


subject   and   his   honored    fail  they 

m  all  tl 
permanent  bet  the  men  who 

truly  represent  this  county. 


JOHN  HART. 

This   well-known  and   honored   resident 
a  native  of  Ireland, 
and  v  ibout  nini 

when  he  crossed  the  bi  with  his 

make  their   home    in 
lie  ■  itember   1  2, 

in   I.. 

of  Jai  itherine    i.\l  1  [art 

1"    |"hn   and    Mai 
•.  whi  1  were  born  in  Dublin  county, 
farmer  in  his 

land     l' 

1  ears 

nam<  father:  John 

iter  and  came  to  the  I 
hut  later  returned  fo  Ireland,  where  he  died: 

ind   William   were  both   | 
the  Roma  lie  church;  1  mar- 

ried   M.    McLoughlin;   1'.:  e   the 

1    in    this 
county  :  Ann  mar:  .  who 

hut   .she   is   still    livii 
Clinton;   Catherine,   now  I,   became 

the  wife  of   I.   Maehan.  <>i  tin  The 

father    lived    t. »    reach    tin 
years  and  the  mother  about  nim 

In  Hart,   our   subj< 

ther.    came    to     Wapella,     DeWitt     county, 
where  he  lived   fur  one  year,      lie  tin 
tied    in   Clintonia   township,    where   he   |iur- 
1    a    farm,    and    for    thirty    y< 
agricultural   pursuits    with    m; 

At    the   time   of   his   death,    which 


210 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


occurred  July  10,  1898,  he  was  in  his  sev- 
enty-fifth year.  His  wife,  who  still  resides 
on  the  old  homestead,  has  reached  the  good 
'.M  age  of  eighty.  To  this  estimable 
couple  wore  bom  nine  children,  as  follows: 
John,  the  subject  of  this  review;  Bridget, 
now  deceased;  Mathew,  of  Springfield; 
Mrs.  Maria  Barry,  of  Springfield;  Thorn- 
deceased;  William.  \\\\<>  is  now  a  road 
commissioner  of  Clintonia  township;  Peter, 
a  fanner  in  the  county;  Michael,  deceased; 
Patrick,  a  farmer  in  this  county;  and 
James,  deceased. 

When  John  llart  first  came  with  his 
parents  t"  YVapella  he  worked  in  the  rail- 
road shop  as  a  fireman  and  helper  for  about 
ten  years,  lie  then  eatne  to  Clinton  and 
accepted  a  position  as  engineer  of 
Clinton  Electric  Light  &  Heat  Company, 
which  place  he  acceptably  tilled  for  five 
years.  At  the  end  of  this  time  he  entered 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  shops,  where 
he  remained  until  .May  1.  1899,  when  he 
was  appointed  engineer  of  the  Clinton 
water  works,  which  was  established  in  [887, 
and  which  in  1898  was  remodeled  and  ■ 
larged,  until  to-day  it  is  one  of  the  fin< 
equipped  water  supplying  establishments  in 
the  country. 

On  August  1.  1877,  a  ceremony  was 
performed  which  united  Mr.  llart  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Marj  A.  l'.urk.  win.  was 
born  in  Ohio  August  12,  1857,  and  is 
daughter  of  Edward  l'.urk.  <.t"  Wapella,  Illi- 
nois. To  them  were  horn  six  children, 
namely:  William  and  Edward,  machinists; 
Emmett,  Paul  and  Leo.  student-:  and  Jo- 
seph,  an    infant. 

<  >ur   subject   has  built   a  very   pleasant 
home  at  the  corner  of   South   George  and 
[efferson  streets,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
DeWitt   County   Building    Association, 
which    he    is    a    director.     He  lias  always 


taken  an  active  part  in  the  progress  of  his 
adopted  city,  and  has  never  withheld  his 
support  from  any  object  which  he  believed 
would  prove  '•i  public  benefit,  lli-  hie  has 
been  an  upright,  honorable  and  useful  one 
and  he  is  held  in  high  regard  b)  all  who 
know  him. 

— ■>  »  » - 

Jt  MIX    WIGHTWK  K 

For  almost  fort)  years  John  Wightwick 

was  a   rc>idei;t   of  Clinton  and   was  one  of 
us  most  highly  respected  citizens,     lie  \ 
a   native  of    England,   horn   in   Tenderten, 
Count)    Knit.  January   6,    [827,   and   w.i 
son  of  John  and  eth  Wightwick.   The 

mother  dying  when  our  subject  was  very 
young,  the  father  married  again,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Harriet  Sidders.  In 
1850  they  came  to  America  and  settled  in 
Joliet,  Illinois,  where  lit-  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1853.  His  wife  died  in  Clinton 
in  1876,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  and 
her  remains  were  interred  in  Woodlawn 
cemetery.  The  children  of  the  family  were: 
John,  our  subject;  Humphrey,  a  minister 
the  established  Church  of  England,  who 
died  in  London;  James.  who  came  to 
America  with  his  father  and  was  associ- 
ated with  him  in  business  at  Joliet.  Illinois; 
and  Elizabeth,  deceased,  wife  of  R.  R. 
Crang. 

John    Wightwick    was    educated    in    the 
common  scln  e  o  untrv.  and 

m  early  age  was  apprenticed  to  a  dry 

is  merchant  in  Tunbridge,  Wales,  serv- 
ing seven  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
time  he  engaged  in  clerking  for  the  same 
firm  for  eleven  years.    In  September,  1853, 

r  the  death  of  his  father,  he  came  to  the 
United  States  and  first  located  in  Chicago. 


JOHN   WIGHTWICK. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


While  there  he  was  married  in  a  parsonage 
on  Clark  street.  May  _•  i .  [854,  to  Miss 
rah  Ann  Appleton,  to  whom  he  was  engaged 
before  leaving  England,  and  who  came  to 
this  country  t<>  meet  her  husband.     She  was 

1  in  England,  July  31,  [821,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Sarah  Appleton.  Her  father 
was  a  merchant  in  Hampton  street.  Lou- 
don, dealing  in  only  the  very  finest  of  g 
ceries.  I  le  died  0  r  2,  1852,  at 
of  fifty-six  years,  and  was  buried  in  the 
Islington  churchyard,  London.  His  wife 
had  died  eight  years  prior  to  this  at  the  age 
of  forty-five,  and  her  remains  were  interred 
in  the  Henrietta  street  chapel  vaults  of  the 
same  city.  Their  children  were:  John,  who 
died  in  infancy:  Sarah  Ann.  now  Mrs. 
Wightwick;  John  William,  a  resident  of 
London;  Ellen  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Thomas 
J.  Addinsell,  of  Dubuque,  Iowa;  Thomas. 
;  resident  of  llanley.  Staffordshire,  Eng- 
land; Maria,  deceased,  wife  ■•!'  Gale  Smith: 
Emily  Jane.  Robert  and  Henry,  all  de- 
ceased. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Wightwick  made 
his  home  in  Chicago,  where  he  held  the 
sition  of  bookkeeper  in  a  large  wholes 
house,  and  then  went  to  Aurora.  Illinois. 
where  lie  took  the  business  of  his  brother, 
Tames,  who  died  a  short  time  prior,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  dry  goods  business.  Selling 
out  in  l86l,  he  then  came  to  Clinton,  where 
lie  clerked  for  R.  R.  Crang  for  nine  years, 
and  then  retired  from  business,  having  re- 
ceived a  larg<  from  England. 

The  children  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mi's. 
Wightwick  were  as  follows:  I  1  1  Anna 
Maria  died  in  [877.  1  _•  1  Elizabeth  is  liv- 
ing with  her  mother  in  Clinton,  i.^i  R 
Nellie  is  the  wife  of  John  <  i.  M.  Appleton, 
who  L  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  in 
Chicago,  ami  they  have  two  children.  Lou- 
ise and  Lillian.  1  4  1  Emily  Jane  is  the  wife 
10 


Kcil,  of  Buffalo,  New  York, 
who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  New  York  <  Cen- 
tral Railroad  Company,  and  they  have  four 
children:  Herbert  Wightwick,  Ethel,  Em- 
ily and  I  lelen. 

At  the  eventeen  Mr.  Wightwick 

became  converted  and  joined  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  throughout  life  was 
an  earnest  and  consistent  Christian.  He  ma- 
terially assisted  in  building  the  Methodist 
church  at  Clinton  and  held  the  offices 
steward  and  trustee  in  the  same.  In  politics 
he  was  an  ardent  Republican,  hut  could 
never  he  prevailed  upon  to  accept  official 
honors.  He  died  November  29,  [899,  and 
was  laid  t"  rest  in  the  Woodlawn  cemetery 
I  !linton.    His  life  was  exemplary  in  many 

iects,and  he  gave  an  earnest  support  to 
those  interests  which  were  calculated  to  up- 
lift and  benefit  humanity,  while  his  owtl 
moral  worth  was  deserving  of  the  high 
commendation.  His  wife  still  survives  him 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  at  her  beauti- 
ful home  on  East  Main  street.  Clinton,  is 
surrounded    by   many    warm     friends     who 

J  her  in  highest  regard. 


MRS.  C  \K<  (LINE  TRENKLE. 

Mi's.  Caroline  Trenkle,  of  Farmer  City., 
i-.  a  lady  not  less  well  known  for  her  splen- 
did business  and  executive  ability  than  for 
her  social  qualities  which   render  her  plei 

home  a  favorite  resort  among  the  best 
people  of  the  city  and  locality  in  which 
resides.  She  is  the  widow  of  the  late  An- 
ton Trenkle,  who  was  horn  in  Baden,  <  ier- 
many.  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  1  Hen) 
Trenkle.  who  were  also  natives  of  the  same 
country.      The    father    died    in    earl)     man- 

1 1  hut  the  mother  attained  to  a   ripe  old 

age. 


214 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  the  country  of  his  nativity  Anton 
Trenkle  followed  farming  until  [853,  when 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  believing  that 
he  would  have  better  opportunities  to  secure 
;•.  home  of  his  own  in  this  land  than  in  the 
older  countries  of  Europe,  lie  made  his 
way  in  Menard  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  for  ["homas  Kincaid  as  a  farm 
hand  for  eleven  years  at  two  hundred  dol- 
lars a  year,  lie  was  thus  employed  until, 
as  a  result  of  his  industry  and  economy,  he 
had  accumulated  three  thousand  dollars. 
Then,  in  connection  with  his  brother  Jo- 
seph, he  purchased  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  fourteen  acres  east  of  Petersburg,  Illi- 
nois, for  forty-five  dollars  per  acre,  and 
with  characteristic  energj  began  its  devel- 
opment and  further  improvement.  Later 
lie  sold  it  fur  sixtj  five  dollars  per  acre, 
thus  realizing  a  handsome  profit  on  his  in- 
vestment. In  [872  he  came  to  DeWitt 
county.  Illinois,  and  purchased  the  Ken- 
nan  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Santa 
Anna  township.  This  is  still  in  possession 
of  his  widow.  In  [860  Mr.  Trenkle  went 
to  California,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
for  two  years,  hut.  preferring  the  broad 
prairies  of  Illinois  as  a  more  desirable  pi 
to  carry  on  agricultural  pursuits,  he  re- 
turned to  tins  state  and  here  engaged  in 
the  tilling  ^i  the  s,,il  until  his  life's  labors 
were  ended   in   death. 

In  [868  Mr.  Trenkle  returned  to  Ger- 
many to  visit  his  people  and  tell  them  of 
the  possibilities  which  America  offered  to 
people  of  determination  and  enterprise. 
While  there  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
Miss  Caroline  Yeagle,  who  was  horn  in 
Baden  in  1840.  Desiring  to  come  to 
America  and  thus  improve  her  opportuni- 
ties, she  came  with  Mr.  Trenkle  on  his  re- 
turn. The  acquaintance  thus  formed 
ripened   into  love,   and   they   were   married 


in  Springfield,  Illinois,  on  the  Kith  of  Oc- 
tober,  [868.  The  lady  is  a  daughter  of 
Nicholas  and  Anna  (Donner)  Yeagle.  Her 
parents  are  both  now  deceased,  her  father 
having  passed  awaj  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
one,  while  her  mother's  death  occurred 
when  she  was  eighty  six  years  of  age.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trenkle  was 
blessed  with  nine  children,  who  are  a  credit 
to  the  name.  Anna  M.,  the  eldest,  is  the 
wife  of  Alfred  Ploussara,  a  farmer  of  Rut- 
ledge  township,  by  whom  she  has  Eour  chil- 
dren. Mane,  Edwin,  Charles  and  Louise; 
Minnie  resides  with  her  mother  in  Farmer 
City;  Catherine  was  successfully  engaged 
in  teaching  school  for  eight  years  and  then 
married  John  J.  Clifford,  an  engineer  on 
the  Illinois  Central  railroad,  by  whom  she 
has  two  children,  John  and  Margaret;  An- 
thony, an  agriculturist  of  McLean  county, 
married  Mary  Howard  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, William  and  Raymond;  Charles  L. 
als.  1  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits;  John 
V  is  a  stenographer  in  Chicago;  Fred  W. 
follows  stenography  in  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois; Caroline  J.  is  with  her  mother;  and 
Martin   A.    is  a   resident    farmer  of    DeWitt 

county. 

Mr.  Trenkle  provided  a  very  comfort- 
able home  for  his  family,  lie  made  many 
improvements  upon  his  farm,  including  the 
erection  of  a  new  residence  and  other  build- 
ings, and  at  his  death  he  left  to  his  family 
one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  county,  he- 
sides  other  property.  He  was  a  self-made 
man.  resolute  and  energetic,  and  his  care- 
fully directed  labors  brought  to  him  grati- 
fying and  well-deserved  prosperity.  He 
held  membership  in  the  Catholic  church  and 
was  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him  lor  his 
many  admirable  traits  of  character. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband,  realiz- 
ing  that   the   care   of   the    family   devolved 


THE   r.IOCKAPHRWL   RECORD. 


-'5 


upon  her.  Mrs.  Trenkle  began  to  plan  w; 
whereby  she  might  aid  her  children 

rt   ill  life.      She  1»  mght 
hundred  and  twenty  acre-  of  land  in  Rut- 
ledge  township,  known  as  the  Ha/el  farm, 
built  a   new    barn  there,   and   now    her 
daughter  and  her  husband,   Mr.   ami   Mr-. 
•     :a.  are  li  that  place  and  have 

made  it  a  highly  cultivated  tract  of  land. 
Next   Mrs.  Trenkle  pur.  ne  hundred 

ami  sixty  acres  in  West  township,  McLean 
:iy.  erected  a  new    residence,  and  An- 
thony resides  there.     By  another  purcha 
made  in  December,    i<mx>.  Mrs.  Trenkle  be- 
came the  owner  of  what  was  known  as  the 
ible  property  in  Farmer  City,  and  on  that 
land   she   erected    a   very   pleasing   and    at- 
tractive modern   residence,   in   which   she   i- 
living  with   her   two  daughters.      Here 
has   a   tine    residence,   surrounded   by    well- 
kept   grounds,  and  the  home  is  the  center 
a  cultured  society  circle.     Mrs.  Trenkle 
cceptional  business  ability.     She 
y  has  the  power  to  plan,  but  is  de- 
termined    in     executing     her     plans,     and 
throughout  the  community  she  is  respected 

her  capable  management  and  keen 
crimination    in    business    affairs.     She    has 
made  many  friends  in  DeWitt  county,  and 
and  her  family  enjoy  the  warm  regard 
ill  who  know  them. 


MARIS   WALDEN. 


Among  the  soldier-citizens  of  Wi! 
township.  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  one  of 
the  most  prominent  is  Maris  Walden,  who 
section  27  and  was  l>orn  at  Ran- 
dolph <ir.  ■'.  e.  McLean  county.  Illinois,  De- 
cember 24.  1S40.  He  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Jane   (  Starr  )    Walden. 


William  Walden  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky and  the  mother  was  a  native  of  North 

•lina.  ami  they  were  married  in  Indiana. 
In  1830  the  parents  removed  to  McL< 
county,  Illinois,  ami  in  [842  they  located  in 
Wilson  township,  DeWitt  county,  and  here 
the  father  worked  by  the  day  for  thirteen 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  ha 

fkient  money  to  purchase  some  timber 
land  and  a  few  acres  of  wild  prairie  land. 
At   the  time  of   his   death   he   was   the   j. 

f  four  hundred  and   fifty  .< 
well-cultivated    farm    land     ami     had 
helped    his  tcquire  tine   farms.     Al- 

though they  began  their  married  life  as  poor 
people,  they  accumulated  considerable  of 
this  world's  goods.  The  father  died  in 
sixty-six,  and  his  widow  sur- 
vived him  until   [889,  when  ■.  died, 

1  eighty-four,  and  both  are  interred 
their  old  homestead.  In  pities  the  father 
was  a  Democrat  until  1856,  then  became  1 
Republican,  ami  held  the  office  of  school 
director  until  a  few  years  prior  to  his  death. 
He  was  also  township  clerk  for  several 
years.  He  and  hi-  estimable  wife  were 
both  Methodists,  and  he  often  rilled  vacant 
pulpits.  For  a  long  time  services  would  be 
held  in  his  barn  and  house,  as  there  was 
n«.  other  place  of  worship  in  the  neighb 
hood.  The  unfortunate  always  found  a 
friend  in  these  two  good  people,  and  Mr<. 
Walden  was  never  too  tired  or  busy  to  pre- 
pare  a    meal    to   anyone    who   came    to    her 

r  hungry.  Their  names  will  l>e  long  re- 
membered by  many  a  person  whose  suffer- 
ing was  relieved  by  the  gentle  charity  that 
never  sought   to  lie  known  of  men. 

To  William  Walden  and  wife  were  I  m  ■ni 
thirteen  children,  of  whom  seven  grew  to 
maturity,    namely:      James.  d;    Fli- 

jah.   who  lives   in   Wilson   township;    Isaac, 

eased;  Thomas,  who  resides  in  Wil 


2l6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


township;  Maris,  our  subject;  William  P., 
who  lives  in  Wilson  township;  Jessie,  who 
resides  in  Arkansas. 

Maris  Walden  was  seven  years  "1,1  when 
he  began  his  education,  and  he  attended  the 
firsl  school  built  in  the  township  At  this 
time  there  were  only  fourteen  voters  in  the 
township  and  money  for  the  erection  of  the 
school  was  raised  b)  subscription  as  well 
and  timber.  The  structure  was 
the  frame  building  of  the  time,  with  slab 
benches,  and  the  onl)  hook  aside  from  the 
"speller"  our  subject  possessed  was  ;1 
end  reader.  lie  had  to  walk  a  mile  to 
school  ami  never  was  able  to  attend  except 
when  there  was  ii"  work  upon  the  farm  that 
required  his  attention. 

When  but   twenty-two  years  of  age  he 
enlisted,  on  Augusl  <>.   [862,  ton,  llli- 

5,  in  Company  1'..  One  1  lunched  and  Sex  • 
enth  111'  ilunteer  Infantry,  under  Cap- 

tain   Turner,   ami   the   regiment    did   guard 
duty   until  June.    [863,  on   the    Louisvill 
[Nashville    Railroad.     After   this   the)     I 
lowed    Ah  rgan  1    Kentucky   and    In- 

diana and   into   Wot    Virginia]      They  then 
went  hack  to  Lexington,   Kentucky,  the; 
east     Tennessee,     where    our    subject     was 
placed  in  the   Pi  orps.  which  had  to 

open    roads    and    rebuild    hi 1  This    he 

did  until  the  Knoxville  siege,  and  that  win- 
ter he  marched  up  and  down  east  Tennessee 
with  scarcely  enough    to    eat.    the    ran 
being  reduced  to  an  ear  of  corn  a  day.      lie 
was  with   Sherman  until  the  battle  in  which 
McPherson    was    killed,    and    his    regiment 
went  hack  to  Tennessee,  where  they   fought 
against  General  Johnson,  and  there  thej 
main-     of     their     officers.      After    this    they 
went   hack   t..   Nashville  and    Franklin   and 
participated    in    the    second     day's     engage 
ment  on   December   15  and   id  under  Gen- 
eral   Thomas.      They  then  went  up  the  Ohio 


river  and  on  to  Washington.  The  next 
move  was  into  North  Carolina,  and  the 
regiment  witnessed  in  the  surrender  of 
General  Johnston  to  General  Sherman.  Mr. 
Walden  was  honorably  discharged  at  Salis- 
htin  .  \<  irth  Carolina,  after  a  li  >ng  and  faith- 
ful service,  and  mustered  oul  at  Camp  But- 
ler, Springfield,   Illinois,  July    to,    [865. 

After  his  war  experience  our  subject  re- 
turned home  and  went  to  work  upon  the 
farm,  and  upon  November  8,  [866,  was 
married  to  l.avina  J.  Belt,  and  she  bore  him 
three  children,  namely:  Charles  11..  who 
resides  in  St.  Louis,  .Missouri;  Albert,  who 
tesides  with  his  father:  Lafayette  B.,  who 
resides  in  Barnett  township  and  is  a  farmer. 
Mr.  Walden  married  for  a  second  time  Mrs. 
Marj  (      I  ,aj  ton. 

The  farm  upon  which  Mr.  Walden 
sides  is  a  well-improved  piece  of  property, 
and  it  is  well  kept  up  in  ever)  respect.  In 
he  is  a  Republican,  and.  although 
he  does  not  seek  public  preferment,  he  is 
a  man  of  public  spirit  and  one  who  occu- 
pies a  prominent  place  in  the  township  in 
which   he  has  made  his   home    for   s,  1  many 

years. 

■> «  » 

WILLIAM   o.   ROGERS. 

'The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  now 
i  in  the  abstract  business,  has  ], 
a  resident  of  DeWitt  county  for  more  than 
forty  years,  and  is  numbered  among  its 
highl)  esteemed  citizens,  lie  was  born  in 
1  11  lisle.  Nicholas  county,  Kentucky.  Scp- 
tember  <>.  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Elenore  (Heldreth)  Rogers  and  a  grand- 
son of  Ezekiel,  who  was  of  Irish  ancestry. 
John  Rogers  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
when  a  young  man  took  up  the  study  of  the 
Bible  and  became  a  minister  of  the  Chris- 


JOHN   Q.  WHITEHEAD. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


217 


tian  church,  which  calling  lie  followed  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  w;h 
sixty-seven  years  of  age.  His  wife,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  that  state,  died  in  [838. 
They  wore  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as 
follows:  Eliza;  Jane;  David;  Ann;  John: 
5  rah;  and  William.  During  his  ministry 
lie  answered  calls  to  preach  in  Illinois,  In- 
diana and  Virginia,  besides  those  of  his  na- 
tive state. 

When  but  a  child  our  subject  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  saddler,  which  occupation  he 
followed  for  five  years,  lie  then  took  up 
clerking,  but  in  1856  came  to  Clinton,  Illi- 
nois,   where   he   stayed     but     a     short    time. 

ng  later  to  Logan  county,  where  he  tilled 
the  -oil  for  a  livelihood.  In  [858  he  re- 
turned to  Clinton  and  acted  a-  salesman  in 
the  dard  &    Hildreth,   which 

jition  he  held  for  about  two  years.  In 
>  he  visited  his  native  state,  hut  a-  the 
war  was  about  to  break  out  he  returned  to 
the  north  in  1861,  and  in  September  of  the 
same  year  enlisted  in  Company  L,  Fourth 
Regiment,  Illinois  Cavalry,  under  Col.  F. 
Lisle  Dickey,  as  a  private,  hut  was  soon 
promoted  to  first  sergeant,  lie  served  in 
this  capacity  for  three  years  and  two 
months.  Although  he  was  in  several  heavy 
battles,  he  was  never  seriously  injured.  At 
the  E  his   war  career  he   returned   to 

Clinton.  Illinois,  and  a  little  later  engaged 
in  farming  in  Harnett  township  for  one 
year,  when  he  was  married  and  removed  to 
Tazewell  county,  where  he  carried  ..11  farm- 
ing for  three  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  returned  to  I'.arnett  township  and 
opened  a  general  store  at  Eiallsville,  which 
he  very  successfully  carried  "ii  for  sixteen 
years,  and  for  three  years  under  the  firm 
of  Humphrey  &  Rogers.  For  the  same 
length  of  time  he  .acted  as  postmaster,  being 
the  first  man  appointed  to  that  office  in  the 


place.  At  the  death  of  Spuiie  Fossett,  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  Mr.  Rogers  was  elected 
to   fill    the   unexpired   term.      For   a   number 

.ears  he  served  as  school  and  township 
treasurer,  and  in  1888  was  nominated  by 
the  Republican  party  for  clerk  of  the  cir- 
cuit court  and  was  elected  and  re-elected, 
holding  the  office  for  twelve  consecutive 
lie  also  engaged  in  the  abstract 
business,  which  he  now  carries  on,  and  has 
a    full   and   complete   set    of   abstract    I ks. 

Mr.  Rogers  married  Miss  Mary  A., 
daughter  of  John  Barclay,  ^i  DeWitt  coun- 
ty. This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
three  children:  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  \\\ 
A.  Prim,  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri;  they  h 

child.   I-'  John  is  following  agri- 

cultural pursuits  in  this  county:  Maud  mar- 
ried C.    F.  Crum,  who  is  a  leading 
of  Clinton;  they  have  three  children,  Lovell, 
1  lelen  and  Rachel. 

tally  Mr.  Rogers  is  a  member  of  the 
A.  F.  &  \.  M.,  chapter,  council  and  com- 
mandery;  is  member  of  the   Frank 

Lowrey  Post,  No.  157.  <  '•.  A.  R.,  ••]  Clin- 
ton, lie  is  the  owner  of  a  tine  property 
in  Clinton,  and  is  a  pleasant,  genial  gentle- 
man, who  makes  many  friends,  and  his  life 
l.as  ever  been  such  as  to  win  him  the  con- 
fidence and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
come  in  contact  either  in  business  or  social 
life. 


|<  )H\  Q.  WHITEHEAD. 

John  Q.  Whitehead  is  a  native  of  But- 
ler county.  Ohio,  and  was  born  on  June  17. 
1824.  He  lived  at  his  place  of  birth  until 
he  was  twenty-live  years  of  age.  Mi-  early 
education  was  obtained  in  the  common 
Schools  and  he  assisted  his  father  upon  the 
farm.      I  le  wa  of  I  )aniel   and   Ann 


218 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


(Whitehead)  Whitehead,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  England.  Daniel  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade,  and  when  he  settled 
in  Ohio,  about  [820,  he  located  in  Butler 
county  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
calling.     The  father  also  purchased  a  farm 

and  was  \cr\  successful.  lie  died  upon  the 
farm,  but  his  wife  died  in  Rush  county,  In- 
diana, and  both  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
Our  subject  was  one  of  six  children,  onl) 
two  of  whom  are  now  living,  and  our  sub- 
ject was  the  youngest  in  the  family. 

Aftjer  leaving  his  childhood  borne  i'.i 
1859,  Mr.  Whitehead  located  in  Shelby 
county,  Indiana,  and  embarked  in  the  sta- 
tionery business,  and  continued  in  same  for 
.seme   year-..       At    the   rail    of   duty.    1  >n    Feb 

ruary  9,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I. 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantry,  which  was  assigned  i" 
Hoover's  division,  lie  was  through  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  then  participated  in  the 
Franklin  fight,  and  his  was  the  first  regi- 
ment tn  enter  Fort  Anderson  at  the  sur- 
render. Me  was  mustered  out  at  Lexit 
ton,  North  Carolina,  and  was  discharged  <>n 
August  23,  1865,  having  been  a  brave  and 
faithful   soldier. 

\fter  his  war  experience  he  came  to  Illi- 
ii. 'is  and  located  in  Woodford  county,  near 
Washburn,  where  he  remained  three  ye 
and  then  came  to  DeWitt  county  and  set 
tied  in  Texas  township  and  rented  land  and 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising  for 
smne  years.  During  this  time  Mr.  White- 
head   farmed  to  senile  extent   in   partnership 

with  his  sun  James.     About  eighteen  years 
■■■  he  purchased  his  present   farm  and  has 
resided  here  ever  since,  on  section  [3,  Tun- 
bridge  township,  and  is  engaged    in    fruit 

farming. 

Mr.  Whitehead  married,  in  Indiana. 
Miss  Leath  Lightner,  and  she  was  a  native 


of  Pennsylvania,  having  been  horn  near 
Harrisburg.     She   died    in    Shelby   county, 

Indiana,  and  had  home  her  husband  a  fam- 
ily of  four  children,  two  hoys  and  two  girls, 
three  of  whom  are  still  surviving,  namely: 
Anna  Eliza,  who  married  Monroe  Young, 
of  Rush  county,  Indiana;  James  II.;  |ohn, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  fort\  six  wars  and 
left  a  wife  and  one  child;  Emma,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Franklin  Scott,  of  Bloomington, 
Illinois,  and  they  have  four  children,  viz: 
Muneld,   Manic.  John  and   Marie. 

Mr.  Whitehead  was  married  a  second 
time,  and  his  choice  was  Marilda  Phillips, 
a  native  ol  Indiana.  This  marriage  oc- 
curred on  April  1 1.  [868,  and  she  was  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Wickens) 
Phillips.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  wi 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  came  to  Indi- 
at  a  very  early  day  and  died  in  that 
state  when  both  were  over  eighty  years  of 
age,  after  over  sixty  years  of  happy  mar- 
ried life.  These  two  good  people  had  a 
family  of  twelve  children,  seven  of  whom 

now  living.  All  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Phil- 
lips was  spent  in  farming,  and  he  was  very 
successful,    leaving   behind    him    not    only    a 

g 1  name  hut  also  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence  fi  'i'  his   family. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitehead  were  horn 
eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  now  living, 
namely;  Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Thompson,  a  farmer  of  Tunbridge  town- 
ship, and  they  have  one  child.  Ross;  Ella, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Marshall,  of  De- 
catur,  and  they  have  seven  children;  George, 
who  is  in  Texas  township,  a  farmer,  and 
he  married  Laura  Coppenbarger  and  they 
have  three  children.  Nettie,  Rosy  and  Edna; 
<  >inie.  who  resides  in  Rush  county,  Indi- 
ana: Ralph,  who  resides  in  Decatur  and 
runs  a  transfer  business,  married  Ollie 
Thurhcr,   a  daughter  of  Isaac  Thurber.  of 


I  HL    I'.H  H'.RAPHIC  \I-   RECORD. 


219 


wnship,  and  Ralph  and  his  wife 
have  three  children,  Gladys,  Robert  and 
Malvina;  Chalmer,  who  is  at  home;  Nettie 
and  Elizabeth  died  in  infant 

Mr.  Whitehead  is  an  active  member  of 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  has 
been  connected  with  the  lodge  of  ' 
l<.w-  for  a  number  of  years.  He  and  his 
wife  arc  members  "i"  the  Baptist  church  and 
are  of  the  old  hard-shelled  school. 

When  our  subject  first  came  to  DeWitt 
county  the  entire  locality  was  wild  prairie 
land,  upon  which  the  native  trees  reared 
their  rustling  heads.  No  plow  had  dis- 
turbed the  virgin  soil  and  wild  game  roamed 
unharmed  over  the  rolling  prairie-.  Up 
and  down  the  streams  Indians  paddled  their 
rude  crafts  and  the  clatter  of  machinery  <  «r 
the  roar  of  the  engine  had  not  been  heard 
in  the  land.  Now,  through  the  wonderful 
activity  and  foresight  of  its  pioneers,  De 
Witt  county  takes  front  rank  among  the 
counties  of  Illinois  not  only  as  a  fine  agri- 
cultural district  but  also  as  a  commercial 
center,  and  it  has  a  large  population  of  in- 
telligent, patriotic,  thinking  men  and  wo- 
men.  many  of  whom  are  prominently  known 
mnection  with  the  state's  best  thought 

and  action. 

» ■ » 

ALVIS  H.  LANE, 

Prominent  among  the  wealthy  farmers 
and  influential  citizens  of  Waynesville  town- 
ship is  numbered  the  subject  "i'  this  sketch. 
whose  home  is  on  section  25.  He  was  i>. ,rn 
•  •n  the  jd  of  February,  1840,  on  the  old 
homestead  on  the  same  section,  and  belongs 
very  <>ld  and  highly  respected  family 
of  this  county,  who  took  an  important  part 
in  its  early  development  and  upbuilding. 
His  father,  Jesse  II    Lane,    was    lx,m    in 


Bourbon   county,    Kentucky,   in    181 1,   and 
was  a  son  "l   Tilmon  Lane,  who  removed 
with  his   family  to   DeWitt  county,    Illini 
in    [83O,    and    entered    land    on    section    25, 
Waynesville  township,   where  he   improved 

•.rni.  hut   was  not   long   permitted  to  eu- 

his  new   home,  as  he  died  about    [833. 

Jesse  11.  Lane,  our  subject's  father, 
came    with    the    family    to   this    county    and 

-ted  his   father  in  opening  up  the   farm 
On    the    hitter's    death    he    succeeded    to    thci 
place,  and  throughout   life  ulh    en- 

ged  m  agricultural  pursuits,  becoming 
•  lie  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  the  coun- 
ty. In  early  life  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Hayes,  who  came  here  when  a  young  lady 
and  died  in  i860.  His  death  occurred  in 
[877,  and  both  were  laid  to  rest  in  Rock 
Creek  cemetery,  where  a  suitable  monu- 
ment has  been  erected  to  their  memory. 
They  were  prominent  members  of  the  Rock 
t  reek  Christian  church,  which  Mr.  Lane 
assisted  in  organizing,  and  of  which  he  was 
;,  deacon  for  many  years.  He  was  a  s,,ldier 
of -the  Black  Hawk  war  and  served  as  road 
commissioner  in  his  township  for  a  time. 

Our  subject  is  the  second  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  five  children,  the  others 
being:     Sarah  Ann.  wife  of  Ami  .  of 

Logan  county.   Illinois;   Margaret  J.,   wife 
of    Jacob    Coppenberger,    of    Waynesville, 
DeWitt  county;  and  Lineliiie  and  James  1 
both   deceased. 

Mr.  Lane,  of  this  review,  grew  to  man- 
hood upon  the  home  farm,  assisting  his  fa- 
ther in  the  arduous  task  of  transforming 
the  wild  land  into  well-cultivated  fields. 
Many  a  day  has  he  devoted  to  breaking 
prairie  with  three  yoke  of  oxen.  His  edu- 
cation was  acquired  in  the  district  schools 
:<.iu\  the  Clinton  high  school,  \fter  reach- 
ing   man's    estate    he    was    married    in    this 

county,  September  2,   i860,  to  Miss  Sarah 


220 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Jane  Bayless,  who  was  horn  in  Indiana  but 
was  reared  in  DeWitt  county,  [llinois, 
where  she  died  in  1874,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren who  are  Still  living,  namely:  Malimla, 
now  the  wife  of  John  Jeffrey,  who  is  living 
in  southwestern  Missouri;  and  Jesse  II.. 
who  is  married  and  resides  in  Waynesville 
township,  this  county.  On  the  6th  of  I  1 
ruary,  1876,  Mr.  Lane  was  again  married. 
his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Nancy 
Vinson,  a  daughter  of  \.  J.  Vinson,  of 
Clinton,  whose  sketch  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  volume.  She  was  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  this  county.  There  is  one 
son  by  the  second  marriage,  Charles  II.. 
win.  is  ii,.w  operating  a  part  of  his  father's 
farm.  lie  is  married  and  lias  one  son 
]  low  aid. 

After  his  iirsi  marriage  Mr.  Lane  lo- 
cated 'ill  the  farm  where  he  n<<\\  resides. 
commencing  with  one  hundred  acres  of 
land,  to  which  he  has  added  from  timi 
time  until  he  now  owils  five  hundred  and 
fort}  acres  in  one  body.  This  is  well  tiled 
and  fenced  and  is  supplied  with  all  tl 
veniences     and  ries    found    upon    a 

model  farm  of  the  present  day.  The  build- 
ings are  in  first  class  condition,  and  every- 
thing about  the  place  betokens  a  thrifty 
and  painstaking  owner  who  thoroughly  •w- 
derstands  the  vocation  he  has  chosen  ; 
life  work,  lie  raises  a  good  grade  of  stock 
and  is  accounted  one  of  the  most  skillful 
farmers  of  his  community. 

.Mr.  Lane's  first  presidential  vote  was 
cast  for  General  George  IV  McClellan,  and 
he  has  always  been  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  its  principles,  hut 
has  never  cared  for  office,  lie  served,  how- 
ever, as  road  commissioner  three  years,  as 
a  member  of  the  school  hoard  a  tew  years, 
and  as  clerk  ami  president  of  the  district, 
having   always    taken   an    active    interest    in 


educational  affairs.  He  and  his  family  at- 
tend the  Christian  church,  having  'been 
reared  in  that  faith,  and  he  is  one  of  the 
most  highly  respected  and  esteemed  citi- 
ens  of  Waynesville  township. 


PI    I  Kk  \\  [LSON. 


Peter  Wilson,  a  highly  respected  citizen 
of  section  three,  Harp  township,  was  born 
(  >ci oher  15.  1834,  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and 

son  of  Thomas  and  Charlotte  (Deffen- 
baugh)  Wilson.  He  is  of  Scotch  Irish  de- 
scent on  his  father's  side  and  German  on  his 
mother's  side.  I  lis  parents  were  both  horn 
in  .Maryland,  hut  were  married  in  Perry 
county,  Ohio,  at  the  ages  of  nineteen  and 
is.  They  lived  in  (  )hio  till  1835 
when,  with  their  children  and  accompanied 
by  his  brothers,  Edwin  and  Isaiah  Wilson, 
they  came  by  wagons  to  begin  life  anew  on 
the  uncultivated  prairies  of  Illinois,  locating 
in  what  was  then  Macon  county,  DeV 
comity  not  having  been  formed  at  that  time. 
Here  Peter  Wilson  attended  with  his  broth- 

and  sisters  the  log  school  house.  Sitting 
on  its  rude  wooden  benches  he  learned  his 
alphabet  and  how  to  join  the  letters  into 
words  and  then  to  read  sentences  by  putting 
the  words  together  in  the  g 1  if  slow  old- 
fashioned  way.  (  )n  eld  winter  mornings 
he  warmed  his  numbed  fingers  by  the  crack- 
ling log  lire  in  the  greal  open  fireplace,  then 
did  his  '"sums"  in  arithmetic  and  learned  to 
print  and  write  lie  helped  his  fa- 
ther to  cultivate  his  land,  to  herd  his 
cattle,  to  cut  wood  for  their  lire,  to  hunt  the 
wolves  that  killed  their  (locks,  to  saw  lumber 
in  his  saw  mill,  to  grind  the  grain  their  neigh 
bors  brought  many  miles  1. .  Thomas  Wilsi  m's 
grist  mill.     And  while  he  helped  he  learned 


PETER   WILSON. 


MRS     PETER  WILSON. 


hi;  raphical  reo  >rd. 


from  his  father  lessons  in  industry  and  hon- 
esty and  foresight  and  pereseverance.  After 
his  father's  death  he  u«<k  his  share  of  the 
land,  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  and 
moved  upon  it.  He  improved  it.  built  a  fine 
house  ;m«l  has  lived  there  ever  since,  He 
was  united  in  marriage  May  21,  [868,  to 
Miss  Frances  Holdy  Smaller,  a  daughter  of 
John  A.  and  Julia  1  Reckner)  Smaller.  Mr. 
Smalley  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
Mrs.  Smallej  of  Maryland.  They  cami 
Harp  township  in  1862.  Here  Mr.  Smalley 
died    in    [895   at    the   ag  ■  :ars. 

Mrs.  Smalley  now  lives  in  Wilson  township. 
Mrs.  Peter  Wilson  i-  one  of  eight  children 
born  t"  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smalley.  The  otb 
are:  John  married  Ida  Nixon  and  now 
lives  in  McLean  county,  Illinois;  James  D., 
and  his  wife.  Rosa  Parker,  live  in  Wilson 
township ; Edmond  F.  married  Lula  Higgins 
now  reside  in  Harp  township;  Emma,  who 
i-  now  the  wife  of  William  Bell,  lives  in 
Wilson  township;  Isabel  married  J.  A. 
Curl,  and  their  home  is  in  Clinton;  Sarah., 
now  the  wife  of  William  (  >rr.  lives  in  Harp 
township;  Effie,  who  married,  William  I.its- 
enb  -  dead. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Wilson  are  the  par- 
ents of  live  children.  Their  oldest  daughter, 
Ida.  married  William  Reiley  and  lives  in 
Harp  township.  They  have  two  children. 
Helen  and  Fern.  Edmond  and  hi-  wife. 
Laura  Povens,  and  their  daughter,  Pe; 
live  in  DeWitt  comity.  Illinois.  Albert  J. 
and  William  Harley  are  at  home  with  their 
parents.  Ollie  Emmett  died  when  four  years 
1  'f  ag 

Mr.  Wilson  i-  a  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  but  does  not  seek  the  honors 
office,  lie  ha-  led  a  quiet  home  life  and  tells 
with  satisfaction  that  he  was  never  drawn 
on  a  jury.  No  higher  tribute  can  he  paid  to 
hi-  just  and  peaceful  character  than 


that  he  has  never  been  sited  in  hi-  life.  He 
1-  a  faithful  Presbyterian  and  his  wife  i-  a 
devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episi 

church.      He   1-   a    l; I   citi/en.   an    upright 

man.  honored  b)  all  who  have  the  good  for- 
tune to  know   him. 


JERSEY  l>.  LA  TEER. 

Jersej   D.  La   leer  is  the  junior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Crosby  &   I. a  'leer,  who  are 
now   successfully  engaged  in  the  rea 
loan  and   lire  insurance  business  in    Farmer 
lie   i-   lint   a   recent   a< 

iv  of  progressive  business  men 
in  that  thriving  town,  but  his  ability,  enter- 
prise  and  upright  methods  have  already 
tablished  for  him  an  enviable  reputation. 
Although  he  i-  >till  a  young  man  com- 
paratively his  popularity  i-  established  on 
a   linn  that   of   his  own    well-tested 

merit. 

Mr.  La  leer  v\a-  horn  near  Bellflower, 
McLean  county.  Illinois,  Inly  [6,  [867,  and 
i-  a  -. >n  of  David  A.  I.i  Teer,  now  a  resident 
of  Ford  cunty.  tin-  state.  Our  subject 
acquire  I  In-  early  education  in  the  disl 

hi-    boyll 1    home,    and    later 

ended  the  Gibson  high  school.     In   i> 
he  entered  the  printing  office  of  the  Gibson 
City  l.nteipri-e.  and  in  less  tha  1  thrte  years 
worked  his  way  upward  to  foreman.    <  hi  the 

1  of  August,  [887,  he  became  connected 
with  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  as  sta- 
ll. .11  agent  at  Kumler,  Illinois;  later  he 
wa-  clerk  in  the  freight  office  at  Springfield, 
ami  subsequent!)  wa-  station  agent 
Chestnut,  New  Holland,  Roberts  and 
Farmer  Citj  S<  ering  his  connection  with 
the  company,  he  formed  a  partner-hip  with 
E.   L.  Crosby,  Jul)   _•.}.    [900,  and  the)    have 


226 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


since  engaged  in  their  present  business.  So 
successful  have  they  been  that  they  are 
now  at  the  head  of  a  large  and  profitable 
business,  which  is  constantly  increasing, 
and  now  extends  n"t  only  throughout  De- 
Witt  and  adjoining  counties,  hut  in  other 
states  as  well. 

Mr.  l.a  Teer  was  married  in  iSSS  to 
Miss  Alice  Anelia  Heller,  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  II.  Heller,  of  Piatt  county,  and  to 
them  were  born  two  children:  a  son  who 
died  in  infancy;  and  II.  Lynne.  They  have 
a  nice  home,  which  is  centrally  located  on 
Plum  street,  and  which  was  purchased  of 
.Mi.   B.   I-'.  Garver. 

In  politics  Mr.  l.a  leer  is  a  mp >ng  Re- 
publican, has  served  as  alderman  of  the 
city,  and  is  now  a  member  "i  the  improve- 
ment board.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent 
<  irder  I  I  >M  Fellows,  the  blue  lodge,  No. 
710,  F.  X  A.  M.;  the  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.; 
and  the  Eastern  Star,  to  which  his  wife  also 
belongs,  lie  1-  one  of  the  energetic,  pro- 
gressive and  reliable  business  men  ol 
Farmer  1.  ity  and  is  very  popular  among  his 
fellow  citizen^. 


WILLIAM  C.   McMURRY. 

.  One  of  the  esteemed  residents  ,,1"  Farmer 
City  is  William  C.  McMurry,  ex-sheriff  of 
DeWitt  county  and  in  former  years  a  lead- 
in-  and  enterprising  business  man.  lie  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  for  his  faithful -exe- 
cution of  his  business  interests  in  former 
years  brought  to  him  a  comfortable  com- 
petence, and  now  he  is  enjoying  a  well- 
merited  rest.  He  was  horn  in  Sangamon 
county,  nine  miles  west  of  Springfield,  Illi- 
October  _•,  [826,  a  son  of  William  and 


Elizabeth     (Clampit)     McMurry.      The    fa- 
ther  was  horn   in    Botetourt    county.    Vir- 
ginia, and  at  an  early  day  removed  to  Ken- 
tucks,  thence  to  Sangamon  county.    Illinois, 
whence  he  went  to  Clinton  in   [849,  settling 
on  what  is  now   known  as  the  Lewis  (amp- 
hell    farm,    where    he    successfully    followed 
farming,     lie  was  born  in  170,:;  ami  passed 
away  in  1875,  while  his  wife,  who  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  in   [801,  died  in   [850.     Their 
children    wen-:      James    Logan:    Elizabeth: 
Nancy;  William  C. ;  Lewis   R.,  who  died  in 
[850;    Moses    ('.,    who    served    in    the   Civil 
war;  Samuel  I'...  who  died  in  the  army  while 
protecting  the  Union;  Joseph  D.,  of  Baxter 
Spring,     Kansas;     Ann     Jane,     of     Baxter 
Spring,    Kansas;    Peter    A.,    who    was    also 
one  of  the  boys  in  blue  during  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion;    anil    five    who    died    in    infancy. 
The  members  of  the   family  now    living  are 
William    ('..    Moses   *'.,   Joseph    1)..    Ann   J. 
and    Peter   A.      After   the  death   of  his   first 
wife   the    father   married    Mrs.    Agnes    Bry- 
ant,  hut    they   had   no  children.      In   politics 
lie   was    fust    a    Whig    and     later    became   a 
stanch      Republican.      Of     the     Methodist 
Episcopal  church  he  was  an  earnest  and  con- 
sistent member,  living  an  exemplary  Chris- 
tian life. 

Mr.  McMurry.  of  this  review,  spent  his 
childhood  in  Sangamon  county,  and  in  1S47 
took  up  his  abode  in  Clinton,  where,  in  con- 
nection witli  Joel  Hall  and  T.  S.  Smith,  he 
built  a  mill,  operating  the  first  circular  saw- 
mill in  the  county.  A  year  later  this  was 
removed    to    I'.arnelt    township,    where    they 

engaged  in  tin-  manufacture  of  lumber. 
Subsequently  Mr.  McMurry  returned  to 
Clinton  and  erected  a  mill  near  the  site  of 
the  present  flouring  mills.  This  was  con- 
ducted for  s,  ,me  years  hy  McMurry  and 
Daniel  Newcomb.  Afterward  Mr.  Mc- 
Murry turned  his  attention  to  blacksmith- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ing.  learning  the  trade  under  the  direction 
of  Mr.  Maxon.  Subsequently  he  carried  on 
that   business  alone.      In    1851    he   rem. 

the  town  of  DeWitt,  where  he  condui 
smithy  until  the  fall  oi  hen  he  - 

after  which  he  operated  the   Mori 
-     :  creek  mill.     In   1856  he  settled  in  Mt. 
-ant.  now   Farmer  City. 

the   4th   of    September,      I         Mr. 
McMurry   mam  ilty    to    his 

country  by  enlisting  as  a  memb  m- 

pany  1.  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  with 
which   he   served   for   three  nd   five 

nths.      He     was     captured     at     Drur 
Bluff,   Virginia,    and    was    incarcerated  at 
Libby   Prison.  Andersonville  and   Florence, 
being  one  of  the  few  who  survived  long  im- 
prisonment in  those  loathsome  places,  where 

ry  hard-hip  was  endured.      He  v. 
thin  when  at  last  r^  ind  hail  a  rack- 

cough,  so  that  his  friends  feared  for  his 
life,  hut  to-day  appears  to  be  a  splend'd 
specimen  of  physical  manhood  and  in  ap- 
pearance resembles  a  man  of  not  more  than 
sixty-rive  ye 

As  soon  as  his  health  permitted  Mr.  Mc- 
Murry resumed  work  at  his  trade,  and  was 
thus    employed    when,     in     1866,     he 
elected 'on  the  Republican  ticket  to  the  office 

-heriff  of  DeWitt  county.  On  his  re- 
tirement from  the  county  office  he 
in  Parmer  City,  and  was  there  made  city 
marshal.  In  1S77  he  was  appointed  post- 
master, and  served  until  one  year  after  the 
incoming  of  the  Cleveland,  administration. 
He  ha-  a!-.  Keen  notary  public  and  justice 
•  f  the  peace,  hut  he  ha-  retired  from  office 

be  entered   i' — with  the  confidence  and 
1  will  of  the  public     He  i-  now  enjoy- 
ing a  well-earned  rest,  ami  is  a  man  of  up- 
right character,  who.  in  the  evening  of  life. 
1-  held   in  the  highe-t  resect   by   reason  of 
terling  character. 


Mr.    McMurry   has  been  twice  mat 
in  ie    wedded    Jane    Cumm    g 

fjhtei     I  the  Re\ .  P;  the 

»1  regular  minister  in  \  n- 

ship,  and  who  had  strong  influence  in  the 

moral  development  of  the  community  at  an 

early  day.     Mrs.    McMurry    died    in    1 

hildren  were:  Will- 
iam, who  died  in  inl  dwin,  d< 
Ann  Eliza,  the  widow  of  I.  P.  Jackson,  by 
whom  she  had  two  children,  Eugene  C.  and 
I.  lame.-;  Ida  Gertrude,  who  mar; 
Tlioma-  Cheney  and  I  n  children. 
William.  Edwin.  Ida  Gertrude,  Edna,  Lew- 

Vlartha  and  Thomas;  Martha  Ague-,  the 
widow  of  Prank  Gay,  by  whom  -he  had  one 
child.  Murry  P.:  and  James  M..  who  mar- 
ried Fannie  McCart  and  ha-  five  children, 
Julia.  Richard,  J.  Willi-.  Francis  and  Harry 
Pee.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  McMurry 
chose  Mrs.  Lucinda  E.  dimming,  the 
widow  of  lame-  dimming  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jame-  Washington  McCord.  The 
children  of  the  second  marriage  are  I. 
Eliah  and  Ruth,  hut  the  latter  is  now  de- 
The  former  married  Edwin  Coll- 
ver  and  has  three  children.  William  P..  1  >•  -r- 
othy  and  Murry  <  i. 

Through  long  year-   Mr.   McMurry  has 
been  a  representative  member  of  the   Ma- 
sonic   fraternity.      He   belonged    to   the   old 
lodge.  No.  224,  of  Parmer  City,  and  served 
ft  r  four  term-    a-    it-    master.     When  the 
r.ew    lodge  was   instituted,   in    1857,   he  he- 
came   one  of   it-   charter   members   ami    its 
first  master,  and  in  that  capacity  he 
for  -everal  term-,      lie  was 
tnrer    of    the    district,  and   ha-  been  n 
earnest  and  active  in  promoting  the  cause 
Masonry.     He  also  belongs  to  the  chapter. 
He    likewise    holds    membership   with   the 

nd  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  beloi 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which 


228 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


he  has  served  as  steward  and  class  leader 
several  times.  He  has  ever  been  faithful  to 
the  trusts  reposed  in  him,  loyal  to  his  duties 
of  citizenship  and  true  to  his  responsibili- 
ties m  every  relation  of  life,  arid  his  ex- 
ample is  well  worthy  of  emulation. 


NEWTON   BRITTIN. 

Among  the  representative  men  of  V 
township,    PeW'itt   county,    Illinois,    is 
Newton    Brittin,  on    -  -  was 

born,  reared  and  has  always  lived  in  this 
locality.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Almira 
(Crippin  )  Brittin,  and  Henry  Brittin  is  a 
native  of  McLean  county,  Illinois,  to  which 
count v  his  father  came  in  the  year  of  the 
big  snow.  Henry  Brittin  now  resides  in 
LeRoy  to  which  localit)  he  removed  aboul 
nine  years  ago  and  now  lives  retired  from 
e  business. 

Newton  Brittin  has  spent  hi-  life  upon 
the  farm,  receiving  a  good  education  in  the 
the  township  during  the  winter 
months,  and  working  upon  the  farm  in  the 
summer.  When  lie  became  twenty-one  he 
began  to  work  for  himself  and  now  owns 
and  operates  a  tine  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  lie  carrying  on  general 
farming  and  stock-raising.  His  buildings 
.ire  in  excellent  condition  and  his  house  is 
verj  comfortable,  while  he  never  neglects 
any   part   '<i  his   land,    keeping    it    all    in 

d  shape. 

In    [893    .Mr.    Brittin   was    married 
Mis.  Belle  Silvy,  a  native  of  this  Mate,  and 
to  them  have  been  horn  the  following  chil- 
dren:     Jennie    Irene:     Henry;     l.etta     and 
Lyle. 

Mr.  Brittin  is  a   Democrat    in    politics 
and  the  first  office  he  held  was  that  of  asses- 


sor, which  he  retained  for  one  year.  Tn 
1900  he  ran  for  supervisor  of  Wilson  town- 
ship on  the  People's  ticket,  and  it  was  a 
very  close  election,  he  being  defeated  by  a 
majorit)  of  one  vote.  At  the  follow  ins;  elec- 
tion lie  was  elected  by  the  same  majority 
and  still  holds  his  position  upon  the  board. 

alizing  that  he  understands  the  state  of 
the  roads  and  bridges  in  his  and  surround- 
ing townships,  the  other  members  o|  the 
hoard  placed  him  upon  the  committee  on 
roads  and  bridges  and  also  on  the  one  on 
printing  and  stationery,  which  he  -nil  re- 
tains. Mr.  Brittin  is  a  man  of  solid  -.'oil 
sense  and  is  well  qualified  to  repr  ;en1  the 
interests  of  his  township  for  he  is  a  man  ol 

rling  honesty  and  uprightness  of  purpose 
and  by  his  many  excellent  qualities  has 
made   mam    warm    friends. 


ALBERT  (i.  WILLI  WIS. 

Among  the  men  who  have  taken  an  act- 
ive part  in  the  development  of  the  state 
Illinois,  one  of  the  oldest  in  DeWitt  county 
is  the  venerable  and  highly  honored    Albert 

<  1.  Williams,  who  was  ninety  years  of  age 
upon  his  last  birthday  and  is  still  hale  and 
well,  showing  forth  in  his  life  the  result  of 
upright  living  and  honest  dealings.  He  now 
resides  in  Clinton,  DeWitt  county.  Illinois, 
hut   was  horn  in    Fairfax  county.   Virginia, 

i    Washington,   March  24,    1S11. 

His  father  was  James  Williams,  and  he 
as  well  a-  the  ancestors  of  the  Williams 
family  as  far  hack  as  any  trace  of  them  can 
he  found,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  In  this 
good  old  state  he  married  Nancy  \dams. 
also  horn  in  Virginia,  hut  later  the  parents 
removed  to  Kentucky  and  the  father  died 
in    Shelby    county,    that    state,    when    about 


> 
z 

o 

S 

CO 

> 

r 

03 

W 

/D 

H 
O 


r 

r 

> 


THE   I'.H  (GRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


rid  was  buried  tl  his 

wife,  but  >he  lived  t.  ■  be  seventy  six  y< 

The  father  was 
in  the  war  of   1812  but    9 
means  and  exerted  his  infiu  the  ut- 

most  to  advance  the  g 1  cause.     1: 

••.inch  Democrat.     <  >f  the  - 

children  born  to  these  g 1  • 

are  now  living  -  i  farm- 

er   of    Bowling    Green,    Kentucky,    who 

:  Anna,  the  widow 
I  [enry  Storts,  now    i  in  Clint 

Mir    is       ged   ninety-three   years,    who   lias 
f  her  faculties  in  a  remarkable 
Allien  i 
Albert  G.  Williams  received  his  educa- 
tion in  a  subscripts       -        •!  in  his  native 
state,  and  tells  entertaining  of  the 

litt'<       g  s  -  slab  bene 

and  crude  appliances,  in  which  however  the 
pupils  were  well  grounded  in  the  princi] 

learning.     At  an  early  ag  itered  a 

wholesale  ^r.  eery  h<  >use  at  Alexandria.  Vir- 
-  -     it  as  lie  had  earned 
sufficient  money  he  again  atter. 
and    when    twenty    or    twenty-one    tar. 
This  line  he  continued  for  ei 

teaching    in    varii  rict 

the  winter  montl 
About  1832  he  married  Mi-s  Anna  Mur- 
phy at   Bowling  Green,   Kentucky,   and 
this  uni  1  three  children  :     Anna. 

married  Willis  Reed  and  resides  in  Kans 
She  is   the   mother  of  nine  children,   viz.: 
Charles,  who  married  and  lives  in  McLean 
inty,    Illinois,    and    has    three    children: 
Lula.  who  married  Ruel  Dennan  and  they 
live  in  Oklahoma  and  have  "lie  child:  Jar 
who  married  and  lives   in   I  VAVitt  county, 
Illinois,  and  has  two  children:  Frank,  who 
lives    in    Harp    township:    Harry.    I 
Robert,  Florence  and  Hazel,  all  of  whom  live 
in  Kansas  with  their  mother.  Nancy,  tl 


child    of    "iir    subject,    married    Elijah 
ind  thej  have  two  childrei 

ip  and 
children,  Nancy  and  Clareno 
k;    Albert,    who    married    and    li 

I  has  t\\"  children, 
Kuth  and  Balman.  the  third  child 

iur  subj< 

nil. 
Mr.  Williai  married  for  the 

Sarah  B< 
and  to  this  union  was  born  one  child,  vi 
ih.  who  died  and  is  buried  at  Wei. Ion, 
Mr>.  Williams  died  and  is  bur;. 
in  the  old  cemetery  at  Clinton,  Illinois 
Februar  $83,    Mr.    Williams  married 

Mrs.   PI  r,  a  native  of  Ne 

k.  who  came  to  Illinois  in    [857.      No 
children  have  been  born  to  this  ui 

After  '  »e   Mr.    Willi 

imenced  farming  in  Illinois  near 
bun;,   and  after  eight  or  nine  year-  he  re- 
moved to  Creek  township,   DeWitt  county. 

•  5  5  purchas  hundro 

of  wild  land.     From  time  to  time 

this  imnien-  rv- 

iiis  own  use  one  tion  in  s< 

.   twenty-four.     This   land  has  all   been 
put  into  a  tine   -  cultivation  and  the 

comfortable  hous  lands  up  irm 

erected  by  him.     Part  of  the  property 
is  now    farmed  by  1  ind  the 

remainder     is     rent.  Mr.     Willi.- 

retired  from  active  life  in  [883  and  r< 
to  the  .  linton.     Here  he  and  his 

timable  wife  reside  in  a  house  which   • 

:ed  by  her  ami  it  has  t>  tly  im- 

proved and  enlarged  until   it   is  one  of  the 
most  homelike  houses  in  Clinton,  and  i- 
ed  upon  South  Jackson  avenue,  corner 
Adam- 
Mr.  Williams  is  a  strong  Democrat  and 
r  Andrew  Jackson,  ami 


232 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Erom  that  time  till  the  present  he  lias  never 
missed  voting  for  the  Democratic  candidate _, 
for  president.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
served  his  party  and  fellow  townsmen  upon 
the  school  board  and  has  always  taken  a 
deep  and  active  interest  in  township  affairs, 
and  although  he  has  attained  to  the  unusual 
age  of  four  score  years  and  ten,  he  is  -till 
an  important  factor  in  political  matters. 
Both  he  and  Mrs.  Williams  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  to 
which  they  are  liberal  supporters.  Through- 
out the  entire  community  Mr.  Williams  is 
universally  respected  and  beloved  Eor  his 
public  spirit  and  his  high  moral  character, 
while  the  people  of  Clinton  are  proud  oi 
his  energj  and  the  fact  that  he  is  in  posses 
n  of  his  faculties,  and  is  able  to  read 
without  glasses  at  so  advanced  an  age. 


J.  GUERNSEY    POR1  ER,   M.   D. 

This  prominent  and  successful  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  of  Clinton   was  born  iu 

iton,  July  i-'.  [868,  and  is  descended 
from  an  old  substantial  family,  who  have 
In  .rue  an  important  part  in  the  history  of 
this  country.  His  grandfather,  George 
Porter,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  when 
a  child  was  taken  to  Ohio,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood  and  followed  the  pursuits  ol 
a  farmer.  He  there  married  Miss  Kliza 
Lee  Lowe,  daughter  of  John  W.  Lowe  and 
a  second  cousin  to  Robert  L.  Lee.  They 
reared  a  family  of  three  children. as  follows: 
Edward,  our  subject's  father;  John  \\\.  of 
Clinton;  and  L.  Josephine,  who  married 
Isaac  X.  Tully,  a  physician  of  Red  (loud, 
Nebraska.  In  [852,  George  Porter  came 
with   his   sons    to   DeWitt   county,    Illinois, 


where  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Harnett 
township,  where  he  spent  his  remaining 
days,  dying  in  [859  at  the  age  of  fifty-six 
_\  ears.  ]  li-,  wife  attained  the  age  1  if  se\  enty. 
Ills  son  |bhn,  who  is  now  retired  in  Clin- 
ton, served  from  t86i  to  [865  in  Company 
E,  Twentieth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and   was  promoted   to  second  lieutenant. 

Edward  Porter  was  born  in  Sinking 
Springs,  Highland  county.  Ohio,  on  Feb- 
ruary i<.  1833,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood 
days  and  attended  the  common  schools,  and, 
as  before  stated,  in  [852  came  with  his 
parents  to  DeWitt  county.  He  was  an  in- 
dustrious lad  and  eager  to  obtain  a  good 

education,     and     aside       front     his     regular 

scl ling    he    sought     the    knowledge    of 

authors,  spending  all  his  leisure  time  in 
reading  the  best  literature,  which  was  bene- 
ficial to  him  in  his  future  profession.  At 
seventeen  years  of  age  he  began  teaching, 
often  having  pupils  older  than  himself.  In 
[85]  he  began  the  stud)  of  medicine,  which 
he  kept  up  for  several  years,  devoting  what 
time  he  could  spare  to  it.  In  [862  he 
proved  his  patriotism  h\  enlisting  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Regiment, 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  in  which 
he  faithfully  served  for  two  years 
and  was  then  discharged  for  physi- 
cal disability.  In  [864  he  was  nomi- 
nated by  the  Republican  party  for  county 
treasurer  and  was  elected  by  a  large  ma- 
jority, which  office  he  filled  with  so  much 
credit  to  himself  that  he  was  re-elected  in 
1  St .(..  The  next  two  years  were  spent  on 
the  farm,  after  which  he  attended  a  course 
of  medical  lectures  in  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  the  Homeopathic  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  with  honors.  He 
then  returned  to  Clinton  and  bought  Dr. 
Mitchell's  practice,  but  this  was  not  neces- 
sary, for  almost  immediately  his   skill  was 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


rec  s  and   he    \\:l>   acknowledg 

one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  county. 
He  was  a  great  reader,  spendii  .  arc 

moments  in  the  study  of  able  writ 
scientious  practitioner,  a  noted  writer  and 
an  eloquent  speaker,  believing  firmly  in  the 
teachings    of     Swedenl  June 

1856,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lucy 
E.  Mills,  whose  father  was  one  of  the  early 

ers  of  DeVVitt  county.     Their  children 
were   Chancey    II..    of    Lincoln,     Mini 
George  !'•..  of  South   Dakota;  Mr-     - 
H.     Wilson,      county      superintendent     of 
schools  el"  Clinton.   Illinois;   Mrs.   Lucy   E. 
Turner,   of   Lincoln.    Illinois;   J.   Guerns 
our  subject;  <iile>  G.,  a  physician  of  War- 
ren.   Arkansas;    Mr-.    Lliza    J.    Gatchell, 
Mrs.   Nellie  E.  Owen:  and   Freddie  A.,  a 
teacher  of  Gin  ton.    The  father  <>i  this  fam- 
ily died  March  1.  1879.     He  was  a  member 
the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Lodge.     His  widow, 
who   survives,    has  a   beautiful   brick   resi- 
dence,   where   our    subject    also    make-    his 
home. 

In  the  spring  of  1888  J.  Guernsey  Por- 
ter graduatet  1  from  the  Clinton  high  school 
and  was  then  associated  with  the  American 
Ex]  impany,  of  Springfield,  Illinois, 

but  was  later  promoted  to  messenger  and 
served  in  that  capacity  until  1895.  Having 
devoted  a  good  deal  of  time  to  the  study 
of  medicine,  he  entered  the  Chicago  Homeo- 
pathic Medical  College  and  graduated  in 
nee  came  to  Clinton,  where 
he  ha-  already  built  up  a  lucrative  practice 
ami  i-  l'a-t  reaching  the  degree  his  father 
held  in  the  science  of  medicine.  He 
member  of  DeWitl  V  F.  &  A.  M.. 

dkrake  Chapter  and  Clinton  Council, 
all  of  Clinton.  He  is  als,,  a  member  and 
examining  physician  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men. Foresters,  Court  of  Honor,  A.  t >.  C. 
W..  and  Loyal  Sons  of  America. 


ANDREW  J  WkSi  ».\  DAVIS. 

And  rev 

•  lent  of  -  was  born   m 

Madison  county.  September  8,  1851,  and  is 

of  \\  illiara  and   Ruth 
\  is.  lx .th  of  whom  are  now   <1< 
father   was  a   native  of    Tennessee  and   the 
mother   of   the    Blue   I  this 

worthy  couple  were  born  nine  children,  our 
subje  the  fourth  in  birth.   The  other 

six    living    an  1".    J.    D 

William     Harrison     Davis,    John     W< 
Amanda  Ann.  Louis  Richard,  and  Thomas 
Washington. 

Andrew  Davis  received  his  education 
from  the  schools  in  Hmingham  coUnty  and 
remained  upon  the  home  farm  until  he  was 
nineteen    year  ge,    at    which    time   lie 

rented   a  tract   of   land   and   started   01 

journey   for  him-  I  In  August    11, 

he  was  united  in  marriage  with   Miss 
Sarah  Ann  Wilson,  daughter  of  Philip 
Margaret    Wilson,   both  of  whom   hav( 
partetl  this  life.      Mr.   Wilson  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Mrs.  Wilson  of  Ohio, 
in  which  state  Miss   Sarah   was  Inirn. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  became  the  parents 
of  rive  children,  as  follows:  Emma  R 
who  became  the  wife  of  Ezra  Westlake, 
now  resides  m  Logan  count  v.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Irvin.  Ruth  ami  Ruby,  twins;  and 
Pearl.  Amy  Estella  married  George  Young, 
and    r<  1    the   home   township. 

iiildren.    I  Ralph     ami 

Earl.  Cora  is  the  wife  of  James  Reed,  and 
they  are  the  parents  .if  two  daughters,  Ha- 
zel and  Pansy.  Pearl  and  Bessie,  the  young- 
est children,  are  at  home  with  their  parents. 

In   [888   Mr.   Davis  moved  t"  DeWitl 
county    ami    continued    in    the    agricultural 
pursuits  until   iS<)4.  when  he  open 
era!    store   at    Birkbeck,   his   being   the  only 


!34 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


store  in  that  place  for  about  five  years.  In 
[896  our  subject  was  appointed  postmaster 
of  Birkbeck,  under  President  Cleveland, 
and  although  a  stanch  Democrat  he  has 
given  such  satisfaction  that  he  has  held  the 
office  through  the  Republican  administra 
tion  to  the  present  tunc.  For  two  terms  he 
was  township  clerk  and  has  also  served  as 
tool  director.  Religiously,  Mr.  Davis  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  church  of  Char- 
ter I  lak. 


EZEKI1  1    G.  F.  II  PRISON. 

After  years  of  active  labor,  devoted 
principally  to  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing, llr.  Harrison  is  now  living  a 
retired  life  in  Clinton,  having  a  nice 
home  at  No.  719  North  (.'enter  street. 
A  native  ol  Illinois,  he  was  born  in  Sanga- 
mon county,  "ii  the  1  ith  of  November,  1828. 
His  father.  Ezekiel  I'..  Harrison,  was  born 
in  Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  and  traced 
his  ancestr)  hack  to  Benjamin  Harris,  .11. 
the  father  of  William  11.  Harrison,  ex-pi 
ident  of  the  United  States.  When  a  boy 
the  father  of  our  Subject  went  to  Kentucky. 

where  he  grew    to  inanh 1  and  was  united 

in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  James  Bell, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  the  1  >Id  Dominion. 
About  [822  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled 
in  Sangamon  county,  where  he  bought  and 
improved  a  farm,  making  his  home  then 
until  [848,  when  he  removed  to  Petersburg, 
Illinois.  There  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven,  llis  wife,  who  passed  away  some 
years  previous,  was  about  fifty  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  her  death.  Both  were  active 
and  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  with  which  he  united  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years,  afterward  becom- 
ing a  local  preacher  of  that  denomination. 


In  politics  he  was  a  Whig,  lie  had  eleven 
children,  of  win 'in  two  died  in  infancy,  but 
only  three  are  now  living,  namely:  Milton 
I'...  a  resident  of  Petersburg,  Menard  coun- 
ty, Illinois;  Lucinda  Priscilla,  wife  of  Enoch 
McGrady,  of  Belleville,  Republic  county, 
Kansas;  and  Ezekiel,  our  subject. 

\h.  I  [arrison,  of  this  review,  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Menard  county,  attending 
first  the  subscription  schools  and  later  the 
district  schools,  lie  was  graduated  at  the 
Petersburg  high  school,  and  then  commenced 
teaching  in  the  district  schools,  following 
that    pursuit,    together    with    clerking,    for 

•it  ten  years.  For  a  time  he  carried  on  a 
general  store  of  his  own  at  Petersburg.  In 
1861  he  came  to  DeWitt  county  and  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  partially  improved 
land  in  Barnett  township,  and  011  selli 
that  propert)  bought  a  trad  of  one  hundred 
and  twentj  acres  in  the  same  township. 
Subsequent!)  he  disposed  of  that  property 
and  removed  to  Wilson  township,  where  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixt)  acres  of  land. 
To  this  he  later  added  another  tract  of  one 

hundred    ami    sixty    acres,    making    a    g 1 

farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
well-developed   land.      Mr.    Harrison   n 
many  improvements  upon  this  place  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  its  cultivation,  ami  also 
made  a  specialt)  of  the  raisii  te  stock 

until  [891,  when  he  rented  the  farm  ami  re- 
moved to  Clinton,  where  he  owns  an  impos- 
ing home.  I  [ere,  surrounded  by  all  the  com- 
forts of  life,  he  i>  U"\\    living  retired,  enjoy - 

a    well-earned   rest. 

In  1857  Mr.  Harrison  married  Miss  Em- 
ily Jane  Carman,  a  native  of  this  state,  and 
a  daughter  of  Charles  L.  and  Arenia  (Per- 
kins) Carman.  Her  father  was  born  in 
New  York  state.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
are  the  parents  of  ten  children,  namely:  ( 1) 
William     died     in     infancy;    (2)   Charles, 


E.   G.   F.    HARRISON 


THI  IRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


wh  in  llit-  furniture  -  m 

Clinton  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Lemon 

.   married    Laura    Barnett,   and 

e  child,  Edith  Kohim  ink 

1  5  ind 

is  •  in  importing  hou 

Edwin  !..  a  resident 
Illinois,  married  Sarah  B  d  they  1 

had  four  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy, the  others  are  Wilbur  and  Heli 
All>ert.  died  in  infancy:  :.  a 

Xorm 
Burwell  and 
tor   Marie.   Ven  Elbert   Iredell,  and 

an  infant :  (7)  Lilly  May  is  the  v  -  ler- 

nian  Grant  Hul'  linton,  they 

have  one  child.  Cecile;  (Si  Minnie  1 
in  infancy;   (9)    Ruby   Tune  is  the  wife 

\V.  Edward  nton,  who  is  in 

the  em;  the  Illinois  Central   Railr 

mpany;  irence  Lucile  1-  at  home 

with  her  pari 

Mr.   H  career  has  '  up- 

and  he  has  I 
•ice  and  ill   who  know    him. 

His  wif  membership  in  the  M 

al    church,    and    the    family    receive 
and  merit  the  hnj  1  of  the  entire  com- 

munity. 


WILLIAM    METZGER. 

Williaiti    M  1    retired    citizen    of 

Clinton,    Ulini  itive   of    Pennsyl- 

vania,  born   in    Bedford   county.    February 

ind  Mary 
Ann  1  Wort/ 1  Metzger.  The  father  of  our 
suliji  man  that   was  actively   iden- 

tified   with    the   county    in    which    he 
and   .  t  the  time  of 

death,   which   occurred    when    he    was 
alx>ut    thirty  The    mother 

11 


ir  chil- 
Audrew   J.; 
-i.ih.   and    William. 

William  Mi  un- 

til he 

ermined  to  mak  in   the 

rid.     1 le  li- 

ft time. 
In    1846  he   re  1  >e- 

Witt  county,  and  tl  lent 

tnd  harness-ma- 
ker.    1 1  by  Mr  I.  Jack- 
W.   P.  Hunt,  and  in   lE 

In  dr.   Mel 

of  the  f  the  ti 

was  ,1c  me  on  h 

in    demand,  -•    unknown 

and  lid  ride  in  any  direction.     Il( 

mmon  tl  i  if 

nick  trip  made  tl 

other   way  but   I 

ry    different    from    what 
they   are   at    the   present    time. 
were   short   with   small   I  at   the 

end.  to  lengthen  or  shorten  >uld 

require. 

Machim  ere  unki 

that   everything  must    be   made    by    hand, 

■in  the  ■ 
ti\e  cattle.  ned  at   the  near  l>v   vil- 

lle  continued  there  until   1865,  whi 
he  -  le  to  Clinton,   where  he 

continued  in  the  same  bl  •  :r- 

chased  the  inter.  I  le  c 

ried    on    a    ver\    successful     business     until 

hen    he    -old    out.       At    the    end 
this  time,  at  the  request  of  his  many  friend-. 

the  I  >e\\  nty 

National  Bank,  which  position  he  tilled  for 
<•    time    with    credit    to    himself    ami 


238 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  patrons  of  the 
institution.  From  the  time  of  the  organ- 
ization of  the  bank  he  lias  been  a  director 
and  in  \X')4  he  was  made  vice-president. 
which  position  he  still  holds. 

By  marriage  Mr.  Metzger  was  united 
with  Miss  Rachel,  daughter  of  William 
Cantrall,  who  came  to  DeWitt  county  in 
the  fall  of  1835  and  took  Up  a  tract  of  land 
and  made  farming  his  life  occupation,  al- 
though he  was  engaged  in  stock-raising 
and  dairying  to  a  large  extent.  He  died 
on  the  home  farm  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years,  and  his  wife  at  the  age  of  sixty-four. 
She  ua>  a  Miss  Mary  McClure  and  a  native 
of  Virginia.  This  couple  became  the  par 
ents  of  the  following  named  children: 
Henry:  Rachel;  Margaret;  and  William 
II..  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  in 
tin-  county.  1"  our  subject  and  his  wile 
have  been  born  the  following  named  chil- 
dren: Minnie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight 
years,  ami  Henry  M..  who  i>  largely  intet 
ested  in  the  cold  storage  business  at  Grand 
Rapids,  Michigan,  lie  married  Mi--  Kattie 
Beaumont. 

In  [865,  when  Mr.  Metzger  located  in 
Clinton,  the  town  was  in  it-  infancy  and 
contained  but  a  few  hundred  souls.  Willi 
the  thought  that  it  was  sure  to  become  a 
thriving  little  city.  Mr.  Mel  get  purchased 
five  acre-  of  land  northwest  of  the  public 
square,  which  he  divided  off  into  town  lot-. 
Since  then  he  ha-  disposed  of  most  of  it  and 
i,.  daj  it  i-  "ne  of  the  best  resident  portions 
of  Clinton.  His  own  commodious  residence 
stand-  on  a  portion  of  the  original  purchase. 

Socially  Mr.  Metzger  i-  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  since 
the  first  meeting  has  always  been  present 
unless  he  was  obliged  to  remain  at  home 
on  account  of  illness.  Since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party  he  ha-  been  a 


stanch  supporter  of  its  principles  and  in 
former  years  took  an  active  interest  in  polit- 
ical affairs.  From  the  very  first  he  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  and 
prosperity  of  his  adopted  city  and  has  at 
all  tunc-  been  found  ready  and  willing  to 
do  all  in  his  power  to  further  its  interests, 
and  now  that  he  has  reached  old  age  he 
can  look  back  and  see  that  his  effort-  were 
ni  >t  in  vain.  Such  live-  arc  worthv  of  emu- 
latii  mi. 


ALLEN   A.  TURNER. 

Allen  A.  Turner,  one  of  tin-  leading  ag- 
riculturists and  prominent  citizens  of  Rut- 
ledge  township,  was  born  March  .18,   1853, 

on  the  farm  in  that  town-hip  where  his 
father,  lienui-  Turner,  >till  lives.  A  sketch 
of  the  latter  will  be  found  on  another  page 
of  tin-  volume.  Our  subject  grew  to  man- 
h 1  upon  the  home  farm  and  gave  his  fa- 
ther the  benefit  of  hi-  labor-,  until  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  when  he  boughl  the  John 
Andrew  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acre-  in  Rutledge  town-hip.  The  place  was 
under  cultivation,  but  there  were  no  build- 
ings thereon,  lie  set  out  shade  and  fruit 
tree-,  erected  a  nice  residence  and  two  large 
barn-.  In  connection  with  the  cultivation 
of  hi-  land  he  is  quite  extensivelj  engaged 
in  the  raising  of  stock,  making  a  specialty 
of  cattle  and  sheep,  of  which  he  has  a  flock 
of  two  hundred,  lli-  farm  i-  made  to  yield 
a  golden  tribute  to  the  care  and  labor  be- 
stowed upon  it.  and  he  has  raised  a-  high 
as  seventy  bushels  of  corn  per  acre  and 
sixty  bushels  of  oat-. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1876,  Mr. 
Turner  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Rebecca  J.  Lappin,  who  was  also  born  in 
Rutledge  township,  June  uj,  1854,  a  daugh- 


Till".   l;i()C,k.\rHK"AL   RECORD. 


239 


ter  of  William  and  Catherine  (Johnson) 
Lappin.  Her  grandfather,  James  Lappin, 
who  was  a  native  of  '  )hio,  came  to  DeWitt 
county  late  in  life  and  died  here  when  0 
seventy  years  of  age,  his  remains  being  in- 
terred in  the  LeRoy  cemetery.  Ili>  children 
were  William.  Samuel.  Rebecca,  Sally, 
Isaac,  John  and  James.  William  Lappin, 
Mr-.  Turner's  father,  was  horn  in  Mad  is 
county.  Ohio,  and  on  coming  to  De- 
W'itt  county.  Illinois,  purchased  the  Van 
Deventer  farm  in  Rutledge  township,  and 
carried  it  on  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
March  26,  [880,  when  he  was  fifty-eight 
yea-  ge.     His  wife  long  survived  him. 

dying  July  8,  1901.  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two.  In  their  family  were  nine  children, 
namely:  Louisa,  wife  of  J.  W.  Walte 
Phebe,  wife  of  E.  Gilmore;  Samuel:  Re- 
becca J.,  wife  of  our  subject;  Sarah,  de- 
ceased; Mary,  wife  of  J.  Lash:  l.ydia.  wife 
I  .  Vndrews;  Laura:  and  Olive,  wife  of 
A.  L.  Fuller.  Unto  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Turner 
were  l*>rn  seven  children,  as  follows:  Min- 
nie, who  married  F.  1'..  Stiver-,  of  Web- 
City,  Iowa,  and  has  one  child.  Arlie: 
Nellie  R.;  Estella  M.:  Mary  Elsie;  Charles 
W\.  who  died  in  infancy:  Freddie  H.;  and 
n.  who  died  in  infancy. 
By  his  ballot  Mr.  Turner  supports  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  his  fellow  citizens  have  called  upon 
him  to  serve  a-  highway  commissioner 
twelve  consecutive  year-,  and  school  tr< 
urer  twenty-two  years,  and  he  -till  hold-  'he 
latter  office.  He  takes  quite  an  active  in- 
terest in  civic  societies,  and  i-  a  prominent 
member  of  a  number  of  orders,  including 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Knight-  of 
Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
and  the  Loyal  Son-  of  America.  He  joined 
Anion  Lodge,  No.  261,  A.  1-'.  &  A.  M..  of 
DeWitt.  January   26,    [883.      He   1-  lilK-ral 


in  his  religious  views,  while  his  wife  1-  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  i>  a  man  of  recognized  ability  and  sterl- 
ing  worth,  and  the  success  he  ha-  achieved 
is  justly  merited. 


-IJ'H    R.  GRADY. 

-  distinct  a  pioneer  of  Illinois  i-  Mr. 
Grady  that  he  vividly  recalls  when  Macon 
and  DeWitt  counties  were  wild  and  uncul- 
tivated, and  when  but  lew  had  emigrated 
here  and  availed  themselves  of  the  latent 
fertility.  During  the  long  year-  of  his 
wisely  directed  life  he  has  played  an  im- 
portant part  in  developing  the  locality  of 
which  he  is  now  a  resident,  though  at  pres- 
ent retired  from  the  active  work  of  tilling 
and  gathering  harvests.  A  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  he  was  born  near  Hunting- 
don. Huntingdon  county.  March  _\  iSjj, 
and  lived  at  the  place  of  his  birth  and  in 
the  western  part  of  the  state  until  1856. 
Hi-  parents.  Hiram  and  Elizabeth  t  Work) 
Grady,  were  horn  in  Pennsylvania,  the  lat- 
ter, in  Lancaster  county,  where  he  eng 
in  fanning  for  many  year-,  later  remov- 
ing to  Huntingdon  county,  where  his 
death  occurred  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years,  his  wife  having  pre-deceased 
him  in  1866.  Into  the  family  were  horn 
nine  children,  three  of  whom  are  living, 
and  of  these  Joseph  i-  oldest. 

In  the  early  subscription  and  later  pub- 
lic schools  Mr.  Grady  received  hi-  educa- 
tion, and  until  twenty-four  year-  of  age 
lived  at  home  and  assisted  hi-  father  with 
the  farm  work.  In  the  western  part  of  the 
State  he  rented  a  farm  which  he  managed 
successfully  for  several  years,  ami  after- 
wards  worked  at  day   laln.r   for  some  time. 


240 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Upon  coming  to  Illinois  he  located  first 
near  Clinton,  in  Texas  township,  DeWitt 
county,  but  after  a  short  time  removed  to 
Logan  county  and  later  to  Warren  county, 
where  he  remained  for  a  year,  but  eventu- 
ally returned  to  DeWitt  county.  lie  then 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Texas 
township  from  the  Illinois  Central  Kail- 
road  Company,  which  he  cleared  up 
and  upon  which  he  erected  a  small  hoi 
and  prepared  to  cultivate  In-  land.  Here 
lie  lived  for  about  forty  years,  and  is  still 
the  owner  of  the  property,  which  is  now- 
fanned  by  his  youngest  son.  This  la 
was  added  1'  1  fp  'in  time  to  lime  until  il 
sumed  the  large  proportions  oi  four  hun- 
dred acres,  all  of  which  is  now  divided 
among  his  children.  While  occupying  his 
farm  he  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising,  and  was  successful  beyond 
his  expectations,      ["hough  a 

I  )un>  icr.it   111  polil  ics  and  a   worker   fi  >r  1 
nicipal  puritj .  he  n<  1  ed   for  political 

office,  though  he  held  the  office  of  ward 
commissioner  for  two  terms  and  school 
director  for  several  terms.  Fraternally  In 
an  Odd  Fellow,  having  joined  that  organ- 
ization thirty  years  ago,  ami  1-  now  a  mem- 
ber 1  if   Mar.  >a   1  .odge,   NTo.  ,^14. 

In    Huntingdon    county,     Pennsylvania, 
Mr.   Gi  irried,     February    24,     [857, 

with  Isabella  Jane  McCartney,  a  native  of 
Huntington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
daughter  of  John  and  Isabella  McCartney, 
a  farmer  in  the  state  of  William  l'enn. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grady  have  been  horn 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living. 
Tryphena  Grady  was  horn  on  the  home 
place  in  Texas  township,  became  the  wife 
of  George  I .  Farran,  a  farmer  of  Friend's 
Creek,  Macon  county,  and  died,  leaving 
seven  children,  seven  years  ago.  The  chil- 
dren    are:.      Allie.      Ida.     Joseph.     Jennie. 


Vfaude,  Grace,  and  Viola.  Hiram  Grady 
is  one  oi  the  substantial  fanners  of  Texas 
township,  and  has  a  comfortable  home  on 
his  farm  of  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
nine  acres  on  sections  26  and  36.  lie 
is  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  coun-s 
tv.  and  is  ;it  present  serving  as  a  member 
of  tin'  school  hoard.  Mrs.  Hiram  Grady 
was  formerly  Agnes  Mayall.  and  she  is  the 
mother  of  four  children.  Hubert,  Pearl, 
Hazel,  and  Mary.  Samuel  Gradj  died  at 
about  the  age  of  nine  years;  he  was  born  in 
the  home  place  in  Texas  township,  [da  M., 
1-  the  wile  of  Robert  M.  Mayall,  who  lias  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  26,  d'exas 
township,  comprising  a  portion  oi  the 
Gradj  property.  In  the  family  there  are 
four  children,  Mabel,  Homer.  .Leo  and 
Mane.  Geneva  is  the  wife  of  \.  |.  Shoe 
maker,  who  works  a  farm  .'I  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  in  (feck  township,  forty 
acres  of  which  he  owns,  and  the  balance 
beli  »ng  •  ti  1  his  father  in  law.  The}  hi 
two  children,  John  and  Emma.  Emma 
dy  died  at  the  In ime  place  al  the  age  i >i 
seven  years.     Lewis  lives  on  eight}    ai 

of   the   home   place,    married    l.ydia    Bennett, 

daughter  of  Henrj  Bennett,  a  prominent 
and  wealthy  farmer  of  Creek  township, 
and  ur  children,  Francis,  Opal,  Her- 

s.all.  and  Lucy.  All  of  the  children  were 
horn  on  the  home  place,  and  were  educated 
in  the  public  S<  hi  k  lis 


Jl  IHN  W.  IK  HJGHAM. 

John  W.  Hougham,  a  well  known  agri- 
culturist residing  on  section  36,  Waynes- 
ville  township,  is  a  native  of  DeWitt  coun- 
ty, his  birth  having  occurred  in  W'apclla 
township,  on  the  15th  of  November,   [855. 


Till  iRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


M' 


His  parent-  were  John  and  Sainain 

kins.  11  i    1  [ougham,  this 

inty,    where    tlieir    marri   § 
brated.     The   father   died   b  :rth 

•  air  subject.      The  mother  resides  in  \\ 
tvnship.     She  was  a  nati  *hio 

John   Atkinson,  one 
the  pioneers  of  this  county. 

The   subject     of    t':  w    remained 

with    his   mother   until    about    grown,    and 
was  educated  in  the  commoi  De- 

Witt  count) .     ! 

irm  by  the  month,  and  then  wenl 
ifornia,  carrying  "ii  a  ranch  in    S 
mento  county  f 

lie  returned  to  Illim  t  a  farm  in 

Wapella   township,   which   he  operal 
-.  but  in  1894  he  -  'Id  th; 
purchased  his  present   tan  ghty 

acres  .        >,  Waynesville  township, 

lie  further  improvement  ami  cultivation 
which  he  has  since  devoted  his  i 
with  ii  tifying  results.      He  has  re- 

modeled the  residence,  erect* 

il    fruit,  and  made  many 

other  useful  and  valuable  improvements. 

After  he  had  been    in'  California  three 

irs  Mr.   :        .        i  returned  to  hi-  n.v 

inty,  where  he  was  married  on  the  25th 

April.    1878,   t<  >   Mi—    Mary   Jane   Scott* 

who  rn  in  Knox  county,  Missouri,  in 

Her  father.  W.  I..  Scott,  a  native 
To  lHiii"is    when    a    -:i 

.  ami  hi  t"  manhood  and  mar- 

Drusilla  Cox,   a  native  of   Mis- 
ri.     He  subsequentlj    removed  to  Knox 
•  itej    hut    i-    now    living  in 
Adair  county,  Missouri. 

In  political  sentiment  Mr.   Hougham  is 
a  Republican,  and  on  national  issues  ah 
supports  that  party,  hut  at  local  1  he 

tes   for  the  men   whom  he  believes 


qualified  t>>  till   \'. 

■ 
high*  1  has  been  a  member  of  the 

.md  a  d  iunty 

:  hi-  part) .     hi-  trus- 

'ii   \\  aynes\  ille  town- 
ship.    R<  a  member  of  the 
•nan  church,  cially 
1-  a  member 

Waynesville,  with  which  he  united  in 
rably  known  tin. 
out  the  county   where  almost  his  entire  life 
and  he  -tand-  high  in  the 
m  of  hi-   fellow 


I'  >H.\ 


PHARES. 


er  half  a  century  th 
h   has  1  <  f  ]  >e\Vitt 

county,   ami    for  many   y<  lively 

identified  w  ith  the 

ton,  but  i-  now  practically  living  an 
life.     He  n  of  the  late  Satin 

I'hares.  a  nati  incinnati,  ml  a 

sou     of     Robert     and     Amy     (Clevii 
I'hares.    who   removed     from     Virginia     to 
Ohio.      In    [847   the    father   of  ou 
came  to  DeW'itt  county.   Illinois,  and. 
spendi  n  a  rented  farm 

Waynesville,   he  located   in  Clinton,   where 
,  •  <1    in    the   butcher    business,    his; 
-hop  being  on  the  present    site    of 
Harris'    -tore,   on   the  southwest   con;. 
He    carried    on    that    bus 
For  about  five  years.     Having  in  earl)   life 
studied  and  practiced  veterinary  surgery,  he 
then  turned  his  attention  to  that  pi 
and  in  its  practice  he  here  met  with  excel- 
lent    success,     his  ding 
throughout    this    and    adjoining 


242 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


During  the  Civil  war  lie  served  in  the  Sixty- 
eighth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  af- 
terward drew  a  pension.  He  died  in  1900. 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Sarah  Marshall,  passed  away  in  1 S  7  7 . 
They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children. 
namely:  William  and  Robertj  twins;  Eliza- 
beth; John  A.:  Henry  C. :  Francis  M.: 
Elizabeth;  Malissa  J.:  Julia  and  Marjorie, 
twins:  Mary  I-"..;  and  Samuel.  AH  are  liv- 
ing with  the  exception  of  Robert  and  Ma- 
liss.i  J. 

h>hn  A.  1 'hares  was  born  in  Xenia. 
Greene  county,  <  >hio,  June  2,  [832,  and  was 
fifteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  county,  lie  spent  his  early 
life  upon  a  farm,  and  in  [850  came  to  Clin- 
ton to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  hut.  find- 
ing that  employment  uncongenial,  he  began 
operating  the  McPherson  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred acres,  which  at  that  time  was  owned 
by  his  wife.  lie  made  many  improve- 
ments and  still  owns  the  place.  Rent- 
ing his  farm  in  [876,  he  returned  to  Qin- 
ton  and  opened  pool  and  billiard  parlors. 
which  he  successfull)  conducted  until  1890 
and  has  since  lived  retired.  lie  purchased 
the  Jesse  Stout  propertj  on  hast  Main 
street  and  huilt  a  tine  two-story  building 
for  hotel  purposes,  known  as  the  Phares 
Hotel,  and  on  the  south  end  of  the  same  lot 
erected  a  tenement  cottage.  He  has  dealt 
in  real  estate  to  some  extent  and  has  met 
with  fair  success  in  all  his  undertakings. 

In  [855  Mr.  Phares  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet J.  Met  haw.  a  daughter  of  John  J.  Mc- 
Graw.  She  was  horn  in  [839  and  died  in 
[876.  By  this  union  were  horn  the  follow- 
ing named  children  :  Charles  l.eander.  who 
married  Kate  Offenhaugh  and  follows  farm- 
ing three  miles  south  of  Maroa;  Sarah,  wife 
of  T.  C.  Cackley.  of  Clinton:  Mary  Eliza- 


hetli.  wife  of  William  Stagg.  of  Spring- 
field.  Illinois:  Effie,  wife  of  Loran  Hil- 
dreth,  of  Texas  township:  Francis  M..  who 
married  Effie  Holloway  and  follows  fann- 
ing in  DeWitt  county:  John  Allen,  an  elec- 
trician, who  married  Myrtle  Ball  and  re- 
sides in  Clinton;  and  Ella,  wife  of  Charles 
Richie,  of  Chicago. 

Socially  Mr.  Phares  is  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason,  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge,  chap- 
ter, council  and  commandery.  all  of  Clinton. 
While  living  in  the  country  he  served  as 
school  director  for  the  long  period  of  twen- 
ty-one years,  representing  the  Republican 
party;  was  township  treasurer  two  years; 
and  superintendent  of  the  DeWitl  County 
Agricultural  Association  thirteen  years,  and 
president  of  the  same  two  years.  lie  be- 
1.  ngs  to  an  old  and  highly  esteemed  family 
of  this  county,  of  rare  constitutions,  and  ail 
take  great  pleasure  and  pride  in  their  fam- 
ily reunions,  which  they  hold  annually. 


HENRY  *..   BEATTY. 

One  of  the  leading  business  men  and 
most  highly  respected  citizens  of  Clinton 
is  Henry  G.  I '.catty,  a  well-known  wholesale 
and  retail  dealer  in  harness,  buggies,  etc.. 
having  one  of  the  largest  and  oldest  estab- 
lishments of  the  kind  in  DeWitt  county. 
1  lis  hand-made  harness  and  saddlery,  especi- 
ally, has  won  for  him  an  excellent  reputa- 
tion  in  business  circles. 

Mr.  Beatty  was  horn  in  Hancock  coun- 
ty. Ohio.  April  14.  1845.  a  son  of  Isaac 
B.  and  Eliza  (Crowl)  Beatty.  The  father 
was  horn  in  Findlay,  Ohio,  and  was  also 
engaged  in  the  harness  and  saddlery  busi- 
ness. In  1848  he  came  to  Clinton,  ami  was 
one  of  the  first  to  engage  in  that  enterprise 


the  p,ror.R.\rincAL  RECORD. 


in  this  city.  Here  he  carried  <>n  business 
until  1875,  when  Ik-  sold  out  i<>  Daniel 
Hampshire  and  removed  to  Normal,  Illi- 
nois, in  order  to  give  his  children  better 
educational    advantages.      After    spending 

two  >>r  three  years  at  that  place  he  returned 
t<>  Clinton  and  entered  into  business  with 
his  sen.  Thomas  0.,  hut  two  years  later  he 

I  his  interest  to  our  subject  and  retired. 
His  first  wife,  who  was  the  mother  of  <>ur 
subject,  died  about  1850,  at  the  age  "f  forty 
years.  By  that  union  he  had  six  children: 
William  and  Charles,  both  deceased;  Henry 
i.  and  James  C,  twins,  the  latter  now  a 
resident  of  Decatur,  Illinois;  Isaac  B.,  de- 
ceased; anil  Julia,  wife  of  11.  C.  Adams,  of 

'd<m.  Illinois.  For  his  second  wife 
Isaac  B.  Beatty  married  Mrs.  Phoebe  L. 
(  Hill)  Mahan,  by  whom  he  had  three  chil- 
dren: Mr-.  Mary  Coults;  George  II..  a 
resident  of  Stonington,  Illinois:  and  Thomas 
0.,  of  Clinton.  The  family  residence  was 
at  No.  Si  South  ('enter  street.  The  father 
was  an  active  member  and  officer  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. He  died  ill  1887,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven  years. 

Coming  to  Clinton  in    [853,   Henrj    G. 

tty  commenced  working  at  the  harness 
maker's  trade,  and  has  since  devoted  his 
time  and  energies  to  that  business.  His 
labors    were   interrupted,     however,     by    his 

ues  in  the  Civil  war.  enlisting  in  [863 
in  Company  F.  Second  Light  Artillery,  in 
which  he  served  until  hostilities  ceased. 
He  then  returned  home  ami  became  as 
ciated  with  his  father  in  business  until  1873, 
when  he  removed  to  Kenney,  Illinois,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  same  business  quite  suc- 
-  fully,  and  there  built  a  business  block, 
but  in  March.  iSX<>.  his  property  was  de- 
stroyed   by    tire    when    the    whole    business 


center  of  the  place  was  burned.  Mr. 
Beatty's  loss  was  thirty-three  hundred  dol- 
lars, which  was  all  that  he  had.  it  repre- 
senting his  entire  accumulations.  He  was 
one  of  the  enterprising  business  men  of  the 
village  who  at  once  set  on  foot  a  movement 
to  rebuild  the  business  portion  in  brick,  but 
not  meeting  with  sufficient  support,  he  re- 
turned to  Clinton,  and  purchased  the  stock 
of  William  Metzger.  Renting  a  building 
in  the  Union  block,  he  once  more  embarked 
111  the  harness  and  saddlery  business  at  this 
place  and  soon  built  up  a  good  trade,  lb- 
has  since  purchased  the  building  known  as 
the  I  >.  C.  Jones  store,  where  he  carried  011 
his  business  until  1901,  when  he  moved  out 
and  into  the  building  where  he  learned  his 
trade,  and  to-day  carries  a  large  and  well- 
selected  stock  of  light  and  heavy  harness, 
whips,  robes,  etc..  and  a  tine  line  of  car- 
riages and  traps — the  best  which  the  town 
affords.  He  employs  four  -killed  harness 
makers  and  trimmers,  and  manufactures 
some  of  the  best  harness  found  anywhere  on 
the  market.  He  is  now  rebuilding  a  hand- 
some brick  block,  twenty-two  by  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  feet  in  dimensions 
and  two  stories  in  height,  which  will  be 
ready  for  occupancy  November  1.  He  has 
also  purchased  the  Barker  property  on 
West  Main  street,  where  he  has  a  tine 
home. 

In  [867  Mr.  Beatty  married  Miss  Car- 
oline S.  Stocking,  a  daughter  of  John  T. 
Stocking.  She  was  a  native  of  Trempealeau. 
Wisconsin,  and  died  November  3.  1899,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-one  years.  By  this  union 
were  born  live  children:  Nellie  F..  who 
married  C.  B.  Armstrong,  of  Decatur.  Illi- 
nois, and  has  one  child.  Sylvia:  Ernest,  who 
wedded  Mary  T.  Stewart  and  is  a<s,  ci- 
ated in  business  with  hi-  father:  William, 
who  married  C>ra  Arnold  and  i-  a  hart:' 


244 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


maker  of  Clinton;  James  R.,  a  laundryman, 
who  is  now  sojourning  in  Colorado;  and 
]  [obert,  also  a  harness  maker. 

Mr.  Beatt)  is  an  active  and  prominent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Clinton,  in  which  he  has  served  as  trus- 
tee, class  leader  and  superintendent  of  the 
Sabbath-school.  Fraternally  lie  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  <  ^\<\  Fel- 
lows, the  Rebekahs  and  the  (.rand  Arm) 
the  Republic;  and  is  past  commander  of 
his  post.  I  le  has  always  made  the  m 
of  his  opportunities,  and  his  life  illustrates 
what  can  be  accomplished  through  industry. 
perseve  -  ood  management   and  a  de- 

termination to  succeed.  While  a  residenl  of 
Kenney  atn!  took  quite  an  active  and  prom- 
inent part  in  public  affairs,  and  served  as 
president   of   the   town   and   also   filled    the 

e  of  alderman. 


VNDREW    WILSON 

Andrew    Wilson  i-  a  fine  representative 
of   the  native  horn   eiti  i  >wn- 

ship.  Within  the  hound-  of  the  farm  in 
ion  two.  which  i->  now  his  home,  he  was 
horn  Vpril  j.  [843,  to  Thomas  and  Charlotte 
(Deffenbaugh)  Wilson.  Ilis  mother  was 
horn  in  Maryland,  July  13,  1800.  Hi- 
ther. Thomas  Wilson,  born  November  22, 
1799,  was  also  a  native  of  Maryland.  Thorn- 
Wilson  moved  when  a  hoy  to  Perry  coun- 
ty, <  >hio.  during  the  early  day-  of  the  settle- 
ment of  that  state.  There  he  was  married 
to  hi-  wife.  Charlotte,  and  made  that  his 
home  for  many  years.  Not  satisfied  to  help 
settle  01  in  1835,  with  his  family,  he 

took  the  long  and  tiresome  journey  in  <wa- 
gons  through  the  pathless  wilderness  and 
came  to  Macon  county,  now  DeWitt  coun- 
ty, and  into  liar])  township.     Here  he  pur- 


chased a  claim  of  forty  acre-  and  also  en- 
tered land  from  the  government.  There 
wa-  a  -mall  log  cabin  on  the  claim,  hut  he 
soon  built  a  house  which  still  stands  on  the 
farm  owned  by  Andrew.  Deer  were  nu- 
merous and  \\ol\e-  gave  the  few  settlers 
at   that    time  much   trouble. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  a  man  of  unusual  en- 
ergy, enterprise  and  industry.  Me  put  his 
land  rapidly  under  cultivation.  Seeing  there 
\\a-  great  need  of  a  grist-mill  and  a 
sawmill,  he  erected  a  mill  on  the  North 
Fork  of  Salt  (reek  in  section  two.  Harp 
township.  In  [840  he  added  a  mill  sti 
which  wa-  a  boulder  such  a-  arc  common 
on  the  prairies  of  this  county.  'Then  for 
man)  year-  people  came  from  mile-  around 
to  have  their  corn  ground. 

Mr.    Wilson    was   a   large   cattle   dealer 

■ho. i-  earh  days  and  drove  his  herd-  to 
Chicago,  where  also  he  hauled  his  grain. 
When  Thomas  Wilson  located  in  this  county 
he  had  only  hi-  horses  and  wagon  and  from 
that  beginning  by  hard  work  and  close  ap- 
plication to  hi-  business  lie  worked  his  way 
up  the  ladder  of  wealth  till  he  was  the  owner 
of  fourteen  hundred  acres  of  land,  lie  was 
an  old  line  Whig  in  politics  and  one  of  the 
most  active  for  the  welfare  of  the  township. 
Ilis  memon  i-  -till  cherished  as  one  who 
bravely  bore  the  hardships  of  pioneer  days 
and  helped  to  make  the  paths  smooth  for 
those  who  came  after,  lie  died  November 
10.   [863,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  year-. 

Mr-.  Wilson  wa-  a  woman  of  unusual 
capability  and  force  of  character.  When  a 
girl  she  rode  from  Maryland  to  Ohio  m\ 
horseback  and  later  made  a  trip  in  the  same 
manner  to  visit  her  old  home  in  Maryland. 
She  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  till  the  time  of  her  death  in  1X74. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  "Thomas  Wilson  had  twelve 
children.  -i\  hoys  and  six  girls,  all  of  whom 


ANDREW  WILSON. 


MRS.  ANDREW   WILSON. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


lived  till  they  reached  manhood  and  woman- 
hood. Their  children  were:  John,  horn 
February  -'-'.  1821,  died  April  23,  1864: 
Joseph,  born  February  16,  1822,  died  July 
8,  [855;  Alley,  who  was  born  September  8, 
]S_'4.  married  Absalom  Stubblefield,  and 
died  April  18,  [867;  Aaron  was  born  (  ><  I 
her  3,  [826,  and  died  March  i_\  1881  : 
Mary,  horn  September  18,  1828,  died  Aug- 

31,  1854;  Sarah,  born  October  26,  i> 
became  the  wife  of  W.  II.   Anderson  and 
died    November  30,    1872;    Asa,   who   was 
honi   October   27,    1832,   lives   at    DeWitt. 
Peter,  who  now  lives  in  Harp  township,  was 
er   15,    iS.%4-     Rachel  was  1 
>,  and  died  April    i<).   18 
Harriet.  Lorn  July  27,   1838.  died  February 
24.    1 S 5 7 ;    Caroline   was   horn    March    [3, 
1841,  and  died  April   19,    1859. 

Andrew,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
youi  '    the   twelve   children,    grew    to 

manh 1   in    Harp  township  and  here  . 

was  educated.      When  a  hoy  he  attended  a 

school-house  which  was  furnished  with 
slab  benches,  heated  by  a  large  open  tire- 
place  and  had  a  puncheon  floor.  It-  win- 
dows were  low  and  narrow*  and  a  hoard  put 
under  them  served  as  a  writing  desk. 

At  an  early  age  Andrew  Wilson  b< 
to  till  tl  n  his  father's  farm.     At  the. 

of  twenty  he  took  up  his  life  work. 
After  his  father's  death  he  managed  the 
home  farm  for  his  mother.  Later  he  pur- 
chased of  her  two  hundred  and  sixty-nine 
acres  of  improved  land.  'I  0  this  he  has  added 
more  till  he  now  owns  over  live  hundred 
acres  of  well  cultivated  land.  A  part  of  this 
which  is  in  Wilson  township  he  rent-.  His 
farms  are  well  fenced  and  have  fine  build- 
ings. Liking  to  see  things  looking  their 
he  keeps  his  property  in  excellent  order 
He  takes  just  pride  in  his  herds  of  registered 
Short  Horn  cattle. 


Mr.   Wilson   was  married    Februar 
1870,  to  Miss  Mary  M.  Field,  who  was  horn 
in   Ohio.   October  8,    1S4.).     She   was   the 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Mary  Field. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  became  the  parents 
of  three  children,  two  of  whom.  Thomas 
and  Jesse,  are  now  living,  and  both  are  at 
home.  Charlotte  died  February  14.  1901. 
Mrs.  Wilson  died  Februar)  ;.     She 

was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
and  a  woman  whose  life  was  so  helpful  and 
cheerful  that  she  won  the  respect  and  I 
of  all  who  knew  her. 

March  22,  [892,  Mr.  Wilson  married 
Miss  Clarinda  Smith,  who  was  born  in  De- 
Witt  county.  Illinois.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
John  A.  and  Hannah  (Rosencrans)  Smith. 
Her  father.  Mr.  Smith,  born  on  the  river 
Rhine,  in  France,  in  1827,  is  at  present  a 
resident  of  Wapella  township.  Her  mother 
was  born  in  Butler  county.  Ohio.  April  15, 
iSjS.  She  died  April  11.  1892,  and  is 
buried    in    Crum    cemetery,    near    Wapella. 

Andrew  Wilson  is  a  man  of  excellent 
business  qualification-.  He  i-  a  strong  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has  held 
the  office  of  road  supervisor  ami  school  di- 
rector. As  a  citizen  he  ranks  as  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and-  influential  of  his  town- 
ship, a  worthy  son  of  his  efficient  pioneer 
father. 


GEORGF   W.   GRINER. 

Among  the  highly  respected  and  hon- 
ored citizens  of  Barnett  township  is  num- 
bered George  W.  Griner,  who  dates  his 
residence  in  DeWitt  county  from  October, 
185,}.  and  whose  home  is  now  on  section 
31,  Barnett  town-hip.  He  was  horn  in 
Xew  Jersey,   on   the   22d   of  June.    1835,   a 


•5o 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


son  of  William  and  a  Miss  (Brooks) 
Griner,  also  natives  of  that  stale.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather.  James  Griner.  was  born 
in  Germany,  and  on  coming  to  the  new- 
world  in  colonial  days,  settled  in  New  Jer- 
sey. He  served  with  distinction  as  a  cap- 
tain in  the  Continental  army  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  His  last  years  were 
spent  in  Indiana,  where  lie  died  at  the  ex- 
treme "Id  age  of  one  hundred  and  ten  years. 
About  [838  the  father  of  our  subject,  ao 
companied  by  his  family,  removed  to  Mar- 
ion county.  Indiana,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1850.  The  mother  had  died  in 
her  native  state,  and  the  father  subsequently 
married  again. 

George  VV.  Griner  had  hut  a  meager 
chance  to  gain  an  education,  as  he  was  only 
able  to  attend  school  for  a  few  weeks  .lur- 
ing the  winter,  and  from  an  early  age  he 
was  dependent  upon  his  own  resources  for 
a  livelihood.  For  five  years  he  and  his 
brother  engaged  in  farming  together  upon 
rented  land.  In  [853  he  came  to  DeWitt 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  month  for  two  years. 

In  Tunbridge  township,  this  county.  Mr. 
Griner  was  married.  November  _'.;.  1855, 
'o  Miss  Mary  Copenberger,  who  was  horn 
here.  Here  father.  George  Copenhagen, 
was  born  in  Tennessee,  and  about  1825, 
when  a  young  man.  he  came  to  Illinois  ami 
served  in  one  of  the  early  Indian  wars  ol 
this  section.  He  married  Miss  Nancy 
Henderson,  a  native  of  Kentucky  ami  a 
daughter  of  John  Henderson,  who  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  DeWitt  county.  Illi- 
nois, hut  afterward  returned  to  Kentucky. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Copenberger  were  married 
in  this  county,  and  made  their  home  in  Tun- 
bridge township,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing f(  ir  many  years. 

For  a  vear  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Griner 


engaged  in  fanning  on  rented  land,  and 
then  removed  to  a  tract  of  forty  acres  in 
Barnett  township  owned  by  his  wife,  it 
being  a  part  of  their  present  farm.  To  it  he 
has  since  added  eighty  acres,  and  has  made 
many  useful  and  valuable  improvements 
thereon  until  it  is  now  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable farms  id'  its  size  in  the  locality.  Mr. 
Griner  has  always  given  considerable  at- 
tention to  stock-raising,  and  now  makes  a 
Specialty  of  a  high  grade  of  Hereford  cat- 
tle, which  he  keeps  for  dairy  purposes,  and 
he  is  accounted  one  of  the  best  butter  mak- 
ers in  his  part  of  the  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griner  are  the  parents  ol 
the  following  named  children:  1  1  1  Jane 
is  tin-  wife  of  Alfred  Trowbridge,  of  Mid- 
land City,  and  they  have  four  children: 
Aila.  who  is  the  wife  of  George  Phelps  and 
has  one  son.  Fillmore;  Ura,  wife  of  David 
McClimans;  Charles;  and  Homer.  ( _> ) 
Nancy  married  <  i.  E.  Kimble,  of  Missouri, 
where  she  died  in  February,  i<)oi,  leaving 
four  children,  Elsie,  George  William.  Ethel 
and  Oldman.  (3)  George  lb  aids  his  fa- 
ther in  carrying  on  tin  home  farm.  14  I 
(  >llie  May.  who  is  the  wife  of  J.  II.  Decker, 

it  for  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at 
Midland  City,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Nellie  and  Delia.  (5)  Mary  is  the  wife  -1 
Robert  Jenkins,  a  farmer  of  this  county, 
and  they  have  three  children.  Dudley.  Pearl, 
Ara  l.ucile.  MO  Ida  M.  is  the  wife  of 
William  Britton,  of  Clintonia  township, 
this  count  v.  and  they  have  one  child,  Mary. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Griner 
has  always  affiliated  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  has  supported  every  presidential 
candidate  of  that  party  since  casting  his  fust 
vote  for  James  Buchanan.  He  served  two 
terms  as  school  director,  but  has  never  cared 
for  official  honors.  His  wife  is  a  member 
of    the    Cumberland    Presbvterian    church. 


Till",    r.hxik  U'lln    \1.    RECORD. 


-5< 


and  both  arc  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who 

know    them  on  account    of    their    sterling 

worth. 

■»  • » 

WILLIAM    LONG. 

This  well-known  and  highly-respected 
citizen  ni  (.'reek  township,  residing  on  sec 
tion  17.  is  a  native  of  Carroll  county,  Ohio, 
horn  October  17.  1838,  and  is  a  son  of 
Young  Benjamin  and  Catherine  (Weaver) 
Long,  natives  of  Ohio  and  Maryland,  re 
Spectively.  The  parents  were  married  in 
the  Buckeye  state,  where  they  continued  to 
live  for  some  years,  and  about  [850  re- 
moved to  Bartholomew  county.  Indiana. 
where  the  father  purchased  a  farm  and  en- 
gaged in  its  operation  until  called  to  hi-- 
final  rest  in  [852,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years. 
His  wife  survived  him  many  year-,  passing 
away  in  1893,  at  the  age  >'i  seventy-nine. 
They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  -even  are 
now  living,  namely:  William,  our  subject; 
John,  a  resident  of  Indiana:  Betsy,  wife  of 
Thomas  Miller,  of  that  state;  Ellen,  wife 
of  Hiram  Royse,  of-Piatt  county.  Illinois: 
Mary,  wife  of  Peter  Stilabower,  of  Indiana: 
Hannah,  wife  of  John  Walter,  of  the  same 
state:  and  Isaac,  also  a  resident  of  the 
Hoosier  state;  Philip  was  killed  at  Gun- 
town,  Mississippi,  during  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion. 

William  Long  began  his  education  in 
the  public  school-  of  Ohio  and  finished  it 
in  Indiana  after  the  removal  of  the  family 
to  that  state.  <  hi  leaving  the  parental  roof, 
at   the  age  of  twenty-two  year-,   he  worked 

I  farm  hand  for  a  few  year-.  In  [868 
he  went  to  Kansas,  hut  remained  there  only 
a  few  days,  and  on  hi-  return  -topped  in 
Macon  county.  Illinois,  where  he  -pent  two 
years  in  farming  upon  rented  land.      At  the 


end  of  that  time  he  purchased  an  unim- 
proved farm  of  eight)  acre-  on  section  -~, 
Creek  township,  DeVVitt  county,  which, 
through  hi-  perseverance  ami  painstaking 
efforts,  he  ha-  placed  under  a  high  State  of 
cultivation,  and  to  which  he  ha-  added  from 
time  to  time  until  he  now  has  a  well-im- 
proved ami  valuable  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acre-.  Besides  hi-  nice  home. 
•  lie  of  the  most  notable  feature-  of  the  place 
i-  a   never-failing  well  of  pure  water. 

On  the  30th  of  November,  1860,  Mr. 
I  ong  wa-  united  in  marriage  with  Mi- 
Marietta  Royse,  who  was  horn  in  Indiana. 
I  Kr  parents,  Aaron  I'..  and  Elizabeth  (Mc- 
Guire)  Royse,  were  both  native-  of  the 
.-.line  state,  and  were  of  W  cl-h  and  Scotch 
de-cent.  Her  mother  resides  in  Indiana, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-one  year-,  while  her 
father  died  in  that  -tate.  <  >f  the  thirteen 
children  horn  to  them,  -even  are  -till  liv- 
ing, namely:  Henry,  a  resident  of  Monti- 
celln,  Illinois;  George,  a  resident  of  Piatt 
county,  this  -tale:  John.  Louis  and  Alice, 
all  of  Indiana:  and  Marietta,  wife  of  our 
subject.  Mr-.  Long  i>  the  third  in  order 
of  birth  in  this  family,  and  is  the  mother 
of  nine  children,  a-  follow-:  <  1  1  Martha 
Alice  i-  the  wife  of  Michael  Taylor,  of  Ma- 
con  county.  Illinois,  and  they  have  three 
children.  William  Cleveland,  Cynthia  Etta 
and  [da  May.  (2)  John  Henry,  a  resident 
of  Creek  township,  DeWitt  county,  mar- 
ried •  '•'.'la  Threasher  and  has  four  chil- 
dren. Maude.  Josie,  Clarence  H.  ami  Flor- 
ence.    (3)   Arie,  also  of  Creek  township, 

married  Minnie  Bennett  and  ha-  three  chil- 
dren, John  Henry,  George  Leslie  and  Ruby 
May.     i^)   Charles,    of    Creek    township, 

married    Laura    Farran   and    ha-   three   chil- 

1.  Jay  Bennett,  Zella  lav  and  Raymond. 

151    Daniel  is  at  home.      (6)    Delia  married 

David  Gano,  of  Creek  town-hip.  ami  did. 


•52 


Tin-:  mock  \pinr.\L  record. 


leaving  one  child,  May  Marie.     Three  ether 

children  are  also    deceased.      The    parents 

are  both  active  and  consistent   members  ol 

the  United   Brethren  church,  and  are  most 

estimable  people.     In  polities   Mr.   Long  is 

Democrat,    and    has    filled   some  minor 

offices. 

■+-++ 

ISAAC   X.   B  \ll.<  IR. 

Among  the  leading  business  men  of 
Clinton  non<  are  more  deserving  of  m 
lion  in  this  volume  than  Isaac  X.  Bailor, 
the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Bailor  & 
Bryant,  dealers  in  all  kinds  of  hardware. 
ricultural  implements,  wagons,  buggies, 
etc.  They  carrj  a  large  stock,  utilizing 
three  floors,  and  have  a  tin  shop  and  plumb- 
ing establishment  in  connection  with  their 
re. 

Mr.  Bailor  was  born  near  I  ancaster, 
Ohio,  nil  the  26th  of  \pril.  1850,  and  is  a 
son  of  Lew  is  R.  and  t  lharlotte  1  Martin  ) 
Bailor,  who  were  also  natives  of  that  state 
and  were  farming  people.  The  father  died 
in  his  forty  seventh  year,  the  mother  in  her 
fifty-sixth  year,  as  she  passed  away  in  [877. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eiglil  children, 
namely:  Catherine,  wife  of  S.  J.  Thomas; 
Rebecca,  deceased  wife  of  Reuben  Bannett; 

lisa,  wife  of  William  Moore;   Isaac   X.. 
cur   subject;    Ellen,    wife  of   J.    Lysinger; 
Annie,   wife  of    \.     Vbbott;  Jennie,   win 
W.    Pierce;    and   John    M.,    deceased. 

Our  subject  remained  upon  the  home 
farm,  giving  his  father  the  benefit  of  his 
labors  until  twenty-live  years  of  age,  and 
then  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in 
Shelhvville.  Illinois,  for  one  year.  In  1876 
he  came  to  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  and 
rented  a  farm  in  DeWitt  township,  which 
he  operated  quite  successfully,  at   the  same 


time  giving  considerable  attention  to  the 
raising  of  horses,  hogs  and  short  horn  cat- 
tle. In  [883  he  removed  to  Clinton  and 
purchased  an  interest  in  his  present  busi- 
ness, which  was  established  by  Philip  Wolf 
in  [872.  Later  the  linn  became  Wolf  & 
McHenry,  and  when  Mr.  Bailor  purchased 
Mr.  Wolf's  interest  the  name  was  changed 
to  McHenry  &  Bailor.  In  [89]  Mr.  New 
man  succeeded  Mr.  McHenry,  and  lie,  in 
turn,  was  succeeded  1>\  John  h'..  Bryant  in 
September,  [900,  since  winch  time  business 
has  been  carried  ( >n  under  the  firm  name  of 
Bailor  X  Bryant.  Upright  and  reliable 
business  men.  thev  command  a  liberal  share 
of  the  public  patronage,  ami  to-day  enjoy  an 
I  ade  which  is  constantly  increas- 
ing. Besides  his  business  property  Mr. 
Bailor  owns  a  fine  residence  at  No  513 
North  tenter  street,  which  was  erected  by 
linn. 

Mr.  Bailor  married  Mis-  Orilla  Lemon. 

I  ler   father.  (  '<  ill  irge    B.    I  .euion.   was 

born  in  Clark  county,  Ohio,  October  1, 
[809,  and  was  a  son  of  John  R.  and  Re- 
11.  John  R.  I : 'in  mi  vva  -  a  farm- 
er bv  occupation  ami  served  as  judge  of  the 
county  court  for  several  veal's.  Colonel 
Lemon  first  married  Miss  Charily  Swisher, 
also  a  native  of  (lark  o  unty.  Ohio,  and 
by  that  union  he  had  six  children,  live  of 
whom  reached  man  and  womanhood.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  in  1X4,}.  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  the  Colonel  wedded  Mary  J. 
Woods,  and  of  this  union  there  were  six 
children,  all  living.  lie  came  to  DeWitt 
county,  Illinois,  just  before  the  deep  snow 
in  [83I,  and  in  [837  was  chosen  colonel 
of  the  state  militia,  which  position  he  held 
until  [848,  taking  an  active  part  in  raising 
troops  for  the  Mexican  war.  with  the  ex- 
ception of  about  one  year,  during  which 
time  he  conducted  a  driig  store  in  Clinton. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


He  was  a  stanch  Republican  cm<l  a  local 
preacher  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  He  died  in  January.  1886.  His 
wife  passed  away  August  3,   i<»oo. 

Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Bailor  have  one  child. 
Lena  E.,  at  home.  The  parents  are  both 
active  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and   Mr.   Bailoi  a  member 

of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  and 
filled  all  the  offices  in  his  As  a  pub- 

lic-spirited and  sive  citizen,  i  1 

his  support   to  all  enterprises  calculated  to 
advance    the    moral,    social    and    material 
welfare   "f   his   city   and   county,   and   hi 
hekl  in  high  regard  by  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact,  either  in  business  "i 
cial   lite. 


CHARLES  M     -  1\ 

Charles  M.  Scott,  a  resident  of  Harp 
township  and  one  of  the  pr  young 

fanner-  of  tin-  locality,  was  horn  in  He- 
Witt  county,  Texas  township,  Illinois,  on 
March  28,  1876,  and  lie  i-  a  son  of  Martin 
P.  and  Hattie  L.  (Baker)  Sett.  Martin 
P.   So  •!!   was  born  in  Tunbi  ivnship, 

DeWitt  county,  and  his  wife  was  born  in 
Mew  York  -tate.  hut  came  to  Illinois 
ciily  live  ye  a         These  parents  now 

live  in  Texas  township  upon  a  line  farm. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  1'.  Scott  were 
born  eight  children,  as  follows:  Aha.  who 
married  Charles  Kirkpatrick  and  re-ides  at 
Kenney;  Charles,  our  subject;  Eddie,  who 
lives  with  his  parent-:  Ida  L.,  who  married 
Fred  Henderson.and  they  reside  at  Kenne)  : 
Effie,  Blanche,  I'ra  and  Ina,  all  of  whom 
reside  with  their  parents. 

Charles  M.  Scott  attended  the  district 
schools  in  Texas  township  and  also  in  Tun- 


bridge  township,  after  which  he  took  a 
teacher'-  course  at  Valparaiso  College,  In- 
diana, from  which  he  was  graduated  on 
Januaiy  17.  1895.  He  then  taught  school 
for  about  four  years  in  the  district 
in  this  county,  anil  on  January  4.  iN<><>.  ''^ 
-  married  to  Mis-,  (.race  Stubblefield. 
She  was  horn  in  Harp  township  and  is  the 
daughter  of  M.  11.  and  Mary  1  Foley)  Stub- 
blefield. M.  H.  Stubblefield  was  horn  in 
McLean  county  on  April  12,  1S41.  and  he 
i-  the  son  of  Absalom  and  Eliza  (Pi 
Stubblefield.       Th<  ndparents     were 

from  Ohio  hut  moved  to   Indiana  and  then 
to   McLean   county,    Illinois,   in    1827,   and 
there   the   grandfather   died    in    iN<)4.   a. 
eighty   years,   but   his   wife  died   when    s 
wa-   only  twenty-seven   years   of  age.     M. 
II.   Stubblefield,   father  of  Mr-.   Scott. 

Idier  in  Company  A.  <  >ne  Hundred  and 
.■•nth     Illinois     Volunteer     Infantry, 
and  he  was  with  Grant  at  Vicksburg,  Smith 
at    \\v<\   River   and    Sherman   in   his    fan* 
march     througl  sjia.      In     [866     Mr. 

Stubblefield  in     Harp     town-hip, 

where  he  now    resides  with  his  son-in-law, 
Ernest     Lit  Hi-     wife    died     on' 

May  26,  1900,  and  -he  is  buried  in  \V 1- 

burn     cemetery     at     Clinton.      To    Mr.    and 
Mrs.   Stubblefield  were  horn   four  children, 

viz:     Lafayette,    who    did    in    childh I: 

Edna,     who    married    Ernest    Litsinberger, 
and  they  live  in    Harp  township  and  h; 
two  children.  Lucile  and  Lela :  Grace,  who 
married    Mr.    Scott:    and    Waller,    who 
with  hi-   father. 

After  his  marriage    Mr.    Sett    farmed 
a    year   on    rented    land    in     1  wn-hip 

and  then  rented  hi-  father-in-law's  farm 
two   hundred   and   eighty    acre-    in     Harp 
township,    which    he    now     live-    upon    and 
where   he  carries  on   general    farming  ami 

k-raising.      He    own-    one    of    the    tx 


254 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


bred  "  Aberdeen  Angus"  bulls  in  the  county. 
The  remainder  of  bis  cattle  are  high-grade 
Aberdeen    AngUS. 

One  child  has  been  burn  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Scott,  namely:  Ralph  E.,  a  bright 
little  fellow.  Mr.  Scott  is  a  Republican  in 
politics.  Mrs.  Scott  is  an  earnest  member 
of  the  Methodist  church.  They  are  both 
enterprising  young  people,  whose  future  is 
very  bright,  and  they  are  destined  to  be- 
come wealthy  and  influential  representa- 
tives '>\  the  agricultural  interests  of  De 
Witt  county. 


\\  11.1.1AM    11.    R.WD  \l.l. 

N'ot  only  is  Mr.  Randall  one  of  the 
prominent  farmers  of  DeWitt  county  but 
be  i-~  also  a  business  man  of  ability,  and 
closely  identified  with  all  thai  promotes  en- 
terprise and  enlarges  the  commercial  and 
oilier  welfare  of  his  township  and  stale. 
A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Preble 
county.  September  l6,  1S51,  and  is  a  s, ,n  of 
Andrew  C.  and  Ursula  (Cox)  Randall,  na- 
tives, respectively,  <>i  Treble  and  Butler 
counties.  Ohio,  and  the  former  one  of  the 
lust  known  of  the  pioneers  who  came  to 
DeWitt  county  in  the  latter  fifties.  Will- 
iam II.  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  DeWitl  county,  and  lived  on  the 
home  farm  until  twenty-one  years  <'i  age. 
llis  natural  ambition  and  independence  then 
asserted  itself,  and  he  started  out  to  face  the 
problem  of  an  individual  livelihood.  .\s  a 
preliminary,  he  rented  land  on  section  31, 
Texas  township,  for  eight  years,  and 
eventually  purchased  one  hundred  and  sis 
acres  on  section  30.  in  the  same  township. 
From  time  to  time  other  lands  have  come 
into  his  possession,  and  he  now  also  owns  a 


quarter  section  on  section  25,  Tunbridge 
township,  llis  land  is  well  tilled,  and  yields 
satisfactory  harvests  in  response  to  his  in- 
cessant industry  and  excellent  management. 
\  large  and  substantial  dwelling  has  been 
erected,  convenient  barns  and  outhouses, 
and  it  is  needless  to  say  that  all  modern 
implements  which  tend  to  scientific  and  up- 
to-date  farming  have  been  added,  regard- 
less of  cost.  Eight  years  ago  Mr.  Randall 
purchased  an  interest  in  tin-  Row  ell  Eleva- 
tor Company,  of  which  he  is  manager,  the 
elevator  having  a  capacity  of  twenty  thou- 
sand bushels.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  held  the  office  of  collector  and  school 
trustee,  although  he  makes  110  effort  to  se- 
cure official  recognition.  Fraternally  he  is 
associated  with  the  Kyle  Lodge,  No.  282, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  of  Kenney,  Illinois. 

On  December  3,  1873,  Mr.  Randall  mar- 
ried Alice  Putnam,  a  native  of  Scott  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Jason  and 
Eliza  (Drummond)  Putnam,  the  former  a 
native  of  New  Jerse)  and  a  farmer  during 
the  years  of  his  activity.  Mr.  Putnam  re- 
moved to  DeWitt  county  manj  years  ago, 
and  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  lived 
in  Texas  township,  but  later  moved  to  Mis- 
souri. Barton  county,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1881,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven 
years.  He  was  well-to-do  ami  a  reliable  and 
upright  man.  and  v\ .  emed  by  all  who 

knew  him.  llis  wife  died  before  he  re- 
moved to  Texas  township.  'To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Randall  have  been  born  the  following 
children:  Frank,  who  is  attending  the  col- 
lege at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  is  twenty-seven 
years  of  age,  and  has  for  some  time  taught 
school  in  'Texas  township;  l.uella.  who  is 
the  wife  of  Fred  Owens,  has  one  child, 
Hubert,  and  lives  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty-six  acres  on  section  19,  Texas 
township:   Fred,   who  is  assisting  with  the 


Tin-:  biographical  record. 


255 


care  ami  management  of  the  home  farm: 
Harry;  Mabel;  and  Rolla.  The  children 
were  all  born  in  Texas  township,  all  were 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  the  last 
three  named,  are  living  at  home. 

Andrew  C.  Randall,  the  father  of  Will- 
iam  11..  1-  one  of  the  strong  and  reliable 
pioneers   in   whose  keeping  has   rested   the 
accepted   responsibility    of    bringing  aboul 
the  splendid  agricultural  prosperity  of  De 
Witt  county.     From  lands  wild  and  timber 
covered  he  has  participated  in  the  general 
development,  watched  with  the  eye  of  the 
enthusiast  the  clearing  of  the  trees,  the  erec 
tit >n  of  comfortable  homes  and  the  incre 
ing    fertility    and    yield    of    the    well-tilled 
acres.     A  man  <<i  force  and  determination, 

d    judgment    and    kindly    heart,    he    has 

essarih  impressed  In-  worth  upon  the 
community,  and  i-  appreciated  in  propor- 
tion as  his  services  have  been  fundamental 
in  building  up  the  township.  A  native  of 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  he  was  born  January 
[8,  [823,  and  i-  a  son  of  Jehu  and  Eliza- 
beth (Conrow)  Randall,  natives,  respect- 
ively, of  South  Carolina  and  Ohio.  The 
father  removed  to  Ohio  with  his  parents 
When  a  young  man.  and  in  the  timber  him- 

■  and  wife  Started  life  together,  and  eon- 
tinned  to  farm  until  his  death,  at  tin-  age  of 

ty-five  year-.  his  wife  surviving  him  un- 
til ninety-three  year-  of  age.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living,  Andrew  C,  being  second  in  oiiler 
of  birth. 

During  such  time  a-  he  could  he  spared 
from  hi-  duties  on  hi-  father'-  farm  Mr. 
Randall  attended  the  early  subscription 
schools.  <  hi  departing  from  the  homestead 
to  seek  his  own  living,  he  came  to  Illinois 
in  [857  and  purchased  the  farm  upon  which 
he  now  lives,  and  which  consists  of  eighty 
acre-    of    rich    land    on    section     34,     Texas 


township,  lie  ha-  here  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  the  ordinary  amount  of  -t<»ck- 
raising,  his  farm  being  mosl  complete  as 
far  a-  improvements  ami  buildings  are  con- 
cerned. .Mr.  Randall  i-  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  i-  identified  with  the  Inde- 
pendent  Order  of  Odd    Fellows  since  Oi 

tolicr.    185 1. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Randall  and  Ur- 
sula Cox  occurred  in  [846,  Mr-.  Randall 
being  a  native  of  Butler  county.  Ohio,  and 
a   daughter  of  Gilbert   and   Anna    (Cra 

Cox,  the  former  a  farmer  and  mechanic  by 
trade.  Mrs.  Randall  wa-  a  helpmate,  in- 
deed, to  her  husband,  a  woman  of  sterling 
characteristics,  in  whom  wa-  combined  no- 
bility and  gentleriess  and  ideal  motherly 
trait-,  and  whose  death,  in  1888,  at  the 
of  sixty-five  years,  left  a  void  in  the  hearts 
of  all  who  knew  her.  The  children  horn  to 
.Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randall  are  a-  follow-:  Ann 
Eliza,  who  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Smith,  of 
Peoria,  Illinois,  and  who.  by  a  former  mar- 
riage with  Sylvanus  Cooper,  had  five  chil- 
dren. William.  Cora,  Ada.  Sadie  and  Eva; 
Gilbert  C.  who  is  a  liveryman  at  Mitchell, 
South  Dakota;  William  II.;  Lydia  Ellen, 
who  is  the  widow  of  Jacob  Cree,  ha-  one 
child.  Elmer,  and  lives  in  Clinton;  Mary  A., 
who  i>  the  wife  of  Alfred  Geiling,  of  Ed- 
gar county.  Illinois,  and  ha-  the  following 
named  children:  Pearl,  (ail.  Frank,  Eva, 
Homer  and  Raj  ;  John,  who  married  Mag- 
gie Revis,  ha-  .me  child,  Alva,  and  lives  on 
a  farm  in  Piatt  county;  l.ettie.  who  is  the 
wife  of  Corwin  Smallwood,  has  two  chil- 
dren. Clarence  and  [na,  and  live-  on  the 
home  place  with  her  father  and  husband; 
Cornelius,  wh"  i-,  a  farmer  in  I'iatt  county; 
and  James,  who  i-  farming  in  I'iatt  county 
with  his  brother  Cornelius,  has  two  chil- 
dren. Freda  ami  I. eta.  By  a  former  mar- 
riage with  a  Mi--  Cochran,  who  died  -even 


!56 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years   ago,  James    Randall   had   one   child. 
Adelpha. 

Of  the  ancestry  of  the  Randall  family, 
the  paternal  grandfather  of  Andrew  Ran- 
dall was  of  English  descent,  was  born  in 
South  Carolina  and  moved  to  Ohio  many 
years  ago  with  his  father  and  five  brothers 
and  tw>  sisters,  and  here  the  grandparents 
lived   and   died.      <  >n    the   maternal    side   the 

idfather  was  John  Conrow,  a  native  of 
New    Jersey,    and    of    English- Welsh 
scent,  ami  who  removed  t>>  Ohio,  where  he 
eventually   died  at   an   advanced  age. 


CHARLES  WALKER  ATCHISON. 

Anient;-  the  prosperous  and  substantial 
fanner-  of  Waync-villc  township  there  is 
probabh  none  more  energetic  or  thorouj 
going  than  the  gentleman  whose  name  in- 
troduces tin-  sketch.  Walker  Atchison,  as 
he  i-  familiarly  called,  now  own-  and  opi 
ate-  a  large  and  valuable  farm  on  section 
thirty-one,  including  the  old  homestead 
where  he  was  hern  on  the  17th  of  April, 
1842.  Hi-  ancestors  on  the  paternal  side 
were  of  English  and  Scotch  extraction  and 
were  early  settler-  of  Virginia.  Hi-  lather. 
[sham  Atchison,  was  hern  in  that  state,  in 
1X04.  and  wa-  a  son  of  George  Atchison, 
al-<  1  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion.  At  an 
early  day  the  family  removed  t"  Kentucky. 
where  they  were  numbered  among  the  pio- 
neers,  and  where  Isham  Atchison  grew  to 
manhood  and  wedded  Miss  Mary  Crawford, 
a  native  of  that  state.  They -continued 
make  their  In  .me  there  until  after  the  birth 
..I'  three  of  their  children,  ami  then  came  to 
Illinois  in  1833,  locating  in  DeWitt  county, 
where  the  father  entered  -nine  land  and 
bought  mure,  it  being  now  the  property 


our  subject.  The  first  home  of  the  family 
11:  this  county  was  a  rude  cabin,  which  was 
later  replaced  by  a  more  substantial  struc- 
ture of  hewed  logs.  A  number  01  war-  later 
the  present  residence  was  built  and  many 
other  useful  and  valuable  improvements 
have  been  made  as  time  ha-  passed  until 
it  i-  now  a  most  attractive  and  desirable 
farm.  In  earl)  life  the  father  of  our  sub 
ject  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and 
r  coming  to  this  county  did  hi-  own 
\  oik  in  that  line.  He  died  here  in  [880 
honoied  and  respected  b)  all  who  knew 
him.  The  mother  departed  tin-  life  in  [866 
leaving  five  children,  namely:  George,  now 
deceased:  John  l\.  who  is  living  with  his 
brother  on  the  old  home  farm:  Charles 
Walker,  of  thi-  review  ;  David,  a  residenl  of 
Waynes\  ille :  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Eskew,  of 
Peoria,  Illinois. 

Walker  Atchison  never  left  the  parental 
roof,  and  at  an  earl-  ok  charge  of  the 

farm  ami  business  for  his  father,  who  wa- 
in- well  along  in  years  Later  he  boughl 
the  interests  of  some  of  the  heir-  ami  - 
ceiled  to  the  farm,  and  has  since  added  to 
hi-  landed  possessions  until  he  now  has  four 
hundred  ami  thirt)  five  acre-  of  ven  valu- 
able land.  Tin-  hi  >use  w  here  1  >ur  m  >w 
lives  and  which  is  now  one  of  the  large  and 
substantial  country  houses  of  the  county. 
was  1  mill  111  [840,  and  in  it  our  subject  was 
Imtii.  and  while  many  improvements  have 
keen  made,  it  is  yet  practically  the  same  as 
the  year  it  wa-  built. 

( >n  the  i-t  of  September,  1864,  in  Logan 
county,  Mr.  Atchison  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mi--  Maria  Hull,  who  died  July 
11,  [865,  leaving  one  -on.  Isham  Johnson, 
who  was  reared  mi  the  home  farm  and  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  Waynesville.  He 
married  Mi—  Vina  Gambrel,  a  daughter  of 
William  <  iamhrel.  one  of  the  prominent  men 


ISHAM   ATCHISON. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    kl  <  I 


ut  Barnett  township,  this  county,  and  they 
on-  child,  Ethel.  For  his  second  wife 
our  subject  married  Miss  Fanny  Gordon,  of 
•  a  county,  who  died  January  29,  1871, 
and  the  <'ii!y  child  born  of  thai  union,  Ber 
1..  died  at  the  age  of  tw..  years,  ["he 
last  wife  of  Mr.  Atchison  was  Mrs.  Sarah 
A.  '  ivho  died  Augusi  23,  1892. 

Mr.  Atchison  and  his  brothers  arc  all 
stanch  supporters  of  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  both  John  and 
Walker  cast  their  first  presidential  ballots 
Abraham  Lincoln,  the  former  in  [860, 
and  the  latter  in  1864.  They  are  active 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Waynesville,  of  which  our  subject  has 
been  a  trustee  for  some  years,  and  they  are 
among  the  most  highly  respected  and  hon- 
ored citizens  of  the  community  in  which  they 

made  their  home  and  at 
widely  known. 


WALTER  M.  TAYL<  >R. 

This  well-known  business  man  of  Clin- 
ton was  born  in  the  city  where  he  still  re- 
September  27.  1865,  and  is  a  son  of 
William    H.    and    Lucy    (Merrill)    Ta 
and  a  grandson  of  Henry  and  Mary   (Mil- 
;         raylor.     The  grandfather   was  born 
in  Delaware  in   1816,  and  in  early  life  re- 
tinville,  Ohio,  where  he  made 
his  home  until  coming  to  Clinton,  Illinois, 
-3.      Here  he  embarked   in   merchan- 
g  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Taylor  & 
Bell.     They  purchased  the  corner  now  oc- 
cupied by  the   Magill    House    and    erected 
a  three-story   frame  building,  stocking  the 
same  with  a  large  line  of  dry  goods,  boots 
and     shoes.       Misfortune  them 

about  1859,  when  their  store  was  destroyed 
by   fire  and   they    lost    almost   everything. 
12 


Durmg  the  latter  part  of  the  Civil  war 
Henry  Taylor  opened  another  stoic  where 
Mr.   Katz  is  now  engag  eneral  mer- 

chandising,   and    there  carried    on   busini 
under   the   firm   name   1  if    I  .. 

>v   Company  until  1872,  when  he  commenced 

dealing  in  lime,  wood,  a  OUT 

subject  is  now  located,  in  a  small  one-story 
building   formerly   known    as    the 

iperty.     At  his  death  he  was  eded 

by  his  son  Fletcher  C,   who  had  become 

ciated  with  him  in  business  in  i>S8o, 
and  in  1894  our  subject  and  his  father 
bought   the  interest   of    Fletchei  and 

Walter  M.  became  a  member  of  the  firm. 
The  grandfather  died  in  1891,  alter  an  hi 
1  rable  and  useful  Hi  /enty-fivi 

Mis  wife  passe. 1  away  at  the  ity- 

two.      They  had  '   children,   some 

whom  died  young,  the  othei 

William    II.,    Homer   11.,    Fletcher 
Frank    ]'...    Mrs.    Nellie   A.    Blackford   and 
Annie   I  I. 

William  II.  Taylor,  the  father  of  our 
rn  in  <  >hio,  June  1 .  (836, 
and  followed  fanning  until  he  joined  the 
I  "nil  in  army  in  [861,  enlistii 
in  Company  F,  Forty-first  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  His  sketch  ap] 
where  in  this  work. 

Walter  M.  Taylor,  of  this  review 
his   boyhood   and   youth    in   his   native   city, 
and  at  the  hig  '  in  the 

He  then  spent  threi 
in   southwestern    Mexico,    where  he   was    in- 
terested in  mining,  and  on  his  rein;:,  home 

lined  a  position  as  fireman  on  the  Illi- 
ntral  Railroad,  remaining  in  the  em- 
ploy  of'  that   company   until    injured     in     a 
wreck.      His    spine    was    injured,   and    from 
the  effects  of  the  same  he  has  never  fully  re- 
as  he  v.  en- 

e  in  active  business    he    1"  m- 


26o 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


nected  w  ith  the  business  established  by  his 
grandfather,  and  was  in  partnership  with 
his  father,  William  H.  Taylor,  from  1894 
until  June.  1899,  when  he  became  sole  pro- 
prietor. He  has  purchased  more  Land, 
built  coal  sheds  and  warehouses,  and  has 
remodeled  and  enlarged  the  other  buildings, 
and  under  his  able  management  the  busi- 
ness has  increased  from  a  small  business 
thirty  thousand  dollars  per  year.  He  deals 
in  coal,  wood,  cement,  paints,  glass,  etc., 
ami  has  built  up  a  fine  trade.  He  is  a  wide- 
awake, energetic  business  man.  who  by  un- 
tiring industry  and  sound  judgment  has 
won  a  merited  success,  and  is  to-day  con- 
sidered one  of  the  leading  business  men 
the  city.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
blue  lodge,  chapter  and  Eastern  Star  chap 
ter  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  is  quite  popu- 
lar in  both  business  and  social  circle-,  He 
married  Mi--  Cora  Robinson,  a  daughter 
of  R.  \Y.  Robinson,  of  Clinton,  and  they 
have  one  child.  Lucy  A. 


JOHN"    P.    BAYLESS. 

The  subject  of  this  personal  narrative  is 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  progn 

ive  farmers  and  stock-raisers  within  the 
borders  of  Waynesville  township,  his  home 
being  on  the  north  line  of  the  county,  on 
section  18.  He  has  made  his  special  held 
of  industry  an  eminent  success,  and  now 
owns  and  operates  a  well  improved  and  val- 
uable farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
Mr.  Bayless  was  born  in  Rush  county, 
Indiana.  September  [3,  (835.  His  father, 
Daniel  Bayless,  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  1 S 1  _• .  and  was  a  son  of  Daniel 
Bayless,  Sr.,  who  took  his  family  to 
Rush  county.  Indiana,  in  1820,  becoming 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  region.     There 


our  subject's  father  grew  to  manhood  and 
married  Miss  Malinda  Jones,  a  sister  of 
Colonel  Jones,  of  DeWitt  county,  Illinois. 
Mr.  Bayless  opened  up  a  farm  in  Rush 
county,  Indiana,  and  continued  its  opera- 
tion  until  1856,  when  he  removed  to  De- 
Witt  count},  Illinois,  and  settled  in  what  is 
now    Waynesville  township. 

John  P.  Bayless  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  but  as 
his  school  privileges  were  meager,  he  is  al- 
most wholly  a  self-educated  man.  lie  ac- 
npanied  the  family  on  their  removal  to 
this  county,  and  remained  under  the  par- 
ental roof  until  twent)  six  years  of  age. 
Here  he  taught  school  through  the  winter 
months  for  about  eight  years. 

Mr.  Bayless  was  twice  married,  and  to 
these  unions   were  burn  eight   children. 

Politically  Mr.  Bayless  is  a  Republican, 
and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  John 
(  .  Fremont  in  1850,  though  at  local  elec- 
tions he  votes  independent  of  party  lines. 
He  made  the  first  assessment  in  Waynes- 
ville town-hip.  but  has  never  cared  for 
office,  preferring  to  give  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  his  farm  and  business  inter- 
ests. He  was  made  a  Mason  in  [86l,  and 
is  now  probably  the  oldest  living  member 
of  Waynesville  Lodge. 


ISAAC  BAKER. 


Isaac  Baker,  a  practical  and  enterprising 
agriculturist  of  Waynesville  township,  owns 
and  operates  a  well-improved  and  highly- 
cultivated  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  on  section  23.  His  possessions  have 
been  acquired  through  his  own  efforts,  and 
as  the  result  of  his  consecutive  endeavor  he 
has  become  quite  well-to-do. 

Mr.  Baker  was  born  on  the  19th  of  Feb- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


261 


ruary,  1847,  m  Morgan  county,  Ohio, 
which  was  also  the  birthplace  of  hi>  par- 
ents, Isaac  and  .Mary  (Nulse)  Baker.  I  lis 
paternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Baker,  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  that  state,  and  at 
a  very  early  day  came  to  Illinois,  locating 
in  McLean  county.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  horn  in  1813,  and  in  early  lite  fol- 
lowed the  cooper's  trade.  In  the  fall  of 
1859  he  and  his  family  came  to  Waynes- 
ville,  Illinois,  hut  the  following  year  re- 
moved to  McLean  county,  where  he  re- 
1  ~ome  years.  Later  he  returned  to  De- 
Witt  county  to  make  his  home  with  a 
daughter,  where  lie  died  in  1885.  His  wife 
survived  him  about  three  years,  dying  in 
[888.  They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen 
children,  eleven  of  whom  reached  mature 
years,  ami  three  sons  and  two  daughters 
are  still  living. 

the  home  farm  in  McLean  county 
Mr.  Baker,  of  this  review,  grew  to  man- 
hood, receiving  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  in  the  vil- 
lage >cho,.ls  of  Waynesville.  He  early  be- 
came familiar  with  every  department  of 
farm  work,  and  after  leaving  the  parental 
1  in  farming  on  rented  land  un- 
til 1887.  when  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
bis  present  farm,  which  was  then  but 
ijhtly  improved.  Later  be  added  to  it  a 
tract  of  tdrty  acres,  making  a  good  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  sections 
14  and  23.  He  has  built  a  good  residence, 
a  large  barn  and  other  outbuildings,  has  set 
out  fruit  and  shade  trees  and  made  many 
other  improvements  generally  found  upon 
a  model  farm  of  the  present  day.  Resides 
his  own  farm,  he  operates  two  hundred  and 
seven  acres  of  land  elsewhere,  and  is  also 
successfully  engaged   in  stock-raising. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1872.  in  McLean 
county.  Mr.  Baker  was  united  in  marriage 


with  Miss  Luanda  Johnson,  a  native  of  that 
county,  and  a  daughter  of  Jesse  Johnson, 
who  came  to  this  state  from  Indiana  at  an 
early  day.  She  died  March  4.  [890,  leav- 
ing five  children,  namely:  Frances  Ellen, 
wife  of  Charles  Cunningham,  of  McLean 
county;  Olive  L..  at  home:  Jacob  1'..  who 
is  married  and  engaged  in  farming  in 
Waynesville  township:  Arthur  L.  and  Sid- 
ney L..  who  assist  their  father  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  farm.  Mr.  Baker  was  again 
married  in  DeWitt  county.  October  21, 
[891,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs. 
Laura  Y.  Buck,  who  was  born  in  Logan 
county.  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Russun,  who  came  to  this  state  from 
Ohio.  By  this  marriage  Mr.  Baker  has 
two  children.  Isaac  and  Emeline. 

In  his  political  affiliations  he  is  a  - 
wart  Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  in  [868,  but  at  local  elections  he 
supports  the  men  whom  he  believes  hest 
qualified  for  office,  regardless  of  party  lines. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  industry  and  use- 
fulness and  due  success  has  not  been  denied 
him. 


CYRUS  J0N1  3 

Cyrus  Jones,  who  is  now  serving  as 
a  >unty  a  ironer  1  if  DeWitt  ci  lunty,  and  one  of 
the  highly-esteemed  citizens  of  Clinton,  was 
horn  in  Madison  county.  Ohio,  on  the  5th 
of  February,  [836.  His  father.  Allen  Jones. 
was  born  in  Culpeper  county.  Virginia,  in 
[805,  and  was  a  son  of  William  Jones,  who 
was  probably  of  Welsh  descent.  His  an- 
cestors settled  in  Virginia  prior  to  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  and  the  records  show  that 
several  of  the  family  participated  in  that 
struggle.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject 
followed    farming  throughout  life  and  died 


262 


HI]-:    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


at  an  advanced  age.  His  children  were 
Mason.  William.  Allen,  Charles,  Mrs.  Betsy 
Rosbery,  .Mrs.  Lydia  Bates,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Jones,  Mrs.  South  and  Mrs.  Nancy 
Dockum. 

In  early  life  Allen  Jones,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  removed  to  Madison  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  followed  the  carpenter's  and 
wagonmaker's  trades  until  [855,  and  then 
came  to  Clinton,  Illinois.  Immediately  after 
he  went  to  Macon  county,  hut  in  the  fall  of 
1856  returned  to  Clinton,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  until  his  health  compelled  his 
retirement,  lie  bought  a  story-and-a-half 
building  on  the  northeasl  corner  of  the 
square,  used  as  the  first  postoffice,  and  after 
moving  it  he  remodeled  the  building,  con- 
verting it  into  a  good  residence,  it  being  now 
owned  by  Charles  Hanger.  He  served  eight 
years  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  was  a  man 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  him.  When  a  hoy  he  was  a  noted 
flute  player  and  won  considerable  praise  for 
his  playing,  lie  also  played  a  life  for  soldiers 
of  181.',  though  quite  small,  a  compan) 

Her-    being    camped    near    his    fathi 
home.       He     wedded    Miss    Mary    Dockum, 
who   was   horn   in    1807   and    died   in    [865. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seventeen  children, 
namel)  ssa;    Henry,   deceased;   Ma- 

tilda, wife  of  William  Tonguet ;  Thomas: 
Milton  and  1  >a\id.  both  deceased  :  Cyrus,  our 
subject;  Amanda  and  Argus,  both  deceased; 
( 'harle- :  Lemuel  D. :  Samuel ;  Charlotte  W. : 
Mrs.  Lucretia  Ludwick;  Mrs.  Maria  An- 
derson;  John  (_). ;  and  Emma,  deceased. 

rmg  his  boyhood  and  youth  Cyrus 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
this  county,  and  when  the  Civil  war  broke 
out  he  enlisted  in  August,  1862,  as  a  pri 
in  Company  B.  One  Hundred  and  Seventh 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.     He  participat- 


ed in  a  number  of  engagements  and  re- 
mained in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  being  honorably  discharged  in  July, 
(865.  1  li-  first  battle  was  the  noted  engage- 
ment at  Huff's  Ferry,  during  the  siege  of 
Knoxville,  and  he  took  part  in  all  the  en- 
gagements in  which  his  company  participat- 
ed, being  in  the  campaign  from  Chattanoi 
Atlanta,  Nashville  and  Franklin.  (  In  his 
Min  to  Clinton  he  resumed  work  at  his 
trade  and  has  built  more  fences  in  the  coun- 
ty than  any  other  man.  his  specialty  being 
tine  picket  and  fancy  fences.  lie  bought 
the  \\  eger  property,  which  was  his  home 
some  time,  hut  later  traded  it  for  the  Lydia 
Taylor  place,  on  East  Washington  street. 
which  lie  has  remodeled  and  enlarged,  mak- 
ing a  very  comfortable  residence. 

Mr.  Jones  married   Miss   [sabel   Bate-,  a 
native  of  (  >hio  and  a  daughter  of    \-,a  Bate-, 
who    on    coming     to   this   state   settled    in 
Springfield.      By  this  union  were  horn  seven 
children,  as  follows-.     1  1  1    Edward   B.  died 
when  only  a  year  old.      (2)    Herbert  C,  an 
engineer  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  re- 
siding in  Centralia,  married  Allie   Pulsifrr 
and  they   have  three  children,   Goldie,   Gale 
and  Maud.    (3)  tail,  junior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Caldwell  &  Jones,  who  have  on, 
the  largest  and  most  popular  furniture  sto 
of  Clinton,  married  Susie  Edward  and  they 
have  one  child.  Doris.      14)    Lottie  and 
Xettie  are  engaged  in  dressmaking  in  Clin- 
ton.     Mm    Mabel,  who  is  noted   for  her  mu- 
ll talent,  was  graduated  in  music  at  the 
Wesleyan  College  in   1901,  and  is  assist 
teacher  in   that   institution.      17)    Blanch    B 
at  home  with  her  parents. 

In  his  religious  views  Mr.  Jones  B  a 
Methodist,  and  in  his  social  relations  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  Clin- 
ton, of  which  he  was  a  trustee  for  several 
years.     Politically  he  lias  always  been  identi- 


IHE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


563 


tied  with  the  Republican  party,  and  on  that 

ticket  was  elected  coroner  of.  the  county  in 

2  and   1900,  being  the  present 

incumbent      He    i>   widely  and  favorably 

known,  and  is  held   in  high  regard  by  his 
many  friends. 


h.  c.  SPAiximuk. 


H.  C.  Spainhour,  who  is  now  living  a 
retired  life  "ii  section  9,  Creek  township,  was 
bom  in  Texas  township,  this  county,  Feb- 
ruary 26,  [843,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
-  ainhour,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Casey 
county,  Kentucky,  in  August,  1819.  His 
paternal  grandparents.  Warner  and  Polly 
(Davenport)  Spainhour,  were  both  natives 
of  North  Carolina,  and  after  residing  in 
Kentucky  for  several  years  came  to  Illinois 
in  1817,  locating  in  Sangamon  county  when 
this  section  of  the  state  was  inhabited  prin- 
cipally by  the  red  men.  Here  the  father 
our  subject  grew  to  manhood  and  for  many 
years  he  was  engaged  in  farming  in  DeWitt 
county,  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
Creek  township.  He  tirst  married  Matilda 
Willis,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  the 
mother  of  our  subject.  By  that  union  six 
children  were  born,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  three  sons  are  still  liv- 
ing. Since  the  mother's  death  the  father  has 
been  twice  married,  and  by  the  last  union 
also  has  six  children. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth 
in  Texas  and  Creek  townships,  and  began 
his  education  in  a  primitive  log  school  hi 
with  its  slab  benches  and  puncheon  floor. 
The  writing  desk  was  made  by  a  plank  laid 
upon  pegs  driven  into  the  wall,  and  where 
a  log  was  cut  out  greased  paper  was  tacked 
over  the  opening  to  form  a  window.      The 


school  house  was  about  a  mile  from  the 
Spainhour  homestead.  Our  subject  was 
only  able  to  attend  school  during  the  winter 
months,  but  he  had  some  good  teachers,  in- 
cluding Logan  McMurray,  his  first  teacher. 
As  there  was  no  mill  in  this  locality  during 
his  boyhood,  his  grandfather  Willis  made  a 
o  luple  of  burrs  >  lut  1  >f  niggerhead  rocks  to 
grind  meal,  and  continued  to  operate  these 
cveral  year-. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Spainhour  en- 
listed March  10.  tSo_>.  in  Company  < '.  Forty- 
first  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Col- 
onel I.  C.  Pugh.  and  tirst  went  t<>  Pittsburg 
Landing.  During  the  first  day  of  the  battle 
of  Shiloh — April  6,  1862 — he  was  wounded 
in  the  left  arm  and  was  under  the  surgeon's 
care  for  ten  days.  On  rejoining  his  com- 
mand he  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Corinth 
anil  then  went  to  Grand  Junction,  Missis- 
sippi, and  from  there  to  Holly  Springs,  tak- 
ing part  in  the  engagement  at  the  latter 
place.  Returning  to  Grand  Junction  his 
regiment  went  from  there  to  Boliver,  Ten- 
nessee, in  the  spring  of  [863.  They  were 
next  ordered  to  the  Tallahatchie  river  to  in- 
tercept General  Hardy  and  keep  him  from 
crossing  that  stream.  From  there  they  went 
t<  >  Memphis  and  with  Grant's  ex]>edition 
started  for  Yicksburg.  but  on  reaching  Cof- 
feyville  they  found  that  the  rebels  had  de- 
stroyed their  rations  at  Corinth  and  were 
compelled  to  fall  back  to  Holly  Springs, 
where  they  lived  for  a  week  on  parched  corn 
without  salt  until  Sherman  arrived  with  pro- 
vision.-. Returning  to  Memphis  they  took 
boats  for  the  Yazoo  river  heights  above 
Yicksburg.  ami  after  capturing  the  fort  and 

raying  the  magazine  at  that  place  they 
crossed  the  river  ami  were  in  cam])  opposite 
Vicksburg  for  a  week.  They  were  then  as- 
signed  to  the  extreme  left  of  Grant's  army, 
and   were  under  tire  in   the  siege  of   Yicks- 


264 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


burg  for  forty-nine  days.  From  there  they 
marched  to  Jackson.  Mississippi,  and  in  the 
hard-fought  battle  which  occurred  there  July 
12,  1864.  the  regiment  lost  heavily,  only  six- 
teen out  of  the  three  hundred  and  fifty  men 
who  entered  the  light  being  able  to  stack 
arms  around  the  colors  after  the  engage- 
ment was  over.  The  remnant  of  the  regi- 
ment returned  to  Memphis,  and  in  August, 
1864,  the  survivors  were  mustered  out.  Our 
subject  remained  in  the  service,  however, 
and  was  with  General  Smith  on  the  Red 
river  expedition,  and  for  a  time  was  at 
Marietta,  Georgia,  and  Kenesaw  Mountain 
guarding  railroads.  His  command  was 
with  Sherman  in  the  Atlanta  campaign  and 
cn  the  march  to  the  sea,  and  were  then  given 
charge  of  the  prisoners  captured  on  that 
march.  By  boat  they  proceeded  to  Fort 
Beaufort,  South  Carolina,  and  then  marched 
with  Sherman  to  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina, 
where  Mr.  Spainhour  was  mustered  out 
March  29,  [865.  He  returned  home  im- 
mediately, arriving  here 'Hi  the  [3th  of  April. 
For  two  years  after  the  war  Mr.  Spain- 
hour  was  engaged  in  farming  on  the  shares 
for  Asbury  Smallwood.  During  that  time 
he  was  married.  January  [8,  1866,  to  Miss 
Deborah  Smallwood,  a  daughter  of  Asbury 
and  Elizabeth  Smallw 1.  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia. Her  father  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Macon  county.  Illinois,  having 
located  there  before  the  winter  of  the  "deep 
snow."  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  fif- 
teen children  were  horn,  seven  of  whom  died 
young,  and  David,  the  oldest,  died  May  20, 
1892,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years.  Those 
living  are  Lura.  who  is  now  the  wife  of  John 
L.  Tackwell,  of  (reek  township,  and  has  one 
child.  William  Carl:  Cory,  who  married 
Carrie  Harrow  and  is  operating  a  part  of 
liis   father's  land;  Virvin  and  Ellis,  both  at 


home ;  and  Xettie,  Maude,  Russell  and  Alma, 
all  in  school. 

After  leaving  his  father-in-law's  farm 
Mr.  Spainhour  operated  a  grist  and  sawmill 
on  Salt  creek,  in  Texas  township,  and  then 
returned  to  the  Smallwood  farm.  Later  he 
erected  a  flouringmill  on  the  Sangamon  river 
in  Macon  county,  but  after  running  it  six 
months  he  sold  out  and  returned  to  Creek 
township.  DeWitt  county,  where  he  rented 
the  Peter  Murphy  farm  one  year.  lie  then 
returned  to  the  old  place  and  remained  there 
until  1874,  when  he  bought  eight)  acres  of 
land  in  Nixon  township.  This  he  disposed 
of  six  months  later,  and  then  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixtv  acres  of  his  present  farm 
in  ("reek  township,  to  which  lie  has  added 
from  time  to  time  until  he  now  has  four 
hundred  and  twenty  five  acres  of  well  im- 
proved and  highly  cultivated  land  on  sections 
4,  5  and  9,  and  also  has  eight;  acres  on 
section  10.  lie  has  given  considerable  at- 
tention to  stock  raising,  hut  in  [901  laid 
aside  all  business  cares  and  is  now  living  a 
retired  life.  lie  started  on  bis  b  sines- 
leer  without  a  dollar,  and  the  success  that  be 
lias  achieved  is  due  entirely  to  bis  own  in- 
dustry, good  management  and  excellent  busi- 
ness ability.  During  the  war  hi  ded 
in  saving  thirteen  hundred  dollars. 

In  politics  Mr.  Spainhour  is  a  Democrat, 
and  as  one  of  the  leading  and  prominent 
citizens  of  bis  community  be  has  been  called 
upon  to  till  official  positions  of  honor  and 
trust,  lie  served  as  collector  several  terms, 
and  was  county  supervisor  six  consecutive 
terms,  during  which  time  he  yas  a  member 
of  all  of  the  important  committees,  such  as 
the  finance  and  poor  farm  committees.  He 
is  a  member  of  ( iilman  Lodge,  No.  455.  K. 
1'..  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


265 


JOHN    II.   SAVELEY. 

John  Henry  Saveley,  one  of  Clin 
wide-awake  business  men,  whose  success  in 
painting,  paper  hanging  and  bill  posting  has 
brought  him  into  prominence,  was  born  in 
Urbana,  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
2ist  of  May,  1845.  and  is  a  s<.>n  oi  Henry 
and  Ellen  T.  (Niles  -  eley.  natives 
Virginia  and  New  York,  respectively.  His 
paternal  grandparents.  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
Saveley.  were  also  natives  of  the  Old  1  >o- 
minion.  From  that  state  they  removed  to 
Ohio  and  in  1S52  came  to  Illinois,  living 
for  a  time  in  Clark,  Schuyler  and  Shelby 
counties.  The  grandfather,  who  was  a  farm- 
er by  1  -ccupation,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 

His  children  who  reached  y< 
of    maturity    were    John.    Jacob,     M.     D., 
Ge  3   rah  Ann.  Laney.  Polly  and  Hen- 

ry.     The  father  of  our  subject  also  followed 
farming  and  died  in   Ohio,   at   the 

ty-four  years,  leaving  two  children:  John 
II..  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Mat  Crable.  of 
Paris.  Illinois.  The  mother  subsequently  be- 
came the  wif  :  Sai  el  S  rords,  by  whom 
she  had  two  children.  Lincoln  and  Emma. 
She  died  July  21,  1S7S.  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
six  year-. 

Being  quite  young  when  his  father  died 
John  H.  Saveley  made  his  home  with  his  pa- 
ternal grandfather  until  ten  years  of  age, 
and  then  started  out  to  make  his  own  way 
in  the  world,  first  working  as  a  farm  hand. 
Later  he  learned  the  plasterer's  trade.  While 
living  in  Shelby  county,  in  1861,  he  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  Company  F.  Fifty-fourth  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  nearly 
four  years.  He  had  previ'  lusly  had  but  little 
Opportunity  to  attend  school,  having  pur- 
sued his  studies  only  for  a  few  months  in  a 
log  school  house,  but  while  in  the  service  he 
became  interested    in   education,   and    while 


not  on  duty  devoted  his  time  to  studying  the 
books  which  he  bought.  After  his  return 
home  he  attended  school  for  a  time,  and  by 
reading  and  study  has  never  ceased  to  im- 
prove his  mind. 

On  the  3d  of  November,  1865,  ^'r-  -v 
ley  came  to  Clinton  and  opened  an  ovster  sa- 
loon, to  which  he  later  added  a  stock  of 
arrying  on  that  business  for  a 
year  and  a  half.  He  subsequently  worked  at 
the  plasterer's  trade,  and  on  the  18th  of  July, 
[870,  began  painting  and  paper  hanging, 
which  business  he  has  successfully  followed 
ever  since,  employing  many  men  during  the 
bus  !.      He  commenced  bill   posting 

in  a  small  way  in  1870.  using  old  build 
on  which  to  post  his  bills,  his  first  place  be- 
ing the  old  coal  house  on  the  court  h< 

ire.  covering  its  sides  and  roof.  Later 
he  had  a  bill  board  around  the  court  h< 
square  and  has  kept  on  increasing  the  space 
until  he  now  has  room  f<  >r  fourteen  hundred 
-beets.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Illi- 
ii'  >is  Bill  Posters'  Association.  In  his  paint- 
ing, papering  and  decorating  he  is  unex- 
celled by  any  one  in  the  county.  He  has 
been  distributing  agent  for  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad  in  this  city  for  the  past  five 
years,  and  i-  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
energetic  and  enterprising  business  men  of 
the  place.  He  is  now  the  oldest  resident  of 
Monn  >e  street,  his  home  being  at  515.  where 
he  first  erected  a  two-room  house,  but  has 
since  enlarged  and  improved  it.  and  now 
owns  two  residence-  across  the  street. 

Mr.  Saveley  married  Miss  Ada  Dalzell, 
who  was  l>orn  in  South  Egremont,  Mas 
chusetts,  May  10.  [849,  and  i-  a  .laughter 
of  John  and  Eliza  (Seeley)  Dalzell.  The 
father  was  born  on  the  uth  of  July,  t8l6, 
in  County  Down.  Ireland,  where  hi-  parents, 
Robert  and  Mary  (Ballentine)  Dalzell. 
-pent  their  entire  lives.     He  and  his  brother 


266 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


David  emigrated  to  America  and  located  in' 
South  Egremont,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
served  a  seven-years'  apprenticeship  at  car 
riage  trimming.  He  subsequently  went  to 
Cleveland,  <  >hio,  and  still  later  to  CJnionville, 
that  state,  and  worked  at  his  trade.  While 
there  he  entered  the  Union  army  in 
1861.  Firsl  Ohio  Regiment  Artillery  Volun- 
teers, Company  C,  serving  until  the  close  "i 
the  war.  In  [ 872  he  came  to  Clinton,  Illinois, 
and  trimmed  the  first  phaeton  made  at  this 
place.  He  was  an  expert  at  liis  trade.  From 
■choice  he  Spent  hi--  lasl  days  at  the  Soldiers' 
Home  in  Dayton,  <  Ihio,  where  he  died  Sep- 
tember 13,  1890,  and  at  his  request  was 
buried  there.  His  wife,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 14,  1816,  died  in  [860.  Their  chil- 
dren were  George  and  Ann  Eliza,  both  de 
ceased:  \da.  wife  of  our  subject;  Charles 
Henry,  a  residenl  of  Texas;  and  William, 
deceased.  For  twenty-six  years  Mrs.  Save- 
ley  carried  on  dressmaking  in  Clinton,  era 
ploying  from  three  to  five  girls  and  receiv- 
ing the  patronage  of  the  leading  families  of 
the  city,  1>\  whom  she  is  held  in  high  esteem. 
She  was  very  successful  in  business,  and  is 
very  pi  ipular  and  well  liked. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Savele)  have  four  chil- 
dren, Charles  Henn  learned  his  trade  with 
his  father  and  worked  with  him  until  [899, 
when  he  went  to  Chicago,  a  id  is  now  special 

police   for   the  Chicago  &   Alton    Railroad. 

He  married  Anna  Cochran.  Warren  S..  a 
painter  and  paper  hanger  and  hill  poster  of 
Clinton,  married  Dora  Williams,  and  the) 
have  one  child.  Edward.  David  L.,  who  is 
in  the  employ  of  the  telephone  company  at 
Clinton,  married  Mannae  Bower  and  has  one 
son,  Henry.  William  !•'..  also  a  painter  ol 
Clinton,  married  Cordelia  Phillips,  and  their 
only  son  died  in  infancy. 

In  politics  Mr.  Saveley  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican  and   served   as  alderman    from   his 


ward  two  years.  Socially  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  1:  e  ibci  - 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


JAMES  11.    PRICE. 

Among  the  energetic  and  successful 
tanners  of  Wavnesv  illc  township,  whose 
success  is  due  entirely  to  their  own  unaided 
efforts,  is  numbered  the  subject  of  this  bi- 
ography, who  now  owns  and  operates  a  line 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on 
section  10,  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the 
\  illage  1  if  Waynesville.  I  fe  was  born  on  the 
t2th  of  September,  [839,  in  Page  county, 
Virginia,  of  which  state  his  ancestors  were 
early  settlers.  I  lis  father,  William  Price, 
was  also  horn  in  that  county,  aboul  [799, 
and  on  reaching  manhood  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mar)  Decker,  a  native 
of  the  <  >ld  Dominion  and  of  German  de- 
scent. After  farming  for  some  years  in 
his  native  county,  William  Price  came  to 
Illinois,  in  [850,  and  settled  at  Brooks 
Drove.  Tazewell  county,  where  he  died  in 
[852.  I  lis  wife  only  survived  him  about 
two  years. 

After  the  death  of  his  parents  James  ||. 
Price  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources, 
and  his  early  life  was  fraught  with  many 
hardships  and  privations,  For  some  time  he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand.  In  [854  he  came 
to  DeWitt  county  and  was  in  the  eiTlploj  of 
Samuel  llainmitt  for  four  or  live  years. 
Feeling  that  his  country  needed  his  services 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  war,  he 
enlisted  in  August,  [862,  in  Company  A, 
One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  which  was  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee.     His  first  engage- 


JAMES   H.    PRICE. 


MRS.  J.    H.   PRICE. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ment  was  the  battle  of  Krioxville,  Tennes 
see,  and  was  followed  b)  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign. After  the  battle  of  Resaca  Mr.  Price 
was  taken  ill  and  sent  to  the  hospital  in 
Knoxville,  where  he  remained  three  weeks. 
lie  was  then  placed  "ii  detached  duty  in 
the  quartermaster's  department,  where  he 
served  until  the  close  «'t'  the  war.  lie  was 
mustered  out  at  Knoxville  and  honorabl) 
discharged  in  time  to  reach  home  on  the  4th 
day  ot'  July.  1865.  For  several  year-  there 
after  he  was  engaged  in  farming  "ii  rented 
land. 

In  September,  [867,  in  this  county,  Mr. 
Price  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  I'.ar- 
thena  Williams,  who  was  hum  on  the  farm 
where  Mr.  Price  now  resides,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Moses  and  Catherine  E.  Will- 
iams, of  whom  extended  mention  is  made  111 
the  sketch  of  S.  Dean  Williams,  mi  another 
page  of  thi>  volume.  About  1871  he  pur- 
chased his  farm  on  section  19,  Waynesville 
township,  and  to  its  further  improvement 
and  cultivation  he  has  since  devoted  his  at- 
tention with  good  results.  The  land  is  now 
well  tiled  ami  fenced  and  under  excellent  cul- 
tivation, and  a  good  set  of  .buildings  adorn 
the  place,  making  it  a  most  desirable  farm. 
In  connection  with  general  farming  our  suh- 
ject  is  also  engaged  in  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Trice's  first  wife  died  in  [879,  and 
was  laid  to  rest  in  Fremont  cemetery.  Mc- 
Lean county.  She  left  three  children,  name- 
ly: 1  1  1  William  M.  is  a  well  educated 
young  man.  having  attended  the  Waynes- 
ville Academy,  and  also  taking  a  commer- 
cial course  at  a  business  college  in  Lexing- 
ton. Kentucky.  For  eight  or  ten  years  he 
successfully  engaged  in  teaching  school,  hut 
is   now    assisting  his    father  in   carrying   on 

the  home  farm,     lie  possesses  - 1  business 

ability  and  takes  quite  an  active  and  promi- 
nent part  in  local  politics,  serving  as  a  incin 


her  of  the  count)  hoard  of  supervisors  three 

terms  of  two  years  each.  While  filling  that 
office   he   was  chairman   of   some   important 

committees,  and  a  member  of  a  number  of 

Others.  lie  has  also  served  as  township 
trustee  three  years,  and  has  been  a  delegate 
to  numerous  comity  and  congressional  con- 
ventions of  the  Democratic  party,  with 
which  he  always  affiliates.  (2)  Mrs.  Mvra 
Griffin  is  the  next  of  the  family.  (3  1  Mar) 
Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Matthew  Connell, 
the  present  supervisor  of  Waynesville  town- 
ship. Their  only  child.  John  S.,  died  in  in- 
fancy. In  [88]  Mr.  Price  married  Mrs. 
Sarah  Milhurn,  who  was  horn  in  <  Ihio,  but 
was  reared  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  where 
she  was  first  married.  By  the  second  union 
there  are  two  children,  Leslie  and  Leo. 

The  Democratic  parly  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  Price  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  prin- 
ciples, and  he  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
For  Stephen  A.  Douglos,  "the  Little  Giant," 
in  i860.  He  served  six  years  as  commis- 
sioner of  highways,  and  was  an  efficient 
member  of  the  school  hoard  ten  or  twelve 
years.  He  and  his  son  William  M.  are  both 
members  of  Waynesville  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  he  als..  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  Post 
at  that  place,  and  his  son  to  the  <  )dd  Fellows 
lodge,  in  which  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs 
and  is  now  past  grand.  For  the  success  that 
he  has  achieved  in  life  Mr.  Price  deserves 
great  credit,  ami  he  well  merits  the  high  re- 
gard in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. 


HENRY  J(  ISEPH  WAGNER. 

This  well-known  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion [5,  Wilson  township,  is  a  man  whose 
Successful      Struggle     with    adverse    circum- 

1  inces  shows  what  can  be  accomplished  by 


272 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


industry  and  economy,  especially  if  a  sensi- 
ble wife  seconds  his  efforts  to  secure  a  home 
and  competence.  Coming  to  this  country 
with  no  capital  he  was  obliged  to  make  his 
way  in  the  world  without  the  aids  which  are 
usually  considered  essential  to  success. 

Mr.  Wagner  was  horn  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, January  _'_'.  [836,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  Joseph  and  Anna  Man  1  Kaus)  Wag- 
ner, who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  that  coun- 
try, the  father  being  a  well-to-do  farmer. 
In  the  family  were  nine  children,  all  oi 
whom  are  still  living.  Those  who  came 
to  America  are  John,  a  gas  litter  of  New 
York  City;  Charles,  a  blacksmith  of  the 
same  place;  Eliza,  who  is  living  in  New 
York    state;   and    llcnrv    J.,   of   this   rex  iew. 

As  is  customary  in  his  native  land  our 
subject  attended  the  public  schools  until 
fourteen  years  of  age  and  dien  learned  a 
trade,  working  in  a  hatter's  establishment 
for  two  years  and  a  half.  I  1c  then  returned 
home,  where  he  spent  aboul  six  months,  and 
later  was  employed  in  a  hotel  for  a  time. 
Believing  that  the  new  world  furnished  bet- 
ter opportunities  to  ambitious  young  men. 
he  came  to  America  in  [854  on  the  old  sail- 
in-  vessel.  New  York,  which  landed  him 
safely  in  New  York  City  after  a  pleasant 
voyage  of  thirty-two  days,  lie  was  accom- 
panied on  this  trip  by  his  brother  John. 

For  about  s,x  months  Mr.  Wagner  re- 
mained in  New  York,  working  at  anything 
which  he  could  find  to  do,  and  then  went  to 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  at  eight  dollars  per  month  for  six 
months.  In  [855  he  went  to  Lee  county. 
Illinois,  where  he  was  employed  in  a  hotel 
for  two  years  and  a  half,  and  then  secured 
work  on  a  canal  boat  on  the  Michigan  & 
Illinois  canal,  where  he  remained  until  [860. 
He  then  went  down  the  Mississippi  river  to 
Vickshurg.   where  he   worked   as  a  mason's 


assistant  until  the  fall  of  that  year,  when  he 
went  to  Xew  (  Irleans  and  was  employed  as  a 
bus  driver  until  the  Civil  war  broke  out. 

Returning  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Wagner  en- 
gaged in  chopping  wood  during  the  follow- 
ing summer,  and  then  worked  in  the  harvest 
fields  of  southern  Illinois,  and  later  around 
Bloomington,  as  the  crops  there  were  not 
readj  tor  harvesting  quite  as  soon  as  those 
farther  south.  At  the  close  of  the  harvest 
season  he  found  employment  in  a  brickyard 
at  LeRoy,  McLean  county,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years  and  a  half,  and  was  next 
engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land,  in  part- 
nership with  another  gentleman,  for  six 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  time  he 
bought  eighty  acres  of  laud  on  section  15, 
Wilson  township,  DeWkt  county,  a  part  of 
which  had  been  broken,  with  an  old  house 
standing  thereon,  hut  there  were  no  other  im- 
provements. He  planted  hedges,  set  out 
fruit  and  shade  trees,  erected  a  good  resi- 
dence and  nice  barn,  and  made  many  other 
improvements,  so  that  he  now  has  one  of 
the  best  farms  in  the  locality.  He  has  also 
extended  its  boundaries  from  time  to  time 
until  he  now  has  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  rich  and  arable  land  under  a  high 
state  1  if  cultivate  m. 

On  the  17th  of  December.  [864,  Mr. 
Wagner  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Caroline  Bohn,  also  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  [854  at  the  age 
of  ten  years,  and  to  them  were  born  nine 
children,  as  follows:  11)  Charles,  now  a 
resident  of  Iowa,  is  married  and  lias  three 
children.  John.  Sarah  and  Blanche.  12) 
Anna  is  the  wife  of  William  Jones,  of 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  has  three  chil- 
dren, Margaret.  Frank  and  Anna.  (3)  Mar- 
garet is  the  wife  of  Peter  Quailey.  of  Cali- 
fornia, and  they  have  two  children.  141 
Xancv    is    the    wife   of    Daniel    Sullivan,   of 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


273 


Memphis.  Tennessee,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Albert  and  Frances.  1  5  1  John,  a  resi- 
dent of  Wapella.  married  Minerva  Green  and 

they  have  one  child.   Laurence.  ath- 

erine    is    a  resident  of  Bloomington.      1  - 
Henry,    (8)    Frank  and    (9)    lames  are  all 
at  lv>me.     The  mother  of  these  children  died 
in  1884. 

Mr.  Wagner  was  again  married.  October 
15,  1805.  his  second  wife  being  Mrs.  Berttie 
Kline,  who  was  horn  in  Germany,  and  re- 
mained at  home  with  her  parents  until  1872. 
her  father  being  a  wealthy  farmer.  She  then 
took  passage  on  a  steamer  at  Hamburg,  and 
after  nine  days  spent  upon  the  water  landed 
in  Xew  York  City.  Three  days  later  she 
started  for  Bloomington,  where  she  worked 
out  for  a  year,  and  in  1873  was  united  in 
marriage  with  James  Johnson,  an  English- 
man, who  died  February  7.  1883,  leaving 
two  sons.  Herman  and  Frank.  She  was 
without  a  dollar  in  the  world,  all  that  she 
had  being  her  trunk  and  a  few  clothes,  and 
at  once  sought  employment  that  she 
might  support  herself  and  children.  She 
worked  as  a  housekeeper  and  at  other  occu- 
pations until  July  12.  1884.  when  she  wedded 
Joseph  Kline,  also  a  native  of  the  father- 
land. They  started  in  life  with  nothing,  but 
by  their  combined  effort-  and  untiring  in- 
dustry they  acquired  five  city  lots  in  Normal, 
Illinois,   which   she  still   owns.      Mr.    Kline 

1  early  in  the  year  1895.  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing October  she  became  the  wife  of  our 
subject,  as  previously  stated.     She  had  only 
-i-ter.  who  died  in   Bloomington  about 

0.  Mrs.  Wagner  i<  a  most  estimable 
woman,  who  has  proved  to  her  husband  a 
true  helpmate,  aiding  him  in  every  possible 
way.  and  to  her  he  attribute-  not  a  little  of 
his  success  in  life.  He  i-  -till  successfully 
in  general  farming  and  stork-rais- 
ing, and   is   now    cue  of  the  well-to-do  citi- 


zen- of  his  community.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics  and  has  served  as  school  director. 
but  has  never  card  for  p  tlitical  horn 
Both  he  and  hi>  wife  are  member-  of  St.  Pat- 
rick'- church  at  Wapella,  and  are  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
them  for  their  genuine  worth  and  many  ex- 
cellencies of  character. 


AIAIX  W.  HUFFMAN. 

Alvin  W.  Huffman,  of  Farmer  City,  is 
the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  finest  and  larg- 
livery  and  boarding  stables  in  DeWitt 
county,  and  is  one  of  its  most  energetic  and 
progressive  business  mert.  He  was  born  in 
this  county  on  the  5th  of  July,  i860,  and  is 
of  German  descent.  His  paternal  great- 
grandfather, Christian  Huffman,  not  only 
served  four  and  a  half  years  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  but  was  also  in  the  war 
[812  for  eighteen  months.  His  earlv  home 
was  in  Pennsylvania,  but  his  last  days  were 
spent  in  the  ( )ld  Dominion,  where  he  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty  years.  He  had  eight  chil- 
dren, namely:  Daniel,  George.  Laban, 
Christian,  Jonas,  Mr-.  Elizabeth  Helmick, 
Mrs.  Arbogast  ami  Solomon. 

The  last  named.  Solomon  Huffman,  was 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  was 
born  in  Greene  count).  Virginia,  and  was 
married  in  Randolph  county,  that  state,  to 
Elizabeth  Westfall,  who  died  young,  leaving 
two  children.  Benjamin  and  Cornelius.  For 
his  second  wife  he  married  Hester  Bonner, 
by  whom  he  also  had  two  children.  Job  and 
Sylvanus.  Throughout  life  he  followed 
farming  and  died  in  Pendleton  county,  Vir- 
ginia, in  1884,  at  the  age  of  eight}  years. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Method i-t  Epis- 
copal church  and  a  man  of  many  -terling 
qualities.  , 


274 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Cornelius  Huffman,  our  subject"*  father, 
was  born  in  Pendleton  county,  Virginia,  Au- 
gust 4.  [833,  and  in  early  life  traveled  con- 
siderably. In  1854  he  came  to  1  )eWitt  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  and  purchased  a  small  tract  of 
railroad  land,  which  had  been  slightly  im- 
proved by  Henry  Huffman.  To  its  further 
development  and  cultivation  he  devoted  his 
energies  for  some  years,  and  as  time  passed 
added  tn  his  original  purchase  until  he  is 
new  a  large  land  owner.  Since  [895  he  has 
lived  a  retired  life  in  Farmer  City,  where  he 
owns  a  line  home.  1  le  is  an  earnest  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  a  Pro- 
hibitionist in  iH.litics.  lie  married  Mi-- 
Elizabeth  Vance,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Hensley)  Vance,  earl)  settlers 
of  thi->  cunty.  She  was  lmrn  in  Athens 
county.  Ohio,  March  5.  [838,  and  died  Jan- 
uary 4.  1890.  She  was  the  mother  of  the 
following  children :  Alvin  \V..  our  subject; 
a  son  who  died  in  infancy;  Sophronia  E., 
wife  of  S.  F.  Lewis;  Sylvanus  G.,  a  resident 
of  Clinton;  Laura  C,  at  home;  George  F., 
a  resident  of  Weldon;  and  Nora  B.,  wife 
S.   E.  I  [1  'line-. 

Alvin  W.  Huffman  grew  to  manhood 
upon  hi-  father's  farm  anil  assisted  in 
its  labor.  lie  began  life  for  himself 
upon  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which 
he  subsequently  sold,  and  then  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  McLean 
county.  (  >n  disposing  of  that  place  be  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Santa  Anna  township,  De- 
Witt  county.  He  now  own?  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land  in  Sangamon  town- 
ship, Piatt  county,  Illinois,  where  for  some 
time  be  was  successfully  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising,  making  a  specialty  of  fine 
horses.  He  has  owned  some  valuable  trot- 
ting stock,  and  for  bis  age  is  considered  one 
of  the  best  judges  of  horses  and  other  stock- 
in  this  county.     Besides  his  property  in  this 


state  Mr.  Huffman  owns  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  Kansas.  On  the  tst 
of  November,  1900,  he  purchased  of  J.  D. 
Ingles  a  good  livery  business  in  Farmer  City, 
which  was  established  in  [889  by  J.  E. 
Foster.  Renting  his  farm  he  has  since  given 
his  attention  to  the  livery  business,  and  is 
meeting  with  excellent  success.  He  has  en- 
larged and  remodeled  his  barn  until  it  is 
now-  one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  and  it  is 
well  equipped,  as  he  keeps  about  thirty  head 
1  >l'  hi  irses  and  twent)  di  >uble  and  single  turn- 
outs, besides  two  'buses  and  two  cabs.  He 
is  always  on  hand  to  meet  the  sixteen  trains 
which  arrive  daily  in  Farmer  City,  and  in 
the  conduct  of  his  business  employs  six 
hands. 

.Mr.  Huffman  was  first  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mi--  Martha  Rutledge,  a 
daughter  of  John  A.  Rutledge.  She  died 
\la\  jo,  [886,  and  in  [889  Mr.  Huffman 
married  Miss  Belle  Mcrilield,  a  daughter 
of  John  ami  Rebecca  (Johnson)  Mcrilield. 
Her  maternal  grandfather  was  John  John- 
son, an  earl\  settler  of  Wilson  township, 
this  county.  (  In  the  paternal  side  her  great- 
grandparents  were  James  and  Hannah  Mcri- 
lield. natives  of  Virginia,  who  died  near  Le- 
l\oy,  Illinois,  the  former  at  the  age  of 
eighty  seven  years,  the  latter  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five.  Their  children  were  Henry,  John, 
Olive,  Mary,  Sarah,  Nellie,  Otha  and  Sam- 
uel. Henry  Mcrilield,  Mrs.  Huffman's 
grandfather,  was  born  in  Greene  county, 
Ohio,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years.  He  made  farming  his  life  work,  and 
efficiently  served  as  sheriff  of  DeWitt  coun- 
ty. 1  lis  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Catherine  Conway,  died  when  about  seventy 
years  of  age.  Unto  them  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  John.  Benjamin,  Rachel, 
William,  Aquilla,  Newton,  Providence,  Mary, 
Hannah.  Emilv,  Harvev  and    lames.      John 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Merifield,  the  father  of  Mr>.  Huffman, 
born  in  McLean  county  Illinois,  August  i. 
•id  in  early  life  followed  farming  in 
Wilson    township,    DeWitt    county,  but  in 

-   Id  his  property  there  and  bought 
a  place  near  Farmer  City,  where  he  now  re- 
he  joined  the  boys  in  bhu 
mpany  G,  Ninety-Fourth  Illinois  Volun- 

Infantry.  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  is  now  an  honored  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  is 

nch   Republican  in  politics.      He  has  ten 
children,   namely:     James    11..    Charles    E., 
n   I\.   Belle,  Addie,  Cera.  Sherman, 
Jacob,  Maud  and  Ilattie. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huffman  are  the  parents 
three  children:     Ray.  John  and  Dewey. 
Relig  they  are  members  of  the  United 

Brethren  church,  and  politically  he  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Democratic  party.  In  business 
affairs  he  is  prompt  and  notably  reliable,  and 
he  commands  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


[ARLES  R.  GIDEON". 

One  of  the  busi  -t  energetic  and 

most  enterprising  men  of  Clinton  is  Charles 
R.  Gideon,  who  deals  in  alT  kinds  of  paper 
and  paints  and  carries  on  a  large  bush 
painting,  papering  and  decorating.     He  was 
born  on  the  3d  of  July,  1850,  on  East  Main 
street,  Clinton,  in  a  house  that  occupied  the 
site  where  Mrs.  Holderman  nsw  reside- 
is  a  son  of  George  William  Gideon,  wh 
for  many  years  an  honored  citizen  of  this 
place.     The  founder  of  the  family  in  Amer- 
ica was  Peter  Gideon.  Sr..  a  native  of  Hol- 
land, who,  in  company  with  his  wife  and  son, 
Peter,  Jr.,  started  for  the  new  world  prior 
to  the  Revolutionary  war.  but  the  wife  died 


en  voyage.     Peter,  Jr.,  located  in  Maryland, 
Inn  afterward  remo  .oudoun  county, 

\  irginia,  where  he  followed  fanning  until 
his  death.  Both  he  ami  his  father.  Peter,  S 
fought  for  the  independence  of  the  colonies 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  former  died 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-six  year-.  He 
had  three  son-.  '  William  and  Henry. 

Of  this  famil)  Gideon  was  the 

nd father  of  our  subject.  He  was  born  in 
Maryland  and  about  1819  removed  to  Cham- 
paign county.  Ohio,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  coming  to  Clinton,  Illinois,  in  1S47. 
Here  he  conducted  a  hotel,  where  the  Ma- 

ic  block  i-  now  located,  but  the  build- 
ing   was     afterward   m  the    father 

ur  subject,  remodeled  and  converted  into 
what  is  now  known  as  the  City  Hotel.    The 
grandfather   laid   out   the   Gideon   additi 
to  Clinton,  it  being  now  a  residence  portion 

'ie  city,  and  his  home  was  on  East  Main 
street,  where  Mr-.   Holderman    now    li 
Socially  he  was  a  member  of  the  Mas<  >nic 
der.    He  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-tw 
and  his  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  nann 
Elizabeth  Miller,  and  v  a  native 

Virginia,   died  at   the 

Their    children    were    '         s        Armstead; 
Peter;  Wesley;  Samuel:  Jacob;  Mr-.  Sarah 
therine,  who  first  married  a  Mr. 
Gerry   and   second   a    Mr.    Campbell:    ) 
Ann   Parker:  and  Mrs.   Elizabeth   Mitchell. 

subject's  father, 
was  born  in  Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  in 
1813,  and  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Ohio,  and  later  to  Illinois.  He 
purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  adjoii 
Clinton,  on  which  the  Woodlawn  cemet 
has  since  been  laid  out.  and  he  tied 

what  is  now  the  Charles  Kellogg  plai 

in  the  _ 
business   in   Clinton,  and   later  bought  the 
old  Campbell  store,  which  was  a  twostory 


276 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


building.  This  he  moved  to  the  lot  adjoin- 
ing the  City  Hotel,  and  up  to  the  time  that 
he  was  railed  to  his  final  rest  he  conducted 
a  hotel  in  this  building.  lie  attained  the  age 
of  seventy-six  years.  As  one  of  the  leading 
and  influential  citizens  he  was  several  times 
elected  to  the  town  council,  and  also  filled  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  time. 
Fraternalh  he  was  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  early 
life  he  married  Miss  Lydia  Kidder,  who  was 
born  near  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1811, 
and  died  in  1868.  She  was  a  dan-liter  of 
Nathaniel  Kidder. 

In  early  life  Charles  R.  Gideon,  of  this 
review,  learned  the  art  of  house  painting, 
papering  and  decorating,  to  which  business 
he  lias  since  devoted  his  energies,  and  is  to- 
day one  oi  the  leading  business  men  in  his 
line  in  the  city,  employing  seven  or  more  men 
during  the  busy  season.  Since  reaching 
manhood  his  sons  have  been  associated  with 
him.  1  te  has  done  the  painting  and  decorat- 
ing on  man\  of  the  principal  buildings  of 
the  city,  and  his  own  handsome  residence. 
erected  in  1900,  excells  all  others  in  decora- 
tions. He  possesses  mpch  artistic  talent  and 
has  a  rare  and  choice  collection  of  drawings 
and  paintings  which  he  executed  himself. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity  and  the  l'ni\ersalist  church,  to 
which  his  father  also  belonged,  but  his 
grandfather  held  membership  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church. 

In  [873  Mr.  Gideon  wedded  Miss  Mary 
C.  Bell,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Phcebe  Bell,  of  this  county.  By 
this  union  were  born  five  children:  George 
Walter.  Paul,  Edwin,  Flora  Belle  and  Pheebe 
Ellen.  The  si  ins  are  all  associated  with  their 
father  in  business.  George  Walter  married 
Mrs.  May  Stell. 


JOSEPH   ROBB. 

Prominent  among  the  citizens  of  DeWitt 
county,  who  have  witnessed  almost  the  en- 
tire development  of  this  section  t<\  the  state, 
is  Joseph  Robb,  a  thrifty  and  successful 
farmer  residing  on  section  34,  Waynesville 
township.  IK'  was  born  on  his  present  farm 
May  2,  1830,  and  is  a  worthy  representative 
of  an  honored  pioneer  family  of  this  county. 
He  is  a  brother  of  Eli  11.  Robb,  of  Clinton, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  \"l- 
ume. 

Amid  pioneer  scenes  our  subject  passed 
his  boyhood  and  youth  on  the  old  homestead, 
receiving  but  a  limited  education,  his  time 
being  principally  devoted  t"  assisting  his  fa- 
ther in  the  arduous  task  of  transforming  the 
wild  land  into  well  cultivated  fields.  He  re- 
mained at  home,  caring  for  his  parents  in 
their  declining  years,  and  after  the  death  of 
his  father  traded  for  and  bought  the  inter- 
ests of  the  other  heirs,  and  succeeded  to  the 
farm,  which  comprises  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty  acres.  After  his  marriage  he  located 
upon  a  part  of  the  place,  but  a  few  years  later 
returned  to  the  parental  roof  that  he  might 
better  care  for  his  parents.  He  has  since 
built  a  good  house  and  barn  and  made  many 
■  ■tiler  useful  and  valuable  improvements. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  1852,  in  De- 
Witt  county,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Robb  and  Miss  Uhoda  Ann  Baker,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  C. 
I'.aker,  who  came  to  this  county  in  1836,  and 
was  numbered  among  its  pioneers.  For 
forty  years  she  was  an  invalid,  and  her  suf- 
ferings ended  in  death  July  II,  1897.  She 
was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  for  forty-five  years  and  hers  was  an 
ideal  Christian  life.  Mr.  Robb  has  two 
daughters:     Mary  L.,  wife  of  Charles  L. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


177 


Morris,  of  Elm  Grove,  Barnett  township, 
this  county;  and  Anna  K..  who  is  now  the 
widow   of  Charles  M.  Finfrock,  and  resides 

with  her  father.     The  latter  had  seven  chil- 
dren,   namely:      Eva,    who   met    death    in   a 
railroad  accident.  July    [6,    io<«>.  when  si 
enteen  years  of  aye:  Harrv   R.;  Ada;  Edna: 
Alva:  Leslie  and  Wilbur. 

In  politics  Mr.  Robb  was  originally  an 
old-line  Whig,  hut  he  supported  Ahraham 
Lincoln  for  the  presidency  in  [860,  and  has 
since  been  a  stanch  Republican,  hut  he  has 
never  cared  f<  >r  i  iffice.  1  le  is  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  Waynes- 
ville,  and  is  a  man  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all  who  know  him.  He  can  re- 
late many  interesting  incidents  of  pioneer 
days,  when  this  locality  was  almost  an  un- 
broken wilderness,  and  in  the  wonderful 
transformation  that  has  since  taken  place  he 

';  a  very  active  part  in  early  days.  In 
September,  1899,  he  and  his  daughter  had 
a  most  enjoyable  trip  through  the  east,  visit- 
ing .id  Independence  Hall  and  other  points 
of  interest  in  Philadelphia,  and  also  the 
cities  of  New  York.  Washington  and  other 
places  along  the  Atlantic  coast.  He  went  to 
the  top  of  Washington  monument,  where 
he  had  an  elegant  view  of  the  capital  city 
and  the  Potomac  as  its  threads  its  way 
through  most  beautiful  scenery  down  to  the 
sea,  also  visiting  Arlington  Heights.  .Mount 
Vernon  and  the  mountain-  of  Tennessee  and 
Virginia,  coming  home  through  Kentucky 
and  crossing  the  Ohio  nver  at  Cincinnati. 


STILLMAN  A.  CHAPIN. 

Stillman  A.   Chapin,  one  of  the  oldest 
living  ami   most   highly   respected   pioneers 

of   DeWitt  count\.  who  is  now    passing  his 


last  years  in  ease  and  quiet  at  his  home  in 
DeWitt,   was  born  on   August    [3,    [821,  in 

Madison  county.  Illinois,  and  i-  a  son  of 
Hiram  and  Martha  1  Day  1  Chapin.  By  oc- 
cupation the  father  of  our  subject  was  a 
farmer  ami  in  [819  came  to  this  State  and 
tir-t  settled  in  Madison  county  and  later  re- 
moved to  Sangamon  county,  hut  the  place 
where  he  settled  is  now  in  Menard  county. 
Here  he  resided  until  1828.  In  that  year 
he  came  to  this  county  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence near  Waynesville.  Here  he  remained 
for  a  number  of  years  and  successfully  en- 

i-d  in  his  chosen  occupation.  In  1835  he 
removed  to  DeWitt  township  where  he  lived 
until  1S54.  He  died  in  McLean  county  in 
1871,  :.,  enty-four  years.     In  life  he 

was  successful,  and  on  locating  in  this  coun- 
ty he  entered  a  number  of  acres  of  land, 
which  he  placed  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and 
was  called  upon  to  till  most  of  the  township 
offices. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  sull- 
ied. Edward  Day.  was  a  soldier  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary war.  and  came  to  this  county  with 
Hiram  Chapin.  where  he  resided  until  he 
was  called  to  his  final  rest  at  the  aye  of  sev- 
enty-seven years.  His  remains  are  buried  in 
the  DeWitt  cemetery. 

Stillman  A.  Chapin,  like  most  of  the  boys 
in  those  early  days,  received  nothing  more 
than  a  common-school  education,  but  along 
the  lines  of  work  his  training  was  not 
limited,  and  he  early  acquired  the  art  of 
farming.  Up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage 
he  remained  at  home  and  gave  his  father  the 
benefit  of  his  services.  His  union  with  Miss 
S  -an  Larterty  t.  >ok  place  in  [843.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  Lal'ferty.  who  was  a 
native  of  Virginia.  Later  in  years  he  he- 
came  an  early  settler  of  Ohio  and  in  1869 
he  came  to  this  state,  where  he  died  in  1872. 


278 


THE    P.IOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


As  a  resull  of  the  marriage  of  our  subject 
his   wife  bore  him  the   following  children: 

John,  who  died  in  infancy;  i  _• )  Hiram, 
a  resident  of  McLean  county,  a  graduate  of 
Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  and  now 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession; 
Samuel,  also  a  resident  of  McLean 
county,  a  graduate  of  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege, Philadelphi  in  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine;  i  4  )  Mary,  now  the  widow 
of  Thomas  Cottingham;  William  and  Finis, 
both  deceased  .  (5)  <  harles,  who  is 
uate  of  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  a 
practicing  physician  in  Blooinington. 

In  1N4S  or  [849  our  subject  entered  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acre-  of  unimproved  land 
in  DeWitt  township.  This  he  placed  under 
cultivation  and  also  erected  a  good  set  oi 
farm  buildings,  including  a  line  residence. 
Here  he  resided  until  1856,  when  he  traded 
for  other  land  in  the  immediate  vic'imtj 
on  this  he  made  his  home  until  [864.  Hav- 
ing sold  this  he  next  bought  land  near  the 
village  of  DeWitt.  where  he  resided  until 
1S70.  when  he  moved  into  the  village  of  De- 
Witt,  and  here  he  has  since  resided.  In  con- 
nection with  farming  he  was  als<  d  in 
the  raising  of  horses,  cattle  and  hogs  for 
market,  and  at  one  time  he  was  interested  in 
the  mercantile  business  of  the  villi 

has  always  been  a  linn  believer  in  the 
Democratic  party  and  by  that  party  he  was 
elected  to  till  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace,  which  position  he  continued  to  till  for 
almost  thirty  years.  His  first  presidential 
vote  was  cast  for  lame-  K.  Polk.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order 
of  DeWitt.  belonging  to  lodge  No.  261,  and 
i-  now  sen  ing  as  chaplain.  Religiously  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.   Chapin  have  the  distinc- 
tion of  being  the  two  oldest  living  settlers 


of  DeWitt  township  and  are  one  of  the  old- 
est married  couples  in  the  county,  having 
been  married  Eor  fifty-eight  year-.  They 
are  people  of  the  highest  respectability  and 
count  their  friends  by  the  score. 


CHARLES  D.  D<  (WNING. 

This  enterprising  and  progressive  citizen 
of  VVapella,  who  is  now  engaged  in  the  grain 
business,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead 
farm  near  that  village,  Ma\  2,  [863,  and  be- 
longs to  an  old  Kentucky  family,  his  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Reason  Downing,  being 
a  pioneer  of  Mason  county,  that  state.  Tl 
the  lather,  lame-  E.  Downing,  was  born 
Ma\  22,  1823,  and  on  reaching  manhood 
was  married  there  to  Mis-  Susan  Downing, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  Mason  county. 
Her  grandfather,  Timoth)  Downing,  who 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  that  locality, 
took  part  in  some  of  the  frontier  wars 
became  a  noted  Indian  fighter.  In  1852 
father  of  our  subject  came  to  Illinois,  and 

er  farming  for  about  a  year  in  McLean 

inty,  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Wapella  township,  DeWitt  county,  which 
he  broke  and  improved,  opening  up  a  good 
farm.  His  first  home  here  was  a  log  house. 
in  which  he  lived  for  several  years,  and  he 
later  built  a  good  large  residence.  He  add- 
ed to  his  landed  posessions  from  time  to 
time  and  becami  the  substantia]  farm- 

er-   and    stock  1  of   the   county.      His 

31  wife  died  in  [868,  and  on  the  2ist  of 
1  vtober,  1869,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  Best,  also  a  native  of 
Ma-011  county.  Kentucky.  lie  died  Janu- 
ary 31.  1884.  honored  and  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  By  his  first  marriage  he 
had   seven  children,   five  of  whom  reached 


C.  D.  DOWNING. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


28f 


years  "t"  maturity,  namely:  Eleanor; 
Reason;  Joseph,  James  T.  and  Charles  D. 
The  children  by  the  second  union  were 
Elizabeth  R.,  wife  of  S.  J.  McNutt,  whose 
sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Besl 
and  an  infant  daughter,  deceased. 

During  his  boyhood  Charles  1  >.  Down- 
ing attended  the  home  -«.]i<  >■  »1 .  and  remained 
with  his  father  until  the  later' s  death,  after 
which  he  had  charge  of  the  old  farm  for  a 
few  year-.  lie  was  married  in  this  county. 
September  28,  [892,  to  Miss  Mary  11.  Mc- 
Nutt, a  sister  of  S.  J.  McNutt,  previously 
mentioned.  She  was  born  and  reared  in 
Kentucky. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Downing  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  in  Wapella  township,  where 
he  owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land,  and  he  made  many  improvements  upon 
the  place,  transforming  it  into  a  line  farm 
with  good  buildings,  a  nice  orchard  and  well 
tilled  fields.  In  connection  with  farming 
he  also  engaged  in  raising  and  feeding  grade 
and  pure  blooded   polled  Angus  cattle  and 

1  horses,  and  was  accounted  one  of  the 
most  thrifty  and  enterprising  agriculturists 
of  his  community.  Renting  his  farm  he 
removed  to  Wapella  in  [90b,  and  now  has 
charge  of  the  grain  and  coal  business  of  the 
Roger  Bacon  &  Company  of  Chicago,  hav- 
ing control  of  their  elevator  there  since 
.897. 

Mr.  Downing  has  always  given  his  po- 
litical support  to  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Democratic  party,  as  did  his  father  be- 
fore him.  and  he  cast  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  Grover  Cleveland,  lie  has  been 
a  delegate  to  county,  congressional  and  state 
conventions,  and  for  a  number  of  years  has 
been  a  member  of  the  county  central  com- 
mittee,  with   which  he  i-  still  connected. 

He  exerts  considerable  influence  in  the 
councils    of     his     party,    and     ha-    taken    a 

13 


very  active  and  prominent  part  in  public 
affairs,  lie  served  two  consecutive  terms 
o<  count)   supervisor,  and  while  a  member 

of  the  hoard  he  served  on  the  finance,  road 
and  bridges  and  poor  farm  committees, 
lie  was  also  township  collector  one  term 
and  a  member  of  the  school  board  several 
years.  Mr.  Downing  i-^  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  Royal 
Neighbors,  fraternal  insurance  societies, 
and  1-  one  of  the  most  popular  and  highly 
respected   citizens  of   Wapella. 


WILLIAM   11.  McFARLAND. 

William  II.  Mcbarland  is  one  of  Clin- 
ton's most  highl)  respected  citi/ens.  whose 
useful  and  well-spent  life  has  not  only  gained 
for  him  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  men 
but  has  also  secured  for  him  a  comfortable 
competence,  which  enables  him  to  lay  aside 
all  business  cares  and  spend  his  declining 
days  in  ease  and  retirement. 

Mr.  McFarland  was  born  in  Fayette 
county,  Ohio,  February  [9,  [832,  and  during 

boyh 1  was  taken  by  his  parents,  Jesse  and 

Lavina  McFarland,  to  Marshall  count).  Illi- 
nois, where  he  was  reared  upon  a  farm.  In 
early  life  he  became  interested  in  the  grocery 
business  at  Wenona,  this  state,  lie  came 
to  Clinton  in  [863  and  in  partner-hip  with 
I  'aniel  Wright,  under  the  firm  name  of  Mc- 
Farland &  Wright,  opened  a  general  Sfc 
on  the  present  site  of  Katz'  clothing  store. 
Three  years  later  our  subject  sold  out  and 
-pent  eleven  year-  a-  a  commercial  traveler, 
lie  next  conducted  a  drug  -tore  .'lie  year, 
and  at  the  cud  of  that  time  formed  a  part- 
nership with  J.  1).  Rogers,  under  the  firm 
name  of  McFarland  &  Rogers,  in  the  furni- 
ture business.      Shortly  afterward    he    pur- 


282 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


chased  Mr.  Rogers'  interest,  and  after  being 
alone  for  a  time  he  admitted  Mr.  Mcintosh 
to  a  partnership  in  the  business,  their  store 
being  where  the  firm  of  Lemon  &    Harris  is 
now  located.     On  disposing  of  his  interest 
in  the   furniture  business    Mr.    McFarland 
practically  lived  retired  for  seven  years,  but 
being   of  an  active  temperament  he  tired  of 
this  and  in  [888  embarked  in  the  same  line 
of  trade  with  M.  R.  Colwell  and  Carl  Jones, 
under  the  firm  name  of  McFarland,  Colwell 
&  [ones.    They  carried  on  business  together 
until  the  isi  of  September,  [900,  when  Mr. 
McFarland    sold   his    interest    and   has   since 
lived   retired.      During  the   seven   years  lie 
previously  spent   in  retiremem    from  active 
labor,  lie  engaged  in  the  lire  and  life  insur- 
ance business   1,1  a   limited   extent,   and   still 
does  a  little  in  the  way  of  life  insurance.      In 
connection  with  Daniel  Wright  he  built  the 
brick  residence  adjoining   his  present   In  .me, 
and   subsequent!)    purchased    Mr.    Wright's 
interest   in  the  place,  making  it  his  home  for 
thirty  years.     He  still  owns  the  house,  but 
*    ten  years  ago  built  the  handsome  residence 
which   has   smce  been   his  home.      lie  also 
erected  the  adjoining  house  on  the  east  seven 
years  ago.     He  owns  other  real  estate,  in- 
cluding the  block  now    occupied  by   l.al'terty 
&  Bosserman  as  a  shoe  store,  erected  by  him 
in  1876  on  the  site  of  the  old  Mahan  grocery. 
In  1892  he  erected  the  tWO-Story  brick  block 
now  occupied  by  Colwell  &  Jones. 

In  [851  Mr.  McFarland  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Eliza,  daughter  of  Ira 
Wright,  of  Marshall  county.  Illinois,  ami  to 
them  were  born  six  children,  all  of  whom  are 
now  deceased,  namely:  Sarah,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  thirty-three  years;  Ira,  at  the  age 
of  seven  years;  Curtis,  at  the  age  of  five 
and  a  half  years;  Benjamin  A.,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  months;  Clara  Belle,  in  infancy; 
and  William,  at  the  age  of  one  year.     Sarah 


married  Augustus  V.  Lisenby,  who  was  born 
in  this  county  and  served  several  years  as 
deputy  clerk  under  his  father.  James  Lisen- 
by, and  later  was  elected  county  clerk  two 
consecutive  terms.  Subsequently  he  went  to 
Fresno,  California,  and  is  now  cashier  in 
the  Fresno  Savings  Hank.  He  built  a  tine 
house  east  of  Mr.  McFarland,  which  is  now 
owned  by  our  subject,  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat.  For  his  second  wife  he  married 
a  niece  of  our  subject's  wife.  Emma  Wright, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Wright,  and  to  them  has 
been  In  n'u  <  me  s,  ,11,  t  arl. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  McFar- 
land is  a  Prohibitionist,  being  an  earnest 
advocate  of  temperance  principles.  He  has 
served  as  alderman  of  the  city,  but  has  never 
taken  an  important  part  in  public  affairs. 
Religiousl)  he  is  an  active  and  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  class  leader  and  in 
other  official  capacities;  and  socially  is  a 
member  of  the  Odd  fellows  Lodge,  En- 
campment and  Rebekah  Lodge,  being  past 
grand  of  the  subordinate  branch.  During 
the  long  years  of  his  residence  in  Clinton  he 
has  championed  every  movement  designed 
to  promote  the  general  welfare,  has  support- 
ed every  enterprise  for  the  public  g 1.  and 

has  materially  aided  in  advancing  the  social 
and  moral  interests  of  the  city.  After  a  use- 
ful and  honorable  career  he  can  well  afford 
to  lav  aside  all  business  cares  and  live  in  ease 
and  retirement. 


GEORGE  W.  HELMICK. 

(  )ne  of  Santa  Anna  township's  most  suc- 
cessful farmers  and  stock  raisers  js  ( ieorge 
W.  Helmick,  whose  entire  life  has  been 
passed  in  DeWitt  county.     He  was  born  in 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


'S3 


Rntledge  township,  on  the  27th  of  August, 
1859,  and  i-  a  son  of  Elihu  Helmick,  whose 
sketch  appear.--  elsewhere  in  this  work,  He 
grew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm,  and 
received  the  best  of  training  in  agricultural 
pursuits  under  the  able  direction  of  his  fa- 
ther. He  assisted  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm  until  twenty-five  years  of  age  and  then 
took  charge  of  the  place,  carrying  it  on  for 

years.  With  all  the  views  of  an  ambi- 
tious young  man.  full  of  energy  and  life,  lie 
entered  largely  into  the  stock  business,  and 
has  successfully  engaged  in  that  pursuit  ever 
since.  He  bought  the  Mickens  farm,  now- 
owned  by  Mr.  Haynes,  but  after  operating  it 
two  years  he  -old  out  and  removed  to  Farm- 
er City,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  ice 
business  for  some  time,  being  the  only  dealer 
in  that  commodity  in  the  city.  While  resid- 
ing on  the  farm  he  also  engaged  in  threshing 
and  corn  shelling. 

Disposing  of  hi-  business  there  in  1895, 
Mr.  Helmick  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty-three  acres  known  as  the  C.  H.  Hud- 
dleston  farm,  and  also  bought  an  adjoining 
forty-acre  tract  known  as  the  Crum  farm, 
both  being  located  in  Santa  Anna  township. 
He  has  since  enlarged  the  barn,  built  corn 
cribs  and  made  other  improvements,  and  in 
the  1  >perati'  in  1  >f  his  land  shi  >w  s  that  he  is  one 
of  the  most  systematic  and  successful  agri- 
culturists of  his  locality.  He  has  a  tine  herd 
of  thoroughbred  Shorthorn  and  polled  Dur- 
ham cattle,  and  is  also  breeding  thorough- 
bred Poland  China  hogs.  He  is  fast  coming 
to  the  front  as  one  of  the  most  successful 
Stock-feeders  in  the  county,  and  in  all  his 
undertakings  he  has  steadily  prospered,  be- 
ing a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  business 
ability  and  sound  judgment. 

Mr.  Helmick  was  married  October  29, 
1885.  to  Miss  1.'  mine  Fuller,  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  Fuller,  and  they  have  one  child.  Min- 


nie May,  who  vvas  born  in  Rutledge  town- 
ship, September  2,  [889.  After  attaining 
his  majority  Mr.  Helmick  voted  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  for  some  time,  but  is  now  a 
standi  supporter  of  the  Prohibition  party, 
having  always  been  a  strong  temperance 
man.  In  [899  he  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  now  an 
active  member  and  steward  of  the  same. 


FLOYD  C.  SHEPHERD. 

The  family  of  which  our  subject.  Floyd 
C.  Shepherd,  is  a  worthy  descendant.,  orig- 
inated many  generation-  ago  in  Ireland, 
some  members  of  it  coming  to  America  and 
locating  in  Kentucky  about  1792.  Grandfa- 
ther Louis  Shepherd,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
engaged  in  farming  in  that  state,  and 
became  known  as  a  successful  stock-raiser. 
In  1829  he  moved  to  Morgan  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settler-. 
There  he  died,  leaving  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, five  boys  and  one  girl. 

Francis  Shepherd,  who  was  a  son  of 
Louis  and  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  b  >m 
in  Morgan  county.  Illinois.  February 
[833,  and  there  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm 
and  married  Clementine  Wilmore  March  S, 
[857.  Her  death  occurred  on  the  1 2th  day 
of  December.  [860.  Floyd  C.  her  only  child, 
wa-  born  November  10.  [860.  Following 
this  Mr.  Shepherd  enlisted  August  15.  1862, 
Company  F,  <  Ine  Hundred  and  Twenty-sec- 
ond Infantry  Volunteers  of  Illinois,  for  serv- 
ice in  the  Civil  war.  faithfully  performing 
his  duty  until  its  close.  He  participated  in 
the  battle-  of  barker'-  CrOss  Roads.  Ten- 
>see,  December  ,^.  [862;  Tupelo,  Missis- 
sippi.  July  14.  [864;  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
December    15-10.    1864,    and    also   siege    of 


284 


Mil-:   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Fort    Blakeley  and    Mobile,   Alabama.      He 
was  discharge  at  Mobile,  Alabama,  July   15. 
[865,  and  mustered  out  at   Springfield,   II 
line  >is.    '-  ugust  4,    [8l  15. 

After  his  return  from  the  army  Mr. 
Shepherd  engaged  in  various  lines,  both  in 
DeWitt  and  in  Macoupin  counties.  Janu- 
ary 27,  1  Si  .7,  in  the-  latter  county,  he  v 
married  to  Miss  Kate  1.  Cobb,  of  Lawrence 
burg,  Kentucky.  In  [868  Mr.  Shepherd 
moved  to  Franklin  county,  Kansas.  There 
lie  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  un- 
til [895,  when  lie  removed  to  Richmond, 
Kansas,  where  he  and  wife  lived  a  retired 
life,  no  children  having  been  born  ol  this 
marriage. 

Floyd  C.  Shepherd  was  horn  in  Harp 
township,  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  and  after 
(he  untimely  death  of  his  young  mother,  he 
was  taken  to  the  home  of  his  grandparents, 

James  P.  and  Martha  Wilmore.  The)  were 
natives  of  Virginia,  but  came  to  DeWitt 
county  in  [846,  and  settled  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Harp  township,  and  here  engaged 
for  many  years  in  farming,  he  dying  in 
1S77.  while  his  wife  passed  away  in  1873. 
11.  »yd  Shepherd  grew  to  manhood  in  DeWitt 
county,  remaining  their  comfort  and  sup- 
port until  their  death,  when  he  returned  to 
his  father  in  Kansas,  and  resided  with  him 
for  one  half  years,  at  the  expiration 

of  that  time  returning  to  DeWitt  county, 
where  he  received  his  schooling. 

Mr.  Shepherd  began  t"  depend  entirely 
up' m  his  own  resources  at  an  early  age.  I  le 
began  t<>  engage  in  farm  work  in  the  locality 
where  he  was  well  known,  being  emplo; 
first  by  J.  M.  Britton,  and  continued  in  this 
line  until  [882.  However,  during  the  win 
ters  the  work  mi  the  farm  is  almost  suspend- 
ed, and  in  1879  Mr.  Shepherd  began  to  teach 
during  this  season,  through  ('reek  and  Mai"]) 


townships,    and    succeeded    so    well    that    he 
continued  in  this  profession  until   [895. 

In  1883  he  moved  into  Lane  Creek  town- 
ship ami  for  two  years  was  engaged  in  the 
tile  business  with  Lane  &  Thompson,  and 
also  engaged  in  [arming  and  stock  raising 
in  Harp  township  after  his  marriage,  which 
took  place  the  next  year.  In  [895  he  began 
buying  grain,  dealing  fur  himself,  hut  later 
he  located  in  liirkhcck  and  entered  into  ne- 
gotiations which  resulted  in  his  being  made 
rent  in  this  line  for  the  great  linn  of 
Rogers,  Bacon  Company,  of  Chicago. 

I  he  marriage  of  Mi-.  Shepherd  was  on 
March  [3,  [884,  t<>  Miss  \11na  Ik  Lane, 
who  was  horn  in  (reek  township,  and  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Mary  Ann 
Lane.  This  family  was  one  of  the. old  ones 
111  the  county,  and  came  from  Tennessee. 
Mrs.  Shepherd  was  one  of  eighl  children 
horn  to  her  parents,  and  was  the  sixth  in  or- 
der of  birth,  the  survivors  being:  Cicero, 
who  lives  in  Sullivan,  Illinois:  Sarah,  the 
wife  of  Edward  Danjson,  lives  in  Lane: 
Margaret,  the  w  ife  of  M .  ( '.  I  )avenpi  >rt,  lives 
in  (reek  township;  William  lives  in  Lane. 
The  children  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shep- 
herd are  two  bright,  intelligent  school  boys, 
Wilson  Epler,  who  was  born  on  June  ~j, 
[885,  and  Benjamin  Otto,  who  was  horn 
(  (ctober  20,  [886. 

In  politics  Mr.  Shepherd  is  a  Democrat 
and  has  served  fout  terms  as  supervisor  and 
has  keen  a  member  of  a  number  of  important 
committees  in  the  township,  and  has  efficient- 
ly held  every  township  office,  except  that  of 
constable,  lie  is  a  frequent  delegate  to  the 
various  political  conventions  and  has  been  an 
e  member  •  if  his  party. 

Socially  Mr.  Shepherd  is  connected  with 
the  order  M.  W.  A..  Clinton  ( lamp,  X".  ,}"4- 
He  is   a   leading   member  of   the  Christian. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RED  >KD. 


church  of  Clinton,  in  which  he  is  a  deacon 
ami  a  liberal  supporter.  Mr.  Shepherd  nuns 
one  hundred  and  thirteen  aero  of  land  on 
and  29,  and  i-  regarded  as  one 
of  the  substantial  men  of  this  locality.  lli> 
siness  brings  him  into  association  with 
many,   and   he   is   noted    for   his   honesty   in 

dealing,  as   well   as  his  g 1  judgment   in 

buyii  g 


WILLIAM  II.  TAYLOR. 

William  II.  Taylor,  who  is  one  of  Clin- 
ton's representative  citizens  and  a  popular 
traveling  salesman,  was  horn  on  the  4th  of 
June.  1836,  in  Muskingum  county.  Ohio, 
and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  E.  (  Miller  1 
Taylor.  History  records  'hat  there  were 
four  brothers  of  the  Taylor  family  who  came 
to  this  country  from  Scotland,  one  locating 
in  Pennsylvania,  another  in  Delaware,  and 
the  third  in  Virginia,  while  the  fourth,  be- 
ing  a  sea  captain,  was  lost  at  sea.  Nathaniel 
Taylor,  our  subject's  paternal  grandfather, 
was  a  son  of  the  one  who  settled  in  Dela- 
ware. He  married  arid  throughout  life  fol- 
lowed farming. 

Henry  Taylor,  our  subject's  father,  was 
horn  in  Delaware  and  in  early  life  emigrated 
!••  (  >hio,  where  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  E. 
Miller,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1853 
they  came  to  Clinton.  Illinois,  which  was 
then  a  small  town,  and  in  company  with 
Henry  and  I  I  Jell  and  Henry  Lutzen- 

barger,  Mr.  Taylor  purchased  the  vacant 
Corner  where  the  Magill  House  now  stands. 
and  erected  a  large  two-story  frame  build- 
ing, which  they  Stocked  with  general  mer- 
chandise, being  Successfully  engaged  in  busi- 
ness  there  until  1857,  when  a  tire  destroyed 
their  store  and  its  contents.  Later  Mr. 
Taylor,  in  partnership  with  A.  J.  Blackford, 


rented  a  building   and  again  embarked   in 

merchandising,  under  the  linn  name  of  Tay- 
lor &  Blackford,  but  dining  the  panic  of 
[873  they  failed  ami  he  again  lost  every- 
thing. Nothing  daunted,  however,  be  opened 
a  small  coal  office,  where  our  subject's  son, 
Walter,  is  now  carrying  on  business,  and  his 
son,  Fletcher,  became  associated  with  him  in 
1880  and  later  succeeded  to  the  business. 
He  was  a  strong  man.  Imth  physically  and 
mentally,  and  although  he  twice  met  with 
misfortune  in  business  he  always  gave  lib- 
erally of  his  means  to  all  enterprises  tor  the 
public  good.  His  fellow  citizens  recogniz- 
ing his  worth  ami  ability  called  upon  him 
to  till  many  official  positions.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  were  active  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  were  highly  re- 
spected and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  them. 
He  died  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years,  and  she  departed  this  life  in  [898, 
when  over  eighty  years  of  age.  'Their  chil- 
dren were  George;  William  IT:  Samuel  K.; 
Mary  E. ;  Homer  1!.;  John  T..  who  died  in 
infancy;  Fletcher  C. :  a  daughter  who  died 
in  infancy:  Frank  X.  :  and  Annie. 

William  H.  "Taylor,  of  this  review,  came 
to  Clinton  with  his  parents,  and  assisted  his 
father  in  business  until  1857,  when  he 
opened  a  shoe  store  in  the  rear  of  his  father's 
place  of  business.     After  the  fire  which  de- 

pyed  their  property,  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  Toury,  and  carried  on  the 
same  line  of  business  until  after  the  Civil 
war  broke  out.  In  [86i  Mr.  'Taylor  enlisted 
in  Company  F,  Forty-first  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  was  promoted  to  second  lieu- 
tenant in  March.  [862,  and  to  first  lieutenant 
on  the  1st  of  l  Kt' 'her  of  the  same  year,  after 
which  he  served  as  adjutant  of  the  r< 
ment.  He  was  in  the  service  three  years  and 
one  month.  Being  si\  feet  in  height,  broad 
shouldered  and  of  line  physique,  his  was  a 


286 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ci  immanding  figure,  and  lie  made  a  hand- 
some officer.  Those  who  served  under  him 
still  speak  in  glowing  terms  i  if  their  first  lieu- 
tenant. 

On  his  return  from  the  war  Mr.  Taylor 
again  engaged  in  the  general  store  business 
until  [872,  when  he  went  upon  the  road  as 
a  traveling  salesman  for  the  grocery  house 
of  Harmon,  Merrian  &  Company  of  Chica- 
go, which  since  the  death  of  Mr.  Harmon 
lias  become  Merrian,  Collins  &  Dexter. 
During  the  years  thai  have  since  passed  Mr. 
Taylor  has  remained  in  their  employ,  hav- 
ing now  been  with  them  almost  a  quarter  of 
a  century.  In  [868  the  Magill  Brothers 
built  what  is  known  as  the  Magill  House, 
which  i^  a  large  three-Story  brick  structure 
on  North  (enter  street,  extending  from  the 
square  to  Washington  street.  This  our  sub- 
ject  bought  in  [898,  and  has  since  remod- 
eled and  enlarged  it  by  building  a  thirty-two- 
Fool  addition  on  the  west.     Ii   is  to-day  a 

g 1  modern  hotel— the  best     in    the    city. 

For  his  home  he  purchased  the  Coverdale 

propertj    at    [OO6   Easl    .Main  street,  which  is 
a  beautiful  place,  the  elegant  residence  being 
surrounded   by    wide   lawns,     shady     dri  . 
lovely  trees  and  shrubs.      His  first  home  was 
on  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Jackson 

streets. 

Mr.  Taylor  has  been  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Lucy,  daughter  of  James 
II.  Merill,  and  to  them  were  horn  three 
children:  Walter  M..  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  tins  volume;  Emma,  whii  died 
young:  and  Lula.  who  died  in  infancy.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  in  1S73.  at  the  age  of 
thirty-four  years.  In  1875  Mr.  Taylor  mar- 
ried Miss  Jennie  Renick,  by  whom  he  also 
had  three  children:  Xellie  married  Dr. 
Charles  Bogardus,  a  prominent  physician  of 
Clinton,  ami  died  in  1901,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five  years.     She  was  one  of  the  lead- 


ing young  ladies  of  the  city  and  very  pop- 
ular. William  H.  enlisted  in  1900  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Company  1),  Thirteenth  United 
States  Regiment,  and  is  now  serving  at 
Dangupon,  Philippines  Islands.  Edward 
M.  was  also  in  the  service,  enlisting  at  Den- 
ver, Colorado,  in  May,  [898,  in  the  First 
Colorado  Infantry,  at  the  first  call  for  troops 
t..  In-  sent  to  Manilla.  With  his  regiment 
he  started  for  San  Francisco,  May  17.  and 
on  the  14th  of  June,  on  the  steamer  China, 
for  Honolulu.  On  the  4th t>f  July  they 
stopped  at  Wakes  Island,  where  General 
Green  ami  Colonel  Hill  planted  the  United 
States  flag,  and  fourteen  days  later 
landed  at  Camp  Dewey,  on  the  Island  of 
Luzon,  seven  miles  from  the  city  of  Manilla. 
There  they  began  throwing  up  entrench- 
ments within  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
yards  of  the  enemy's  lines.  They  took  part 
in  the  famous  battle  of  Manilla,  and  the  bat- 
tles of  Hesty,  Manquena,  Antapelo  and  I'ar- 
anaque,  besides  many  skirmishes,  being  un- 
der fire  iii'  -1  '  if  the  time.  <  >n  the  4th  1  if 
July,  itjoo.  they  received  orders  at  Manilla 
ii'  embark  for  home,  and  arrived  at  San 
Francisco  on  the  toth  of  August.  Edward 
M.  Taylor  was  mustered  out  on  the  8th  of 
the  following  September  and  returned  home. 
In  1901  he  opened  a  grocery  store  in  Clin- 
ton, in  connection  with  his  brother  Walter 
II..  and  is  now  conducting  'he  same.  He 
can  relate  main  thrilling  experiences  of  his 
life  in  the  Philippines,  which  if  written 
would  make  a  very  fascinating  book. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Taylor  is  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  84,  F.  &  \.  M.,  of  which  he  was 
master  three  terms,  and  was  a  member  and 
high  priest  of  the  Chapter.  He  is  now  serv- 
ing as  trustee  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  with  which  the  family  have  been 
connected  for  several  generations,  and  have 
always    been   active   church    workers.     Our 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


subject  lias  never  cared  for  office,  but  lias 
always  taken  a  commendable  interest  in  all 
enterprises  calculated  to  advance  the  welfare 
of  the  city  which  has  now  been  In*  borne  for 
almost  fifty  yeai 


JOHN   VV.   FOSTER. 

John  W.  Foster,  who  is  now  so  suc- 
tlly  conducting  the  county  farm  of  De- 
Witt  county,  in  Barnett  township,  was  horn 
in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  on  the  6th  of 
March.  1 84' ..  and  i>  a  representative  of  one 
of  the  early  families  of  New  Jersey.  There 
his  paternal  grandfather,  William  1 
was  born,  reared  and  married,  and  later  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  but  he  subsequently  re- 
turned to  his  native  state,  where  his  death 
occurred.  A.  J.  Foster,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  horn  in  Xew  Jersey  hut  was 
1  in  Ohio,  and  there  married  Mis< 
Eleanor  Morgan,  a  native  of  that  state.  At 
an  early  day  they  removed  to  M 
county.  Illinois,  where  they  were  numbered 
ami  ing  the  pioneers,  and  fri  'in  there  went 
to  Logan  county,  where  the  father,  whi 
a  miller  by  trade,  owned  and  operated  "i 
flouring  mill  six  miles  west  of  Atlanta.  In 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Wapella 
township.  DeWitt  county,  and  devoted  his 
attentii  >n     t>  >     farming   there   and    in    Tun- 

1 2  t.  iwnship  throughout  the  remainder 
of  his  life. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  prin- 
cipally reared  in  this  county,  and  educate! 
in     its    common     •  -       After    reaching 

manhood  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  lib- 
eral Railroad  for  two  years,  but 
with  that  exception  his  life  has  been  mainly 
devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  Receiv- 
ing the  appointment   as   superintendent   of 


the  county  poor  farm,  he  took  charge  of  the 
place  on  the  i-t  of  January.  1900,  and  has 
since  given  his  entire  time  and  attention  to 
it*  management  with  most  gratifying  re- 
sults. On  two  different  occasions  during 
his  incumbency  the  honorable  county  board 
has  made  a  thorough  examination  of  the 
way  affair*  have  been  conducted  upon  the 
farm,  and  all  have  been  greatly  pleased  with 
the  present  management,  believing  that  they 
have  found  the  right  man  for  the  rig 
place. 

On  the  25th  of  November,  [875,  in  this 
county.  Mr.  Foster  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Elva  Metz,  a  native  of  Pike  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  J.  1',.  Met/. 
who  is  now  a  resident  of  Wapella.  She 
died  in  1804.  leaving  two  children:  Ruth- 
erford, who  subsequently  died  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years:  ami  Ambrose,  who  assists 
his  father  in  the  management  of  the  county 
farm.  Mr.  Foster  was  again  married  in 
Logan  county,  in  1S0O.  his  second  union 
being  with  Mi^  Emma  Wingate,  who  was 
born  in  that  county.  Her  father  was  Dr. 
Wingate,  who  died  in  Kansas.  The  only 
child  born  <>f  our  subject's  second  man-. 
died  in  infancy. 

By  his  ballot  Mr.  Foster  has  always  been 
stanch  supporter  of  the  men  and  m< 
ures  of  tlie  Democracy.  He  was  made  an 
(  )<h\  Fellow  in  Wapella  Lodge,  with  which 
he  still  holds  membership.  His  wife  i-  .1 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  both 
have  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know 
them. 


J.  HENRY  A.  BLOME. 

This  well-known  cigar  manufacturer  of 
Clinton.  Illinois,  was  born  in  the  province 
of  Hanover.  Germany,  in  [857,  and  in  1N71 


288 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


came  to  the  United  States  with  his  parents. 
Frederick  and  .Mary  (Honfelt)  Blonie. 
The  family  1. .rated  at  Ear'lville,  [llinois, 
where  the  father  engaged  in  railroading  and 
farming.  There  he  died  in  [885,  at  the 
age   of    lift}  .irs.    and    his    wife,    who 

long  survived  him.  passed  away  in  [901, 
at  the  age  of  seventy  two.  They  had  four 
children:  Dora,  Rudolph,  J.  Henry  A.  and 
Elizabeth. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  learned 
the  cigarmaker's  trade  in  his  native  land. 
but  on  first  coming  t"  America  he  followed 
farming  for  a  short  time-  lie  then  worked 
at  his  trade  as  a  journeyman  until  [886, 
when  he  came  to  Clinton  and  started  a  fac- 
tory of  his  own  on  a  small  scale,  with  only 
one  man  to  assist  him.  lie  sold  his  goods 
to  the  townspeople  and  was  careful  to  make 
a  cigar  that  would  please.  At  first  he  car- 
ried on  husini-ss  in  a  rented  place,  hut  was 
at  length  able  to  purchase  the  Nancj  Mann 
property  at  216  Easl  Main  street,  and  after 
remodeling  the  residence  tor  his  home  he 
erected  a  building  on  the  rear  of  the  lot  for 
business  purposes,  llis  trade  has  steadily 
increased,  and  he  now  furnishes  emplo  - 
menl  to  four  men.      llis  leaders  are  Espanol 

and    Ringlets — two    g 1    five-cent  cigars, 

which  are  widely  sought,  and  there  is  no 
cigar  for  the  price  on  the  market  which  ex- 
cels the  Espanol.  His  favorite  ten-cent 
cigar  is  the  Royal  Prince.  Mr.  Blome  sells 
principally  to  the  local  trade.     His  factor) 

is  No.  34- 

Mr.  Blome  married  Miss  Louisa  M. 
Kern,  a  daughter  of  Michael  Kern,  of 
Dwight,  Livingston  county.  Illinois,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  three  children:  Fred- 
erick M..  George  and  Albert  11.  Frater- 
nally he  is  an  honored  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  odd  fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern  Woodmen 


of  America,  the  Court  of  Honor  and  the 
Protective  League,  and  has  held  office  in 
some  of  these  orders.  He  is  what  the  world 
terms  a  self-made  man,  his  success  in  life 
being  due  entirely  to  his  own  industry,  per- 
severance  and    a    determination    to   succeed. 


TILLMON  LANE. 


In  the  pioneer  epoch  in  the  historj  ol 
this  section  of  Illinois.  Tilhnon  Lane  came 
to  DeWitt  county,  and  has  been  an  import- 
ant factor  in  its  substantial  development  and 
permanent  improvement.  He  located  here 
in  [835  and  in  the  work  of  progress  he  has 
c\  er  In  irne  his  part. 

'litis  worthy  pioneer  was  horn  in  Monroe 
county.  Kentucky,  on  the  14th  of  October, 
[823,  and  comes  of  good  old  Revolutionary 
stock,  his  maternal  grandfather  having  aid- 
id  the  colonies  in  their  struggle  for  hide 
pendence.  His  father.  Ezekiel  Lane,  was 
born  in  Tennessee,  hut  at  an  early  day  re 
moved  to  Kentucky,  where  he  married  Miss 
Telithea  Guest,  who  was  also  a  native  of 
Tennessee,  and  when  young  removed  with 
her  parents  to  Kentucky,  the  family  being 
among  the  firsl  settlers  of  that  state.  In 
[827,  when  our  subjeel  was  only  four  years 
old,  Ezekiel  Lane  brought  his  family  to  Illi- 
nois, and  located  in  Hamilton  county,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  for  eight  years.  In 
[835  he  took  up  his  residence  in  what  is  now 
(  reek  township,  DeM'itt  county,  hut  at  that 
time  formed  a  part  of  Macon  county.  He 
took  up  the  land  on  which  the  village  of 
Lane  now  stands,  entering  this  tract  at  the 
land  office  in  Danville.  Illinois,  and  paying 
one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre  for  the 
same.  He  devoted  a  part  of  his  time  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  being  one  of  the  first 


TILMON  LANE. 


MRS.  TILMON   LANE. 


THK   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


preachers  of  the  New  Light  church  to  locate 

in  thi>  state.     He  died  in  1853,  at  thi 
fifty-two  years,  and  his  wife  in   [846,  at  the 

of  forty-two  years.  They  were  the  par- 
ent- of  seven  children,  who  reached  mature 
irs,  and  four  of  the  family  are  still  liv- 
ing, namely:  Tillmon,  of  this  review: 
William  1!..  who  is  represented  mi  another 
page  of  this  volume;  Marinda,  a  resident  of 
Nebraska;  and  Polly  Ann.  wife  of  Jerry 
Lane,  of  Lane,  Illinois. 

For  a  short  time  during  his  boyhood 
Tillmon  Lane  pursued  his  studies  in  the  sub- 
scription schools  of  Hamilton  county.  The 
old  school  house  was  built  of  1> >!^s  with  a 
puncheon  floor,  greased  paper  windows,  and 
hewed  log  benches.     Here  he  was  a  student 

a  few  weeks  during  the  winter.  After 
the  removal  of  the  family  to  DeWitt  county 
he  spent  six  months  in  school  on  Rock  Creek, 
about  two  miles  east  of  Waynesville,  which 
was  really  a  good  school  for  those  days. 
This  completed  his  education  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  week  of  study  in  a  school  located 
about  two  miles  from  his  home  in  Creek 
township.  At  that  time  there  were  no  roads 
in  this  locality,  and  in  going  t.  >  and  from 
school  lie  would  have  to  break  his  own  way 
through  the  snow  and  brush. 

Mr.  Lane  was  reared  to  farm  work,  and 
remained  at  home  until  twenty-one  years  of 

when  he  entered  eighty  acres  1  if  land  in 

■k  township  at  the  land  office  in  Dan- 
ville, it  requiring  three  days  to  make  the 
trip.  In  1N47  he  laid  the  first  government 
land  warrant  entered  at  that  place,  it  being 
a  Mexican  war  land  warrant.  In  1847  and 
1848  Mr.  Lane  broke  forty  acres  of  his  land 
and  built  a  one-room  house,  sixteen  by 
eighteen  feet,  besides  fencing  his  land.  I 
his  first  crop  of  wheat  he  received  fifty-seven 
cents  per  bushel,  selling  the  first  crop  at 
Clinton   for  one   hundred   and    fifty   dollar-. 


which  was  the  most  mone)  up 

to  that  time.      Later  he  hauled   1  lels 

of  wheat  to  Chicago,  which  was  then  a  -mall 
town  and  a  veritable  mudhole.  This  trip 
consumed  twelve  days.  A-  he  prospered  in 
his  farming  operation-  he  added  more  land 
to  the  original  purchase  and  to-day  owns 
three  hundred  acres,  having  sold  one  hun- 
dred acres  in  lots  which  now  form  the  town 
■  I  Lane.  This  place  was  laid  out  in  1873, 
and  he  has  since  made  two  additions.  Mr. 
Lane  ha-  engaged  in  general  fanning  hut 
has  devoted  his  attention  principally  to  the 
raising  of  cattle  and  hog-.  Since  1873  he 
has  also  been  interested  in  grain  buying,  and 
in  [898  was  made  agent  for  the  Middle  Di- 
vision  Grain  Company  at   Lane. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  1848,  Mr. 
Lane  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Thompson, 
who  was  horn  in  Kentucky,  of  which  state 
her  parents.  Jeremiah  and  Nancy  Thomp- 
son, were  also  natives.  During  her  infancy 
the  family  removed  to  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  and  in  the  fall  of  [836  came  to  De- 
Witt  county,  locating  in  what  is  now  Creek 
township,  where  Mr.  Thompson  took  up 
g  eminent  land  and  engaged  in  farming. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age, 
he  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  audi 
she  when  about  eight}-  years  of  age. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lane  were  born 
children,  as   follows:      1  1  1   James  ck- 

dealer,  shipping  to  Chicago  and  Blooming- 
ton  market-,  married  Mis-  Susanna  Graham, 
ami  they  have  six  children,  namely:  \\"lhy. 
Una,  Lizzie'.  Tillmon,  Ruth  and  Montgom- 
ery; (  _' )  Ellen,  who  married  David  Lark' 
of  Creek   township,  and  died,   le  ice 

children,  namely:  lame-.  Ona,  Nathan, 
Noble  and  Ira;  (3)  Martha,  who  is  the  wife 
of  George  Gibson,  of  Forrest  City,  Mason 
county.  Illinois;  14)  Jane,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of   Harvey   Graham,  of  Creek   town- 


294 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ship;  (5)  Richard,  who  has  charge  of  the 
grain  business  for  his  father  at  Lane.  He 
married  Erne  Luttrell,  and  they  have  one 
child.  French;  (6)  Jerimah,  residing  on  one 
of  Mr.  Lane's  farms,  is  married  to  Miss  Nel- 
lie Roberts;  (7)  Ezekiel,  a  resident  of  Ne- 
braska, and  a  farmer  by  occupation;  (8) 
William,  a  farmer,  and  now  a  resident  of 
Lane.  Lelander  and  John  J.  are  both  de- 
ceased. 

Mrs.  Lane,  who  was  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church,  died  February 
21,  [884,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Lisenby 
cemeter}  of  Creek  township.  For  his  second 
wife  .air  subject  married  Mrs.  Sarah  Mc- 
Aboy,  \\i«l<'\\  of  Benjamin  McAboy,  of 
Creek  township. 

For  alm>>st  half  a  century  Mr.  Lane  has 
been  an  active  and  prominent  member  ol  the 
Christian  church,  and  ha-  been  officially  con- 
nected with  it  for  many  years,  lie  1 
member  of  Delphi  Lodge,  X".  84,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  of  Clinton,  and  1-  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Democratic  part)  and  it-  principles.  He 
ha.-  served  a  number  of  term-,  a-  supervisor, 
and  was  a  member  of  many  important  com- 
mittees, including  those  -elected  to  purchase 

.1  -ite  f^r  the  1 r  farm  and  sell  the  swamp 

lands  (if  the  county.  In  [872  he  was  elected 
to  the  general  assembly,  and  was  a  member 
.if  that  body  when  the  statutes  of  the  state 
were  revised.  Through  the  sixty-six  years 
of  his  residence  in  He  Witt  county  Mr.  Lane 
has  become  widely  known  and  his  many  ex- 
cellent traits  of  character  have  gained  him 
the  high  regard  of  main  friend-.  Hi 
witnessed  almost  the  entire  development  of 
the  county  and  has  taken  a  very  prominent 
part  in  it-  improvement.  When  he  located 
in  Creek  township  there  were  but  fifty  acres 
of  land  under  cultivation  within  its  borders, 
and  there  were  no  roads  and  fences.  Game 
of  all  kinds  was  plentiful,  and  a  number  of 


Indians  were  still  here.  In  early  days  Mr. 
Lane  bought  stock  all  over  central  Illinois, 
and  rode  hundreds  of  miles  on  horseback 
Over  the  wild  prairies. 


l-.l.l  HUGH  l«  IBB. 


Among  DeWitt  county's  honored  pio 
lieers  none  are  more  deserving  of  mention 
in  this  volume  than  the  gentleman  whose 
name  introduces  this  sketch,  and  who  i-  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  Clinton,  lie  was 
horn  in  Maury  county.  Tennessee,  July  27, 
[825,  and  is  of  Irish  descent,  hi-  paternal 
grandfather  having  been  a  native  of  the 
Emerald  Isle.  His  father.  John  Robb,  was 
horn  near  Charleston,  West  Virginia,  and 
-pent  hi-  early  life  as  a  planter  in  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  married  Mi—  Barbara  Rob- 
inson,    lie  then  removed  to  Maun  county, 

nessee,  where  he  became  owner  01 
small  farm  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. Selling  his  place  for  four  hundred 
dollar-,  he  started  for  Illinois.  May  3,  iS-'O, 
with  two  yoke  of  oxen,  accompanied  bj 
wife  and  ten  children.  On  their  arrival  in 
DeWitt  county  he  took  up  a  tract  of  eighty 
acre-  of  government  land,  now  owned  by 
his  son  Joseph.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  the  county,  and  suffered  all  of  the 
hardships  and  privations  incident  to  pioneer 
life.  His  first  home  here  w  a-  a  rude  log 
cabin,  which  was  subsequently  replaced  by 

;,    g 1   hewed-log   house,    where   he   reared 

his  family  around  the  old-fashioned  fire- 
place. At  that  time  it  took  two  or  three 
days  to  go  to  mill  and  market.  As  the 
years  passed  he  prospered  in  his  new  home, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  four 
hundred  and  fifty-five  acres  of  land.  His 
children  were:    James  R.,  Samuel  H.,  Will— 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


295 


i;mi  K..  Elilm.  Thomas  C,  Elizabeth  G., 
Isabel,  Mary  Jane  and  Lovina  C.,  all  1><  >ra 
in  Ten-    s  nd  Joseph,  G  id  John, 

born  in  this  county.  All  readied  man  anil 
womanhood  with  the  exception  of  Isabel, 
who  died  at  the  aye  of  seventeen  years. 

Mr.  Robb,  of  this  review,  spent  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  on  the  home  farm,  and  on 
leaving  the  parental  mot.  at  the  aye  of 
twenty-two  years,  rented  his  brother's  farm, 
which  lie  Operated  until  three  years  after  his 
marriage,  and  then  bought  one  hundred  and 
-  of  land  in  Barnett  township, 
which  he  greatly  improved  and  still  owns. 
He  continued  to  carry  on  farming  until 
?93,  when  he  rented  his  place  and  removed 
to  Clinton,  where  he  is  now  living  a  retired 
life,  enjoying  a  well-earned  n 

In  184S  Mr.  Robb  married  Mi-s  Clarissa 
B.  Lanter.  who  was  lx.ni  eight  miles  west  of 
Springfield.  Illinois.  April  14.  1827,  ami  is  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  Peter  and  Eliza  I..  1  Pivi- 
ner  t  Lanter.  By  this  union  were  horn  the 
following  children:  1  1  1  James  H.  married 
Margaret  J.  Martin  and  has  three  children. 
Samuel  E.,  Marie  E.  and  James  0.  -  - 
Charles  E.  married  Harriet  D.  Lynce  and 
has  one  daughter.  Helen  M.  (3)  Peter 
married  Dora  Bradley  and  has  two  sons,  <  ■. 
Lester  and  Thomas  B.  141  Perry  R.  wed- 
ded Mary  Boyce  and  has  >ix  children:  Al- 
bert Ferrill,  Clarissa  A.,  Ruby  D..  Luella 
and  Pearl.  (5)  Julia  B.  is  deceased.  (6) 
Ida  May  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Teal  and  has 
six  children:  Maud.  Chester,  Lester,  Jo- 
seph, Florence  and  Nellie.  (7)  Samuel  P. 
maried  Lena  Morse  and  has  one  child.  Roger 
K.  (8)  Luella  F.  is  the  wife  of  C.  Britten 
and  has  one  daughter,  Lura  I'. 

Mr.  Robb  i-  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  for  the  long  period  of 
fifty-four  years  has  been  a  faithful  and  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Presbvterian  church. 


He  has  never  used  profane  language,  to- 
bacco or  liquor,  and  is  a  most  exemplary 

Chri-tian  gentleman,  who  commands  the  re- 

spect  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him. 


JAMES  A.  FOSNAUGH. 

Among  the  leading  merchants  and  rep- 
resentative business  men  of  Clinton,  lllii 
i>  James  A.  Fosnaugh,  proprietor  of  one  of 
the  best  general  st>  ire>  1  »f  the  place.      1  le 
horn  in   Fairfield  county.  Ohio,  September 
I').  [848,  a  son  of  Ezra  and  Eliza  1  Bushee) 
Fosnaugh.     His   paternal   grandfather 
Jacob    Fosnaugh,   who   was   horn   in    Penn- 
sylvania of  German  ancestry,  and  who 
a  farmer  by  occupation.      He  was  twice  mar- 
ried and  by  the  first  union  had  six  children, 
namely:     Eli,  Noah,  Amos,   Edward,   Mrs. 
Eliza  Swarts  and  Mrs.  Lape.     The  children 
by   the   second    marriage   were    Hiram.    La- 
fayette. Cornelius.  Jerome,  Archibald,  Ade- 
line and  Artemes  he  maternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was    Jacob    Busl 
who  was  of  French  descent,  and  lived  to  be 
over  eighty  yea:-  His  children  were 
Maria.  Martha.  Mary.  Eliza,  John  and  Jesse. 

In   1856  the  father  of  our  subject  came 
to   Illinois  and   located   on   a   farm   in    Piatt 
county,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  dying  there  I  October  1.   iNj,}.  at  the  age 
of   forty-nine  years.      His  wife,  who  was  a 
native   of    Fairfield   county.   Ohio,   died    in 
m  'i.  at  the  aye  of  seventy  years.       They 
were  the  parents  ,,f  eight  children:     Jar 
A.,  of  this  review;  Salina,  wife  of  George 
McCabe;  Theodore,  a  resident  of  Spring- 
field,   Illinois;     Europe,    of    Lane.    Mini 
Eiifus,  of  Piatt  county:  Dora  Alice,  wife  of 
William  Dungen;  Laura   Belle,  wife  of  I. 
Dilsaver,    of    White    Heath;    and    Irvin.    of 
I  Kcatur. 


296 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  eight 
rs  old  on  the  removal  of  the  .family  to 
Piatt  county,  Illinois,  and  he  grew  to  man- 
hood '>n  the  home  farm,  his  education  being 
acquired  in  an  old  time  log  school  house, 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  until  fifteen 
pears  of  age.  During  the  following  ten 
vcars  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  then  en 
tered  the  employ  of  the  Indianapolis,  Bloom- 
ington  &  Western  Railroad,  being  appointed 
station  agent  at  Lane,  DeWitt  county,  in 
[875,  and  filling  that  position   for  three  and 

half  years.  In  1878  he  opened  a  g 
eral  store  at  that  place  as  successor  to  the 
firm  of  Nilson  &  Kidder,  and  also  built  the 
residence  known  to-daj  as  the  Ed  Danison 
home.  Later  he  opened  a  branch  store  at 
DeWitt,  which  he  conducted  for  a  year  and 
a  halt',  and  then,  in  1NN7.  removed  his  stock 
1  if  goi  »ls  fn  in  that  place  to  ( llinton.  Leav- 
ing his  bn  ither  Eun  >pe  in  charge  1  >t  the  si,  ire 
at  Lane,  he  has  since  given  his  personal  at- 
tention t"  his  lmsiness  in  t  llinton.  He  1 
ries  a  large  and  w<  d  stock  1 >1  dry- 

goods,  l)i h.is.  shu/s,  groceries,  in  fact  every- 
thing found  in  a  first-class  general  store.and 

lias  built  up  an  excellent  trade,  lie  began 
mercantile  business  on  a  capital  of  eight  hun- 
dred dollars  saved  from  his  hard  earned 
salary,  hut  being  energetic,  enterprising  and 
industrious,  he  has  prospered,  and  is  to- 
day one  of  the  besl  rated  merchants  of  the 
County.  lie    is    also    connected     with     tin' 

electric  light  plant.  As  a  home,  he  bought 
the  Kelly  residence,  which  he  has  since 
greatly  impri  >\  ed. 

In  [872  Mr.  Fosnaugh  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Kitty  Cunningham,  a 
native  of  New  York  city,  who  lost  her  par- 
ents in  childhood  and  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated by  James  Wade,  of  Worcester.  Massa 
chusetts.         She   is   a     handsome     woman    of 

high  social  qualities  and  verj  popular,  being 


a  leader  in  society.  By  this  union  were  horn 
four  children:  Rovenia,  now  the  wile  ol 
A.  1-".  .Miller,  state's  attorney  of  DeWitt 
county;  Irwin  !•"..,  who  is  his  father's  assist- 
ant; Austin,  who  is  studying  law  with  A. 
I".  Miller;  and  Lee,  who  is  also  with  his 
lather  in  the  si,  ire. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Fosnaugh  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  politically  is 
a  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party.  While 
a  resident  of  Lane  he  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace  four  years,  lie  is  not  only  one  of 
the  leading  business  men  of  Clinton,  hut  is 
a  public-spirited  citizen  who  is  thoroughly 
interested  in  whatever  tends  to  promote  the 
moral,  intellectual  and  material  welfare  of 
the  ci  immunity. 


FRANCIS  CUNNINGHAM. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  has 
passed  the  Psalmist's  span  of  life  of  three 
score  years  and  ten.  is  now  living  retired 
with  his  son,  C.  F.  Cunningham,  upon  the 
old  homestead  on  section  17.  Wapcll.t  town- 
ship, lie  was  horn  in  Washington  county. 
Pennsylvania,  August  31,  1830,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  Cunningham,  of  Washing- 
ton county,  Pennsylvania,  lie  was  edu- 
ed  in  the  common  schools  near  his  boy- 
hood home,  and  assisted  his  mother  in 
carrying  on  the  farm  until  reaching  man's 
estate. 

In  [853  Mr.  Cunningham  first  came  to 
DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  17.  and 
twelve  aires  of  timber  land  on  section  21, 
Wapella  township,  hut  did  not  locate  there- 
on until  the  following  spring.  There  was 
an  old  frame  house  upon  the  place  and  a 
portion  of  the  land  hail  been  broken,     To 


FRANK   CUNNINGHAM. 


MRS.   FRANK   CUNNINGHAM. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


3°r 


its  further  improvement  and  cultivation  he 
;it  i •nee  turned  his  attention,  erecting  u; « »« ••  1 
and  substantial  buildings  and  placing  the 
entire  tract  under  cultivation.  lie  a 
added  to  his  original  tract  until  he  had  one 
hundred  and  sixty-four  acres  <>t"  rich  and 
arable  land,  and  continued  its  cultivation 
for  many  years.  For  some  time  he  made 
his  home  in  Heyworth,  but  is  now  living 
a  retired  life  on  the  old  homestead,  enjoy- 
ing a  well  earned  rest.  lie  yet  owns  a 
dwelling  house  and  t\\<>  lots,  and  also  a  liv- 
ery barn  and  one  lot   in    Heyworth. 

In  Randolph  township.  McLean  county, 
Mr.  Cunningham  was  married  in  1856  to 
Miss  charity  Gossard,  a  native  of  R 
county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Gossard,  who  came  t"  Illinois 
about  1855  and  settled  in  McLean  county. 
By  this  union  were  born  nine  children,  of 
whom  the  following  named  are  still  living: 
John  married  Emma  Burton  and  resi< 
in  California:  William  married  Delia 
Honey  and  lives  in  Nebraska;  May  is  the 
wife  of  John  Wykle  of  Denver.  Colorado: 
Lou  is  the  wife  of  Lean  Williams  of  De- 
Witt  county,  llinois;  Charles  married  Ella 
Baker  and  is  now  operating  the  old  home 
farm:  George  married  Jessie  Hedrick  and 
i-  engaged  in  the  livery  business  in  Hey- 
worth, Illinois;  Fred  is  a  farmer  of  Mc- 
Lean comity,  and  is  married  to  Xettie 
Brock;  and  Ed  is  at  home  and  is  married  to 
Eva  Jackson;  and  Eva,  died  when  about 
one  year  old.  The  mother  <>i  the  family 
passed  away  in  [891,  and  was  laid  to  rest 
in  Sugar  Grove  cemetery.  DeWitt  county. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epico- 
pal  church. 

Politically  Mr.  Cunningham  ha-  been  a 
life-long  Democrat,  and  has  supported  ev- 
ery presidential  candidate  of  that  party 
since  voting  for  James  Buchanan  in    [856. 


He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  1' 
pal   church   at    Sugar  and   i-  a  man 

highly    respected   and    esteemed    by    all    who 
know  him. 


J<  >SEPH   DIETRICH. 

Prominent  among  the  German-American 

citizens  residing  in  DeWitt  county  is  this 
well-known  and  thrifty  fanner  whose  home 

is  on  section  33,  Barnett  township.  He  was 
born  July  26,  1841,  in  Baden,  Germany,  of 

which    place   his    parents.    Michael    and   Jo 
sephine  1  Pikel)   Dietrich,  were  also  natives. 

In    [857   the   family   emigrated   to   America 
and    settled    in    Sangamon    county.    [Him 
where    the    father    died    shortly    afterward, 
The  children  were  then  reared  by  the  mother 
in  that  county. 

There  Joseph  Dietrich  grew  to  manhood 
with  limited  educational  advantages  as  he 
had  but  little  opportunity  to  attend  school. 
He  is  therefore  almost  wholly  a  self-edu- 
cated as  well  as  a  self-made  man.  After 
leaving  home  he  worked  by  the  month  as  a 
farm  hand  for  several  years,  and  then  com- 
menced fanning  for  himself  upon  rented 
land.  His  time  was  thus  passed  in  San- 
gamon county  until  1N74.  when  he  removed 
to  Logan  county  and  operated  a  farm  near 
Lincoln  for  over  twentj  In  [894  he 

removed  to  Barnett  township,  DeWitt  coun- 
ty, where  he  had  previously  purchased  the 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sb'.ty  acres  which 
he  now  owns  and  occupies.  This  is  now 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
improved  with  good  and  substantial  build- 
ings. 

In  Sangamon  county,  March  4.  [869, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Dietrich 
and  Miss  Elizabeth  I  Messier,  who  was  Ix.rn 
in  Bayer,  Germany,  and  in  [861  came  to  the 


302 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


new  world  with  her  parents,  George  and 
Valentine  Pressler,  who  spent  their  last  days 
in  Sangamon  county,  Illinois.  There  Mrs. 
Dietrich  was  reared,  making  her  home  in 
Springfield  for  several  years.  To  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  were  horn  ten  children,  live 
sons  and  five  daughters,  namely:  Joseph 
and  George,  both  farmers  of  Macon  county, 
Illinois;  Jacob,  a  resident  of  towa;  John 
and  Henry,  who  are  now  carrying  on  the 
home  farm;  Mary  Louisa,  who  is  now  ke 
ing  house  for  her  brother  George;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Anton  Farlow,  of  Springfield; 
Emma,  wife  of  George  Bloye,  of  DeWitt 
county;  and  Minnie  ami  Carrie,  both  at 
home  with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Dietrich  east  his  first  presidential 
ballol  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  [864,  and 
since  that  time  has  never  failed  to  support 
the  Republican  party  at  each  presidential 
election,  lie  is  a  member  of  the  school 
board  in  his  district,  and  does  all  in  Ins 
power  to  advance  the  moral,  educational 
and  material  welfare  of  the  community  in 
which  lie  resides,  lie  and  his  wife  v 
reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith  and  are  people 
of  the  highest  respectability.  They  began 
their  married  life  in  limited  eircumstam 
hut  by  their  combined  efforts  have  steadily- 
prospered    until    they    are    now     quite    well- 

do. 


MARTIN    P.   SO  i 

Among  the  comfortably  situated  citi- 
zens of  Texas  township  who  have  sur- 
rounded themselves  by  the  necessities  and 
some  of  the  luxuries  of  life  by  their  own 
efforts  and  habits  of  high  morality,  thrift 
and  perseverance,  is  Martin  i\  Scott.  I  lis 
birth  occurred  near  Rock  ('reek.  DeWitt 
county,  Illinois,  on  March  27,  1850,  and  he 


is  a  son  of  John  \Y.  and  Lieuenda  (Blair) 
Scott. 

John  \V.  Scott  was  a  farmer  all  his  life 
as  well  as  a  physician  by  profession,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  after  locating  in  Rock 
Creek  he  practiced  in  that  locality  as  well 
as  in  Clinton,  but  as  he  grew  older  he  de- 
voted his  attention  to  his  farming  interests, 
and  in  whatever  he  undertook  was  very  suc- 
cessful. This  good  man  lived  until  our 
subject  was  about  forty  years  of  age  and 
died  while  erecting  a  pleasant  home  for  his 
family  and  himself  in  Texas  township  aboul 
two  miles  si  .nth  of  the  city  of  Clinton.  J  lis 
willow,  who  passed  her  eighty-seventh 
birthday  in  February,  [901,  resides  with  our 
subject  in  Texas  township.  Eight  children 
were  horn  to  this  good  man  and  his  wife, 
namely:  Elizabeth,  who  married  Abraham 
Mooney,  oi  California;  Sarah  Ann,  who 
married  Robert  Bennett,  of  Clinton,  Iowa, 
and  he  is  a  contractor  ami  carpenter;  Mary, 
who  is  the  widow  of  William  Kirby,  who 
died  about  four  years  ago  in  Tunbridge 
township,  and  he  was  a  fanner:  Zirelda, 
who  is  the  wife  of  II.  C.  Strange,  and  he  is 
a  fanner  of  I  e\as  township;  Lorenzo  Dow, 
a  farmer  of  California;  our  subject;  Vina, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  111-1111111.  of  Tun- 
bridge township,  who  is  a  farmer;  John 
was  killed  by  a  train  in  Tunbridge  about 
seven  years  ago,  and  he  was  a  farmer,  ami 
left  a  wife  and  children. 

Martin  I'.  Scott  obtained  his  education 
in  DeWitt  county  in  tin-  common  schools 
and  remained  Upon  the  home  place  with  his 
mother  until  he  was  fifteen.  At  that  time, 
young  as  he  was.  this  enterprising  young 
fellow  started  out  in  life  for  himself  and 
worked  by  the  month  for  the  farmers  in  the 
neighborhood.  lie  afterwards  rented  a 
farm  in  Texas  township,  which  he  farmed 
for  one  year,  and  then,  having  saved  a  suffi- 


II  IK   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


303 


cienl  amount  of  money,  he  purchased  a 
small  farm.  After  cultivating  11  and  plac- 
ing it  in  excellent    condition,    this    young 

business  man  disposed  of  it  at  a  g 1  profit 

and  invested  his  money  in  real  estate  until 
he  is  now  the  possessor  of  one  hundred  and 
sixteen  acres  of  rich  farming  land  in  Tun- 
bridge  township,  in  section  [3,  which  ho 
has  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation  and  on 
which  is  a  good  house  and  the  necessary 
buildings,  lie  also  farms  what  is  known 
a-  the  Hall  farm  in  Texas  township,  and  it 
consists  .if  one  hundred  and  thirty-live  acres 
of  the  best  land  to  he  found  in  the  State. 
This  farm  he  operates  himself  and  rents  his 
other  farm.  In  addition  to  carrying  on  gen- 
eral farming  he  raises  stock  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent, and  his  product  always  finds  ready 
..11  account  of  the  excellent  condition 
of  the  cattle  and  horses.  Not  only  is  Mr. 
Scott  an  owner  of  farm  property  hut  he 
also  owns  live  good  houses  and  lots  in  the 
city  of  Clinton  and  one  house  and  lot  in 
Kenney. 

On  November  15.  1871.  Mr.  Scott  was 
rried  to  Miss  Hattie  Baker,  a  daughter 
of  Lanson  liaker,  of  Texas  township.  Mr. 
I  laker  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  and 
farmers  of  the  county,  and  he  died  in  1872, 
and  his  widow  survived  him  until  June. 
I'lim.  The  part  taken  in  local  affairs  by 
Mr.  Raker  was  a  prominent  one.  and  he 
came  to  this  locality  front  Logan  county, 
'  >hi.  1.  about  1S60. 

Eight  children  have  been  horn  to  Mr. 
and  Mr-.  Scott,  all  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  Aha,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Kirk,  of  Kenney;  Charles,  who  resides  four 
miles  north  of  Birkbeck,  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, ami  he  married  Grace  Stubblefield  and 
they  have  one  child,  viz:  Ralph:  Ida.  who  is 

the  wife  of  Fred  Henderson,  and  he  is  a  son 
of    |bhn   Henderson,    of    Tunhridge  town- 


ship, and  Fred  is  a  fanner  of  Tunbridge 
town. hip:  Effie,  Blanche,  Matie  and  [na, 
all  of  whom  were  born  in  DeWitt  county, 

!  exas  tow  nship,  are  at   home. 

Mr.  Scott  and  wife  are  active  members 
die  Christian  church,  to  which  he  is  a 
very  liberal  supporter  and  in  which  they  are 
well  liked.  Socially  Mr.  Scott  is  connected 
with  the  order  of  <  )dd  Fellows,  and  has  al- 
ways taken  a  great  interest  in  that  organi- 
ton.  From  the  time  he  cast  his  first  vote 
Mr.  Scott  has  upheld  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  his  influence  in  party 
matters  is  of  weight  throughout  the  town- 
ship. Starting  out  in  life  with  a  view  of 
making  a  success  ,,f  his  endeavors,  he  con- 
centrated his  natural  abilities  upon  this  en. I. 
and.  possessing  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
his  business,  he  has  forged  steadily  on  until 
lie  is  novv  of  the  substantial  men  of  DeWitt 
county   and  a  highly   respected   one. 


JOSEPH   ARMSTRt  >NG. 

Joseph  Armstrong,  who  is  familiarly 
called  Uncle  Joe  by  his  numerous  friends, 
owns  and  operates  a  well-improved  and  val- 
uable farm,  pleasantly  located  .mi  section  _>, 
Wapella  township,  within  a  half  mile  of  the 
village  of  Wapella.  Jle  has  made  his  home 
in  DeWitt  county  since  [855,  and  dates  his 
residence  in  the  state  from   1853. 

A  native  of  England,  Mr.  Armstrong 
was  horn  in  ( 'umberlandshire,  on  Christmas 
ei  e,  [829,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Ann 
1  Hatherton)  Armstrong.  T7ie  mother  died 
in  that  country  and  about  [859  the  father 
came  to  America,  and  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  Clinton,  Illinois.  At  one  time 
he  Started  for  California,  but  on  reaching 
Omaha,  Nebraska,  he  retraced  Ins  steps  and 


304 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


again  took  up  his  residence  in  Clinton,  where 
he  died  when  about  eighty  one  years  of  age. 
He  married  his  third  wife  in  this  country, 
and  she  survived  him,  dying  in   [890. 

Mr.  Armstrong,  whose  name  introduces 
tin-  review,  grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm 
in  his  name  land,  and  as  hi-  school  privi- 
leges were  limited  in  early  life,  he  is  almost 
wholly  a  self  educated,  as  well  a-  a  self-made 
man.  In  [853  he  took  passage  at  Liverpool 
on  the  Ocean  Herald,  an  American  sailing 
vessel,  and  made  what  was  then  considered 
a  quick  trip  of  twenty  eight  day-,  arriving 
in  New  York  in  June  of  thai  year.  I  le  came 
direct  to  Illinois,  and  celebrated  his  firsl  4th 
of  July  in  Bloomington.  For  a  shori  time 
he  worked  for  Jesse  Fell,  a  blacksmith  of 
Normal,  and  was  then  employed  a-  a  farm 

hand  by  the  month  in  1'iatt  county,  where  he 
spent  two  years. 

In  [855,  as  previously  stated,  Mr.  Arm- 
strong came  to  DeWitl  county,  where  he 
worked  by  the  month  several  years,  and 
later  engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land  for 
some  years.  His  first  purchase  consisted  ol 
eighty  acres  on  section  35,  Wapella  town- 
ship, which  was  then  but  slightly  improved, 
and  t.i  its  further  development  and  cultiva- 
tion he  has  since  devoted  his  energies,  lie 
has  added  to  this  a  tract  of  thirty-six  and  a 
half  acres,  has  tiled  and  fenced  the  land,  has 
built  a  Lrge,  neat  residence,  barn  and  out- 
buildings, and  today  has  a  well-improved 
and  beautiful  farm.  In  connection  with 
general  fanning  he  is  also  engaged  in  stock 
raising. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  married  in  this 
comity,  to  Miss  Ellen  Stafford,  who  was  also 
born  and  reared  in  England,  and  came  to  the 
new  world  when  a  young  woman.  They 
have  only  one  child  living:  Isaac,  who  is 
married  and  now  operates  the  home  farm 
for    his    father.      Joseph,    another    son.    died 


in  infancy,  while  Elizabeth,  the  only  daugh- 
ter, grew  to  mature  years  and  married  Harry 
Mabie,  and  died  leaving  one  child.  Maud 
Elizabeth,  who  finds  a  home  with  her  grand- 
parents. 

Politically  Mr.  Armstrong  is  a  Repub- 
lican, hut  he  has  never  cared  for  office,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  his 
farming  interests.  He  came  to  the  new 
world  empty  handed  and  began  life  among 
strangers  with  110  money  to  aid  him.  hut  by 
his  own  labor  and  enterprise  he  has  met  with 
success,  and  is  now  the  owner  ot  a  good 
property.  He  has  also  won  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  those  with  whom  he  has  come 
in  contact  l>v  Ins  upright,  honorable  course 
ill  life. 


NATHANIEL  HELMICK. 

farmer  City  is  the  home  of  many  men 
who  are  now  passing  their  last  days  re- 
tired from  the  more  active  duties  of  life. 
Among  this  class  of  citizens  we  find  the 
honored  subjeel  of  this  sketch,  who,  al- 
though now  in  his  eighty-fifth  year,  is  still 
hale  and  hearty. 

Mr.  Ilelnuck  was  born  in  West  Vir- 
ginia, lulv  jo.  [816,  and  is  a  son  of  Adam 
and  Katherine  t  Hoffman  )  Helmick.  both 
natives  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  the  family  settled  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  in  which  great  struggle  for 
American  independence  both  the  .paternal 
and  maternal  grandfathers  of  our  subject 
took  an  active  part,  serving  under  General 
(  icorge    Washington. 

Adam  Helmick  was  twice  married  and 
it  was  from  his  second  union  that  Nathaniel 
was  horn.  His  father  was  poor  in  this 
world's  goods  and   as  a  consequence  could 


NATHANIEL   HELMICK. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


307 


iii  >t  be  of  much  assistance  in  a  temporal 
sense.      He  was  nevertheles  "1  man 

and  sought  In 'th  by  precept  and  example 
t"  instill  good  principles  into  his  children, 
and  his  last  thoughts  and  words  were  to  the 
effect  that  they  might  lead  good  lives  and 
meet  him  in  heaven. 

Nathaniel  Ilehnick  continued  to  reside 
in  the  place  of  his  nativity  until  the  2_>d 
of  September,  [846,  when  he  started  fur  111- 
linois,  then  the  far  west.  After  a  full  month 
■  mi  the  way  by  wagon  and  team,  he  arrived 
near  Taylorville,  Christian  county,  Illinois. 
Here  he  remained  but  a  short  time,  moving 
from  there  to  Rutledge  township,  DeWitt 
county,  i'ii  the  7th  day  of  February,  1S47. 
Here  he  made  his  home  until  March.  [879, 
when  he  moved  t"  Farmer  City,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home. 

On  September  1.  1836,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Tringler  and  as  a  reush  of  this  union 
the  following  children  were  burn:  James, 
Adam.  Crusla.  Letitia.  Jane.  F.lihu  Wesley. 
Felix  1'i'lk.  Mary  Catherine.  Henry  Frank- 
lin. Susan  Minerva, Nathaniel  Tierce. Charles 
Jackson,  and  Stephen  A.     All  the  children 

\  in  full  manhood  and  womanhood  and 
had  families  of  their  own  before  there  was 
a  break  in  the  large  family  by  death.  Leti- 
tia Jane,  who  was  married  to  a  Mr.  Harper, 
was  the  first  t' 1  answer  the  summons  of 
death,  passing  away  on  the  17th  day  of 
December,  iNN_>.  and  on  the  20th  day  of 
November,  t886,  Susan  Minerva,  who  was 
married  to  Frank  Horn,  was  called  to  her 
final  reward.  James,  the  oldest  boy,  died  in 
Arkansas  September  21,  1891.  In  July. 
[876,  after  the  family  had  all  been  reared. 
Mrs.  Helmick  passed  away,  after  almosl 
furty  years  of  faithfulness  t"  her  husband 
and  df  service  ami  devotion  t"  her  home. 
She  was  a  noble  Christian  woman  and  was 
mourned  by  all  who  knew    her. 

14 


On  July  7,  [878,  Mr.  Helmick  was 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
Mary  A.  McClain.  who  is  still  his  faithful 
and  devoted  companion. 

Mr.  Helmick  is  strictl)  a  self-made 
man  and  what  success  he  has  achieved  in 
this  world  is  the  result  of  his  own  well  di- 
rected efforts,  his  economy,  frugalitj  and 
perseverance,  n  1S47.  when  he  landed  in 
Rutledge  township,  his  whole  earth}  pi 
sessions  consisted  of  a  wife.  sc-\en  children, 
two  burses  and  a  wagon  load  of  household 
goods,  and  mie  hundred  and  seventy-live 
dollars  in  cash.  His  first  purchase  of  land 
consisted  of  forty  acres,  upon  which  lie 
erected  a  rude  log  house.  He  added  to  his 
^inal  purchase  until  he  had  enough  land 
1"  give  each  one  of  his  children  one  hundred 
acres.  With  hardly  the  necessities  of  life, 
he  began  his  residence  in  this  state  and  bore 
his  share  of  the  hardships  incident  to  the 
life  of  a  pioneer.  Bui  he  started  life  with 
these  high  principles:  t"  work  hard,  to  be 
honest  in  all  his  dealings  with  his  fellow- 
men,  and  to  be  economical.  For  over  fifty 
years  he  has  been  an  earnest  and  faithful 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  his  many  friends  will  testify  to  the  true 
Christian  life  which  he  has  always  led. 
Such  men's  lives  are  \\orth\-  of  emulation 
and  in  1  work  devoted  to  the  lives  of  the  pio- 
neers of  DeWitt  county  would  be  compli 
without   the   record   of   Nathaniel    Ilehnick. 


WILLIAM     ALEXANDER    BARNETT. 

Clinton  probably  has  no  more  energetic 
ur  enterprising  business  man  than  this  well- 
known  bridge  manufacturer,  who  is  to-day 
the  only  manufacturer  in  the  city.  lie  also 
conducts  a  general  repair  shop  for  repairing 


3o8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


all  kind-  of  machinery,  and  lias  built  up  a 
large  and  constantly  increasing  trade.  A 
native  of  1  )eWitt  county,  he  was  born  <  )cto- 
ber  i<).  [858,  in  Clintonia  township,  on  a 
farm  which  he  now  owns.  From  his  father, 
William  1'..  Barnett,  he  traces  his  ancestry 
hack  through  Alexander  I...  John  and  James 
Barnett,  tojbhn  Barnett,  of  whom  tradition 


saw  that  he  was  a  soldier  and  surgeon  under 
General  Greene  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
and  took  pari  in  the  battle  of  Cowpens, 
South  Carolina,  lie  was  born  m  Virginia, 
n!"  Scotch  parentage,  and  was  considered  one 
of  the  mosl  skillful  physicians  and  surgeons 
of  his  day,  having  written  a  book  on  the 
treatment  of  all  kinds  of  diseases.  I  lis  son, 
James,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia, 
followed  surveying  in  early  life  and  later  en- 
gaged m  farming. 

John  Barnett,  the  son  of  James,  was 
born  in  the  <  >ld  Dominion,  moved  to  Ken- 
tucky, near  Paris,  Bourbon  county,  and 
married  Sally  Kinney,  b)  whom  he  had  the 
following  named  children  :  Robert  F.,  born 
in    1807,  died   in    1864;   Franklin,  born  in 

[808,   died    in    [871;    Alexander    I...   born    in 

[810,  died  in  1 886;  Maria,  born  in  1812,  and 

Juliette.  l»>rn  in  1N14.  both  died  in  infancx  ; 
Elizabeth,  born  in  [816,  died  in  1862  ;  James, 

1  in  1819,  died  in  [889. 

(  )f  this  family  Alexander  1..  Barnett  was 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  lie  was 
born  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  Octo- 
ber 1;.  1  Sin.  and  became  a  planter  anil 
slave  holder,  but  being  subsequently  con- 
vinced that  slavery  was  wrong,  he  freed  his 
slaxes  and  then  followed  farming  in  his  na- 
tive state.  In  [832  he  came  to  what  is  now 
DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  and  entered  six  or 
seven  hundred  acres  of  land.  lie  died  in 
Clinton.  Illinois,  at  the  residence  of  \Y.  1!. 
Barnett,  \pril  30,  1886.  His  wife,  who  was 
Miss    Elizabeth    II.    Hall,    a     daughter    of 


Mahlon  Hall,  was  horn  in  Kentucky,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  [813,  and  died  December  7.  [893. 
Their  children  were  William  I'...  the  father  of 
our  subject;  James  R.,  who  was  horn  No 
vemher  17,  [836,  and  is  still  living;  Eliza, 
who  was  born  May  [3,  [838,  and  died  Sep- 
tember 2j.  [839;  Cassander,  who  was  horn 
Februar)  29,  [840,  and  is  still  living;  Sarah, 
who  was  horn  November  [9,  [841,  and  died 
October  [6,  [864;  Juliet,  who  was  born  No- 
vember J.  [842,  and  is  still  living;  John, 
who  was  horn  November  10.  1045.  and  died 
November  [9,  [900;  triplets,  one  hoy  and 
two  -nls,  who  were  horn  January  29,  1N4K, 
and  died  at  birth;  Alexander  was  horn  No- 
vember 25,  [849,  and  is  still  living;  and 
Nancy,  who  was  born  <  tctober  15.  1N51,  and 

died    AugUSl    l8,    [853. 

William  1!.  Barnett,  our  subject's  fa- 
ther, was  bom  in  Barnett  township,  this 
countw  August  _'i.  1835,  and  after  reaching 
manhood  received  forty  acres  of  choice 
prairie  land  in  Clintonia  township,  where  he 
made  his  home  throughoul  the  greater  part 

of    his    life.       When    sewing    machines    were 

first  introduced  in  the  west  he  became  agent 
for  the  same,  and  for  twenty-five  years  han- 
dled all  kinds  «,f  sewing  machines.  I  lis  hon- 
orable dealings  won  for  him  the  confidi 
and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact.  In  [880  he  removed  to  Clinton 
and  opened  an  office,  but  longing  lor  his 
country  home,  he  soon  returned  to  the  farm 
to  please  both  himself  and  wife.  They  came 
to  Clinton  again  in  [886  and  here  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  On  the  26th  of 
August,  [855,  was  celebrated  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Sarah  E.  Duncan,  who  was  horn 
near  Lexington,  Kentucky,  August  29,  1  Sjj, 
and  in  [838  came  to  DeWitt  county.  Illi- 
nois, with  her  parents,  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Cockrell)  Duncan,  locating  in  Clintonia 
township,  on  the  Eli   Brown  farm.     She  is 


Till-    HIOCKAPIIICAL   RED  IRD. 


309 


one  of  a  family  of  six  children,  the  others 
being  John  A..  .Martha.  James,  Louis  and 
Lucretia  Duncan.     The  only  child  l>'>rn  to 

William  B.  and  Sarah  E.  1  Duncan)  Barnett 
1-  William  Alexander,  our  subject.  The  la- 
ther died  September  14.  [898,  but  themother 
i-  still  1  i \  i  1 1  u  and  continues  t<  1  make  her  home 
in  Clinton. 

William  A.  Barnett,  of  this  review, 
passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  on  the  home 
farm  and  received  his  earl)  education  in  a 
log  school  house,  where  he  certainly  im- 
proved every  opportunity,  for  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years  he  passed  an  examination  and 
was  recommended  to  teaching,  being  given  a 
first-grade  certificate  on  a  standing  of  ninet)  - 
seven  and  a  half  per  cent.  His 
however,  prevented  him  from  teaching  and 
he  did  not  begin  that  occupation  until  Octo- 
ber 15.  [876.  After  his  third  term  he  took  a 
course  at  the  Wesleyan  University,  Bloom- 
ington,  beginning  September,  1879.  During 
the  summer  months  he  assisted  his  father  on 
the  farm  until  1883,  when  he  commenced 
selling  school  furniture.  In  [886  he  rep 
sented  the  road  machines  of  Phillips  &  Pres- 
ton, of  Peoria,  and  the  next  year  the  West- 
ern Wheel  Scraper  Company,  in  the  mean- 
time teaching  during  the  winter  months.  In 
[888  he  resigned  his  school  during  the  last 
part  of  the  term  and  acepted  the  position  of 
state  agent  for  Western  Wheel  &  Scraper 
Company,  manufacturers  of  road  niacin 
and  earth  moving  tools.  IK-  also  touk  up 
bridge  building,which  he  followed  quite  suc- 

sfully  until  [894,  when  he  was  accident- 
ally shot  in  the  arm  while  hunting,  and  was 
idle  from  September  _'.  [894,  to  April.  [895. 
From  the  1  >t  of  April.  [895,  until  January, 
iX<)h.  Ik-  engaged  in  bridge  contracting,  ami 
the  following  year.  1897,  became  state  agent 
for  the  Bellefontaine  Bridge  &   Iron  Com- 


pany, holding  that  position  until  January, 
10  'i.  lie  then  opened  a  simp  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  iron  bridges  and  repair  work. 
In  this  factory  he  now  employs  from  t: 
to  eight  men  and  has  two  men  upon  the 
road.  He  is  also  engaged  in  bridge  building 
and  has  taken  a  number  of  contracts  for  iron 
work  in  Clinton,  including  that  for  the  I  ni- 
versalist  church  and  for  al!  the  buildings 
erected  lately. 

tober  17.  [883,  Air.  Barnetl  married 
Miss  Lucy  J.  Moore,  daughter  of  William 
and  Hannah  (Wright)  Moore,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Mason  and  Margaret  (Adams) 
Moore.  Her  grandfather  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  hut  spent  his  last  days  in  Ohio, 
whither  he  removed  in  [839.  1 1 i ->  children 
were  Townsend,  .Miriam.  William  M., 
Franklin,  Serepta  J.  and  Joseph.  Mrs.  Har- 
nett's father  was  horn  in  Loudoun  county, 
Virginia,  December  25,  [831,  and  in  1N57 
came  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  locating  on 
what  is  now  know  11  as  the  II.  L.  Stamats 
farm  in  Creek  township.  Later  he  was  as- 
sociated with  Magill  Brothers  in  stock-rais- 
ing ami  shipping,  and  in  [878  was  elected 
superintendent  of  the  county  farm  at  ilills- 
ville,  which  position  he  filled  for  four  year-. 
He  died  January  28,  [886,  honored  ami  re- 
ted  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  children 
were  Franklin  M.,  horn  October  26,  [856; 
Lucy  Jane.  December  <>.  [858;  Humphrey 
A..  February  25,  [87]  :  and  William  M.,  I 
tober  [9,  [872.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harnett  have 
two  children:  Sylvia,  horn  February  13, 
[886;  and  Ira  Mason,  horn  June  7.  iSSS. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Harnett  affiliates  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stanch  Democrat,  and  is  now  acceptably 
serving  his  second  term  as  alderman  of  the 
city.      A   man   of   superior   executive  ability 


3io 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  sound  judgment,  he  already  occupies  a 
good  position  in  the  business  world,  and  is 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  him. 


XKI.S  P.  JOHNSON. 

Sweden  has  furnished  to  America  many 
of  its  best  and  most  enterprising  citizens, 
and  among  those  who  have  settled  in  De 
Witt  county  is  Nels  P.  Johnson,  who  now 
owns  and  operates  a  valuable  farm  in  Santa 
Anna  township,  and  is  also  successfully  en- 
gaged in  stock  raising.  He  was  born  in 
Halsenburg,  Sweden,  Vpril  22,  [861,  and  is 
a  son  of  Jen  and  Hannah  |  Pierson)  John- 
son, who  spent  their  entire  lives  a^  farming 
people  in  thai  country. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  land.  Being  possessed  of  a  bright 
and  active  brain,  and  hearing  glowing  ac- 
counts of  the  advantages  offered  ambitious 
and  energetic  young  men  in  the  new  world. 
he  decided  to  try  his  fortune  on  this  side  of 
the  Atlantic.  So  bidding  goodbj  to  home 
and  friends,  he  came  to  the  United  States  in 
[882  and  has  never  had  occasion  to  regret 
his  emigration  (  oming  to  Illinois,  he  first 
worked  for  Mark  Dunham,  of  Du  Page 
county,  the  greal  horse  breeder.  He  then 
went  to  Weldon,  DeWitt  county,  where  he- 
was  employed  l>v  the  month  as  a  farm  hand 
for  three  years,  during  which  time  he  saved 
every  cent  possible,  lie  next  engaged  in 
farming  upon  rented  land,  and  then,  in  pari 
nership  with  B.  Magison,  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixt)  acres  in  the  Kentuck) 
tlement.  After  two  years  of  hard  and  suc- 
cessful work  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  place 
and  operated  a  rented  farm  for  five  years. 
He  next  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  W.  Gray  and  1).   Drew,  which  he  traded. 


in  [898,  for  the  Harry  Swigart  farm  in 
Santa  Anna  township,  consisting  of  three 
hundred  and  seven  acres.  This  place  was 
then  all  run  down,  but  he  rebuilt  the  fences, 
remodeled  the  old  barn,  set  up  a  windmill, 
which  pumps  the  water  for  his  stock,  and  has 
set  out  all  kinds  of  fruit,  si  1  that  he  now  has 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  this  pari  oi  the 
county.  He  raises  a  high  grade  of  horses 
ami  cattle,  including  some  thoroughbred 
tock,  and  in  all  his  undertakings  is  meeting 
with  well  deserved  success. 

Mr.  Joryison  married  Miss  lata  Hatfield. 
Her  father.  Thomas  Hatfield,  was  horn  in 
Lancaster.  England,  May  21,  [848,  and  in 
[861  came  to  America  with  his  parents, 
Peter  and  Mary  Ann  (Combs)  Hatfield,  the 
family  locating  on  a  farm  in  Champaign 
county,  Illinois  In  England  Peter  Hatfield 
followed  the  weaver's  trade  and  became  su- 
perintendent of  a  large  manufactory,  but 
here  lu-  engaged  in  farming.  During  the 
(  i\  il  war  he  left  home  to  go  to  the  front 
and  was  never  heard  from  again.  His  wife 
died  when  about  fortj  three  years  of  age  and 
most  ,,f  their  nine  children  died  young. 
Thomas  Hatfield  grew  to  manhood  upon  a 
farm  ami  married  Miss  Barbara  C.  Prough, 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Nancy  (Cresingei  1 
Prough.  Throughout  his  active  business  life 
he  has  followed  agricultural  pursuits  and  is 
now  superintending  the  beautiful  farm  of  E. 
i  lelmick  in  Rutledge  t.  iw  nship,  ha\  ing  come 
to  this  county  in  [898.  In  his  family  were 
twelve  children :  Minnie,  deceased;  Clinton; 
Laura  ;  Etta  ;  Eugene;  Belle;  Bert ;  <  >llie.  de- 
ceased; Nellie;  Nora;  Mamie  and  Leatha. 
Religiously  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  fraternally  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Ratlibone  Sisters.  His  political  support  is 
always  given  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Republican  party.     He  is  one  of  the  self 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


si  i 


men  of  die  comity  and 
credit  i"<>r  the  chieved,  as  he 

came  to  this  country  empty  handed,  and  he 
lias  had  to  make  his  way  in  the  world  entirely 
unaided. 


FREDERICK  HOFFMAN. 

Frederick  Hoffman,  of  section  27,  I « 

township.  1  >e\\  itt  county.  11'inois,  was  horn 
on  June  22,  1849,  at  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many. He  is  a  sou  of  Nicholas  and  Mar- 
I  [offman.  The  father  came 
to  the  United  States  in  [853  with  his  family. 
They  -ailed  from  Bremen  and  had  a  very 
long  and  stormy  passage,  being  on  the  water 
nearly  three  months. 

At  the  end  of  this  journey  they  landed 
in  New  York  and  came  at  once  to  Illinois, 
locating  at  Peoria.  Here  they  remained  the 
first  winter  and  the  father  worked  with  his 
brother-in-law.    In  the  spring  h<  i  in 

farming  for  himself,  renting  a  farm  near 
Peoria  and  there  continued  for  eight  year-. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acre-  of  wild  prairic- 
land  in  Peoria  county,  and  this  he  improved 
and  put  under  cultivation,  creating  a  good 
and  substantial  home  and  erected  a  comfort- 
able house      Here  he  continued    until    his 

ih.  which  occurred  when  he  was  sixtv- 
eight    year-   of   a| 

The  mother  of  our  subject  died  when  she 
-  ninety  year-  of  age,  in  1899  in  Macon 
county.  Illinois,  <  >ur  subject  was  one  of  -ix 
children  born  to  his  parents  and  the  fifth  in 
order  of  birth.  Five  of  these  children  are 
still  living.  The  father  was  a  Democrat  in 
jtolitics  and  the  parents  were  both  members 
of  the  Catholic  church. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  ob- 
tained  in   the  common   schools    of     Peoria 


county.     Children  of  the  present  day  1 

no   realization  of   the  hardships   endured   by 

their  parent  cure  the 

1  them. 
The  tiny    |i  .    with   walls   filled    witn 

mud  and  floored  with  rough  slabs  of  w 
filled   with   "-liver-"    for   tender   feet,   would 
he  poorly  heated  by  the  open  fireplace  situat- 
ed   in   one  end   of   the   room.      The  hack' 

ts  were  made  of  pieces  of  wood  unplaned 
and  rough,  with  pegs  for  legs,  and  a  hole  in 
the  wall  gave  a  little  light  and  fresh  air. 
Aside  from  the  "speller"  and  a  tattered  ln-ok 
or  two.  generally  the  property  of  the  "teach- 
er." the  only  fund  from  which  information 
could  he  drawn  was  the  Bible,  so  that  small 
wonder  was  it  that  in  the  early  day-  of  this 

ntry,  although  Sunday-schools  were  un- 
known, for  children  to  be  made  familiar  with 
1 1.  >ly   Writ   from  infancy  up. 

For  two  years  after  his  father'-  death 
our  subject  remained  at  home,  conducting 
the  property  for  the  estate.  In  1S74  he  re- 
moved to  DeWitt  county,  ariving  in  Novem- 
ber of  that  year  and  rented  land.  Later  he 
removed  to  Macon  county,  but  after  seven 
year-  returned  to  DeWitt  county  and  pur- 
chased seventy-nine  and  one-half  acres  of 
land  on  section  27,  Texas  town-hip.  This 
property  he  has  improved  and  upon  it  he  has 

led  a  comfortable  home  and  reside'!  in  it 
ever  since.  Hi-  broad  acre-  -how  the  result 
of  his  careful  cultivation  and  ,ul  of  his  build- 
ings are  in  excellent  condition.  Mr.  Hoff- 
man understands  thoroughly  the  latest  im- 
proved method-  of  farming  and  owns  and 
uses  machinery  in  the  operation  of  his  work. 
Hi-  cattle  are  of  a  good  breed  and  his  hors 
kept  in  excellent  condition,  although  he  <\ 
not  aim  to  do  any  extensive  breeding,  de- 
voting his  time  to  general  farming. 

Mr.   Hoffman  married   Mary  A.   Mallard 

on  April  14.  1873,  in  Peoria  county.    She  i- 


315 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  daughter  of  Jefferson  V.  Mallard,  who 
was  born  in  North  Carolina,  but  came  to  Illi- 
nois about  1855  and  located  at  Pontiac,  Illi- 
nois. By  trade  he  was  a  blacksmith  and 
formed  one  of  the  many  who  did  so  much 
to  make  Illinois  the  great  commonwealth  it 
is  1 1  day. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  the  man  i 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoffman,  namel)  :  [Cath- 
erine, who  is  the  wife  of  William  De  Priest, 
a  farmer  of  Texas  township;  Mary,  who  is 
at  home;  Delia,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
White,  of  towa;  Minnie:  Bertha;  Carl; 
William  and  Freda.  All  of  these  children 
have  grown  to  be  a  credit  and  pleasure  to 
their  parents,  and  while  some  have  flittered 
from  the  home,  those  who  are  left  make 
cheer}  the  pleasant  house  and  join  the  par- 
ents in  showing  delightful  hospitality  to  the 
visiti  >rs  within  their  gates. 

In  politics  Mr.  Hoffman  is  a  Democrat, 
and  so  deepl}  do  his  friends  and  fellow 
townsmen  recognize  his  merits  that  he  has 
been  called  upon  to  serve  as  school  director 
and  is  now  holding  that  office,  while  he  has 
also  served  the  township  in  various  other  ca- 
pacities, meeting  the  obligations  of  his 
charges  in  a  manner  that  reflects  great  credit. 
not  only  on  Mr.  Hoffman  himself,  but  also 
on  those  who  elected  him  to  positions  of 
trust  and  respi  insibilitv. 


[AMES  A.  BATES. 


lames  A.  Hates,  one  of  Chilton's  lai 
plastering  contractors,  was  horn  in  that  city 
on  the  15th  of  September,  [857.  I  lis  father, 
George  Washington  Bates,  was  born  in  Ma- 
rion. Ohio,  December  14.  1829,  and  was  a 
son  of  \sa  and  Lydia  (Rosebury)  Bates. 
The  grandfather  was  a  large  landowner  of 


1  (hio,  where  he  was  extensively  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  dealing  for  some  years, 
but  he  and  his  wife  spent  their  last  days  in 
Springfield,  Illinois.  Their  children  were 
Angeline,  Temperance.  George  Washing- 
ton, Zenus,  Elizabeth,  Sarah.  Isabel  and 
Franklin, 

George  W.  Bates  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  state, 
and  then  taught  school  for  some  time.  Com- 
ing to  Clinton,  DeWitt  county,  he  learned 
the  plasterer's  trade,  and  soon  began  con- 
tracting in  that  line.  About  [872  lie  re- 
ed to  l  inner  City,  where  he  built  a  fine 
residence,  and  successfull}  engaged  in  plas- 
tering and  paper  hanging  at  that  place  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  August  [2,  1892. 
llis  widow  is  still  a  resident  of  Farmer  City. 
In  her  maidenhood  she  was  Miss  Ann  Maria 
Wo,  idward,  a  daughter  of  I  >r.  James  W.  and 
Mary  (Blakemore)  Woodward.  Her  fa- 
ther was  horn  in  Lee  county,  Virginia,  July 
jS.  [813,  a  s,  m  of  James  and  Jane  (Hay den) 
Woodward.  The  Doctor's  paternal  grand- 
father came  to  this  country  from  Wheatland, 
England,  and  participated  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer, 
as  was  also  his  son.  James  Woodward.  The 
latter  was  1  k ►111  in  Stafford  o  unty.  Virginia, 
and  about  [832  came  to  Logan  county.  Illi- 
nois, where  he  died  when  ah,  nit  sixt}  years 
and  his  wife  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
six.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Harry  i  iavden. 
also  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  the 
family  of  James  and  Jane  (  I  Iavden  )  Wood- 
ward were  the  following  children:  Henry, 
I 'oily.  Lemuel,  Lydia,  Lucy,  John,  Nancy, 
Emily,  Jane.  Jessie,  James  W.  and  David. 
The  last  two  are  still  living. 

During    his    boyhood    and    youth     Dr. 

W Iward  attended  the  public  schools  until 

sixteen  years  of  age  and  then  commenced  the 


Till'.    IHOCRAriUCAI.    KI-VOKR 


313 


study  "i  medicine  under  Dr.  Abram  Still,  of 
Lee  county,  Virginia,  one  of  tin-  noted  physi- 
cians of  his  clay.  Dr.  Woodward  began 
practice  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  at  the  age 

<>t"  twenty-two  years,  and  about  1S44  came 
to  Clinton,  but  in  [855  he  removed  to  Farm- 
er City,  where  lie  still  resides.  For  many 
years  he  enjoyed  an  excellent  practice  at  that 
place,  hut  for  the  past  decade  has  practically 
lived  retired,  hut  is  still  called  in  consulta- 
tion many  times.  Fraternally  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order  and  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  also  the 
Eastern  Star  Chapter  and  Rebekah  branch 
of  those  fraternities.  lie  has  been  twice 
married,  his  first  wife  being  Mary  Blake 
more,  daughter  of  Charles  Blakemore.  She 
died  when  over  forty  years  of  age,  leaving 
five  children:  Mrs.  Olive  Bullock,  Mrs.  Ann 
M.  Bates,  Mrs.  [sabel  McDonald,  Mr.  W. 
Blakemore  Woodward  and  Mrs.  Ellen  Hal- 
low ay.  The  Doctor's  present  wife  was  Miss 
Sarah  W.  Chambers,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  a  daughter  of  Rev.  William  and  Sarah 
(  McReynolds  t  Chambers.  I  ler  father  was  a 
native  of  Maryland  and  a  Methodist  Episco- 
pal minister.  By1  his  second  union  Dr. 
Woodward  has  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Laura 
French  and   Mrs.   Minnie  Bach. 

Mr.  Bates,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  was  reared  and  educated  in  Clinton, 
and  during  his  boyhood  commenced  learning 
the  plasterer's  trade  with  his  father  at  Farm- 
er City,  hut  completed  his  apprenticeship 
with  an  uncle  at  Clinton.  He  then  worked 
as  a  journeyman  until  [886,  and  since  that 
time  has  engaged  in  contracting  in  Clinton, 
doing  the  work  in  his  line  on  nearly  all  of 
the  principal  buildings  erected  lure,  includ- 
ing   the   south    ward    school    house,    the   east 

ward  school  house,  the  Universalis!  church 
and  Mi's.  Henry  Magill's  residence.  He  has 
als.>  taken  contracts  of  high  grade  work  in 


Farmer  City,  DeVYitt  and  Weldon,  this 
county. 

Mr.  Bates  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Carrie  E.  Bordwell,  a  daughter  of 
Marcus  Bordwell,  of  Manteno,  Illinois,  ami 
the)  have  become  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren: Ethel  M.  and  Opal  M..  twins,  hum 
August  t8,  1882 ;  and  Claud  S., born  August 
jo.  1SN7.  The  family  have  a  pleasant  home 
in  Clinton,  which  was  erected  by  Mr.  Bates 
in    [896.      He  affiliates  with  the   Independent 

Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  fraternities,  and  has  held  office  in 
the   latter  lodge. 


(II  \1M.KS  FINNEY    \.\IS1  >h.\. 

During  tin-  few  shorl  years  that  Charles 
Finney  Amsden  was  numbered  among  the 
leading  business  nun  of  Clinton,  he  won  the 
■-teem  of  all  here  and  his  death  was  widely 
mourned.  Before  coming  here  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  banking  business  and  was  also 
largely  interested  in  a  creamer)  enterprisi 
Manchester.  Iowa.  When  Henry  Magill's 
health  failed  he  urged  Mr.  Amsden,  his  son- 
in-law,  to  come  to  Clinton  and  assist  him  in 
his  business.  Accordingly  he  severed  other 
business  relations  and  removed  to  this  pi, 
hut  his  own  health,  never  robust,  soon  be- 
gan   to    fail.      (  )n   the  death   of    Mr.    Magill 

lie  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  dry  g Is 

store  formerly  owned  by  Magill  Brothers, 
and  the  other  half  was  sold  to  William  hunk, 
at  which  time  the  firm  name  of  Amsden  & 
Funk  was  assumed.  Three  years  later  Mr. 
Funk  sold  his  interest  to  \.  II.  Magill,  and 
under  the  new  management  the  husim-ss  was 
successfully  continued.  During  the  winter 
of  [886-7  Mr  Amsden' S  health  failed  and  he 
went  to   Hot   Springs,    Arkansas.     He  also 


3>4 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


traveled  extensively,  hoping  to  be  benefited 
thereby,  but  death  came  to  him  on  the  21  t 
of  December,  [888,  at  the  home  of  his  par- 
ents. 

In  the  fall  of  iSSj  Mr.  ^msden  mar- 
ried Miss  Hattie  Eliza  Magill,  a  daughter  of 
the  late  Henry  Magill,  whose  name  is  in- 
separably interwoven  with  the  substantial 
development  and  upbuilding  of  this  por- 
tion of  Illinois.  Mr.  ^msden  was  a 
man  of  rare  intellectual  accomplishments 
and  lie  possessed  thai  culture  and  knowl 
edge  which  only  travel  can  bring,  lie 
had  several  times  heen  abroad  and  in  for- 
eign lands  lie  had  gleaned  many  interesting 
facts  and  anecdotes,  winch  enriched  his  con- 
versation and  made  him  a  mosl  entertaining 
companion.  I  lis  social,  genial  nature  and 
manly  worth  also  made  him  very  popular. 
I  lis  death  was  a  great  loss  t<>  Clinton,  not 
onlj  on  account  of  his  excellent  Ihmius^ 
ability,  which  contributed  to  the  commercial 
prosperity,  but  also  on  accou  i  oi  his  social 
nature  and  his  patriotic  citizenship.  I  le  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Masonic;  lodge,  and 
in  his  life  exemplified  the  beneficent  spirit 
dt"  the  fraternity.  Mrs.  Amsden  now  lives 
w  ith  her  mother  in  Clinti  in. 


|(  )  1 IX   KISSACK. 


It  is  astonishing  to  witness  the  success 
of  young  men  who  have  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica without  capital  and  have  worked  their 
way  upward  to  a  position  of  affluence.  The 
readiness  with  which  they  adapt  themselves 
to  circumstances  and  take  advantage  oi  the 
opportunities  offered,  brings  to  them  suc- 
cess and  wins  them  a  place  among  the  lead- 
ing men  of  the  community  in  which  they  re- 
side.    To  this  class  belongs  John  Kissack, 


a  large  land  owner  and  successful  farmer, 
who  is  now  living  in  a  beautiful  residence 
in  the  suburbs  of  Farmer  City. 

I  le  was  1"  irn  on  the  Isle  of  Man.  Febru- 
ary i.(.  [844,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Cath- 
erine (Craine)  Kissack.  who  were  of  Manx 
ancestry  and  spent  their  entire  lives  on  the 
Isle  of  Man.  They  were  hardy  people,  of 
Strong  constitutions,  and  lived  to  a  ripe  old 
age,  the  father  being  seventy-four  at  the 
time  oi  his  death  and  the  mother  eighty- 
I  lur  subject  is  the  second  in  order  oi 
birth  in  their  family  of  ten  children,  the 
others  being  Eleanor,  Thomas.  William, 
Robert,  Caesar,  Daniel,  David,  Edward  and 
James. 

During  his  minority.  Mr.  Kissack  re- 
mained on  the  island  home  and  during  the 
last  three  years  of  his  residence  there 
worked  as  a  laborer  away  from  home.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-two  he  determined  to 
come  to  America.  Borrowing  part  of  the 
money  with  which  to  pay  his  passage,  he 

crossed  the  Atlantic  and  landed  in  Port 
land.  Maine,  whence  he  proceeded  to  Ro- 
chester. \ew  York,  where  he  found  em- 
ployment as  a  farm  hand,  hut  believing 
the  west  was  the  best  place  for  a  young 
man.  he  decided  to  conn-  i,,  Mlniois  m  [867 
and  grow  up  with  the  country.  Subsequent 
years  demonstrated  that  he  displayed  excel- 
lent judgment  in  making  a  selection  for  a 
home,  lie  was  first  employed  in  a  warehouse 
in  Tazewell  county,  then  engaged  in  brick- 
making,  and  later  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
being  willing  to  work  at  anything  whereby 
he  could   earn   an   honest  dollar. 

The  height  of  Mr.  Kissack's  ambition 
at  that  lime  was  to  own  a  farm,  and  in  the 
spring  of  [870  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  raw  prairie  land  in  McLean  county  of 
II.  C.  Luce,  and  to  its  cultivation  and  im- 
provement  he  at  once  turned  his  attention. 


JOHN    KISSACK. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


317 


Success  crowned  his  well -directed  efforts, 
and  the  fields  yielded  a  bountiful  return  for 
the  care  and  labor  bestowed  upon  them. 
Later  Mr.  Kissack  purchased  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  land, fort)  acres  of  which 
is  in  Piatt  county,  and  in  [890  bought  the 
Pat  Campbell  farm  of  "tie  hundred  and 
ninet)  acres  in  Santa  Anna  township,  He- 
Witt  county,  and  in  the  fall  of  [901  bought 
two  hundred  and  eight)  acre-  of  the  Will- 
iam Lindsey  farm  and  now  has  eight  hun- 
dred and  thirty  acres  in  all.  lie  has  al- 
ways given  considerable  attention  to  the 
raising  of  stock,  and  keeps  a  high  grade  of 
horse-,  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  his  specialty 
being  largely  mixed  Shropshire  sheep.  He 
now  makes  his  home  on  his  farm  it;  Santa 
Anna  township,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  beauti- 
ful grove  has  erected  a  very  large  and  ele- 
gant modem  residence. 

Mr.  Kissack  was  married  in  [879  to 
Miss  Clarissa  M.  Maxlield.  a  native  of  Ma- 
coupin county.  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of 
Robert  11.  and  Sarah  (Petefish)  Maxlield. 
and  granddaughter  of  George  and  Sarah 
1  Thomas  1  Maxtield.  all  of  whom  were  born 
in  Kentucky  and  at  an  early  day  removed  to 
Macoupin  county.  Illinois.  There  the 
grandfather  died  when  over  seventy  years 
of  age,  and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  eighty-nine.  Their  children  were 
George  W.,  Charles,  Thomas.  Porter.  Clara, 
Sarah.  Margaret  and  Eliza.  Robert  11. 
Maxlield.  who  was  a  carpenter  and  farmer 
by  occupation,  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-six 
years,  and  his  wife  is  still  living  at  the  age 
of  eighty-four.  They  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  namely:  John  W.,  S.  Elizabeth, 
James  K..  Ellen  P.,  Clarissa  M..  Luther  R., 
M.  Bell  and  Edwin  ('•.  The  children  horn 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kissack  were  Ellen  Olivia, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  three  months:  John 
Robert,   who  is  attending  the    Farmer  City 


high    school;   and    Luther    M..    who   died    at 
the  age  1  >f  seven  years. 

Politically  Mr.  Kissack  is  a  strong  Pro- 
hibitionist; and  religiously  is  an  active  and 
faithful  member  of  the  Methodisl  Epicopal 
church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  steward, 
trustee,  class  leader,  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school  and  is  now  Bible  class  teach- 
er, lie  has  led  an  upright,  honorable  and 
useful  life,  well  worthy  of  emulation,  and  is 
held  in  the  highest  respect  by  all  who  know 

him. 

■» »» 

jo  I IX  BUTTERWORTH. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  the  dis- 
tinction of  having  won  the  proud  American 
title  of  a  self-made  man.  For  almost  half 
a  century  he  has  been  identified  with  the  ag- 
ricultural interests  .if  DeWitt  county,  and 
still  owns  and  occupies  a  good  farm  on  sec- 
tii  'ii  32,  Wilson  t<  iwuship. 

Mr.  Lutterworth  was  born  September  26, 
[826,  in  Lancastershire,  England,  of  which 
county  his  parents,  Gouther  and  Hannah 
1  Mathews)  Lutterworth,  were  also  natives, 
though  the  latter  was  of  Welsh  descent,  her 
father  being  a  Welshman.  ( )ur  subject's  pa- 
ternal grandfather  was  John  Lutterworth, 
who  was  a  farmer  and  veterinary  surgeon, 
and  spent  his  entire  life  in  England. 

Gouther  Butterworth  was  a  cotton  weav- 
er by  trade  and  followed  that  occupation  in 
England  until  [842,  when  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  sailing  from  Liverpool  to 
New  York  City.  I  lis  destination  was 
Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  where  he  had 
friends  living  and  where  he  soon  found  em- 
ployment in  the  cotton  mills.  The  following 
year  he  was  joined  by  his  family,  whom  he 
had  left  in  England,  and  in  184(1  removed  to 
a  small   town  near    Providence,    Rhode   ts- 


3iS 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


land  where  lie  worked  in  cotton  mills  for  a 
year.  He  next  made  his  home  at  Fall  River, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  was  living  when 
gold  was  discovered  in  California.     During 

the  excitement  of  (849  he.  in  company  with 
other  men.  went  to  the  Pacific  coast  by  way 
of  Cape  1  torn,  and  was  never  heard  En  im  bu1 
once  after  arriving  there,  it  being  supposed 
that  he  was  killed  Eor  his  money.  His  wife 
subsequently  came  west  with  our  subjed  and 
died  in  this  county,  in  [875,  at  the  age  of 
seventj  two  years,  her  remains  being  in- 
terred in  Sugar  Grove  cemetery.  She  was  a 
good  Christian  woman,  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  ?nd  devoted  her 
life  to  carefullj  rearing  her  children.  In 
the  family  were  eight  children,  of  whom 
our  subjed  is  the  oldest,  the  others  being 
Betsy,  who  married  John  Thorp,  one  ol 
the  early  settlers  of  this  county,  and  both 
are  now  deceased;  Samuel,  a  resident  ot 
Sumner  county.  Kansas;  Sarah,  who  died 
young  in  England;  James,  a  resident  ol 
Bloomington,  Illinois;  Mice,  wife  of  A.verj 
l\es.  of  Nebraska;  Susanna,  wife  of  Her 
bert  Ives,  of  Kansas;  and  Robert,  of  Bloom- 
ington, Illinois. 

During  his  boyhood  John  Butterworth 
learned  the  cotton  weaver's  trade  and  worked 
in  the  mills  of  John  Bright,  of  England,  un- 
til the  emigration  of  the  family  to  America, 
in  1843,  when  he  joined  his  father  in  Bridge 
port,  Connecticut.  Being  the  oldesl  of  the 
family  the  responsibility  of  caring  for  the 
mother  and  the  younger  children  devolved 
upon  him  when  the  father  went  to  California 
in  1X411.  The  following  year  they  removed 
to  New  Bedford,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
worked  in  the  cotton  mills  for  about  three 
years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  went  to 
Shakersville,  that  state,  whrre  he  left  the 
family  on  coming  w  est. 

It  was  in  .March.  [855,  that  Mr.  Butter 


worth  came  to  Illinois,  and  on  his  way,  in 
( Ihicago,  met  another  young  man.  Together 
they  proceeded  to  DeWitt  county,  where  our 
subject  purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  wild  prairie  land  of  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral  Railroad  Company,  three  and  a  quarter 
miles  east  ol  \\  apella  on  what  is  now  section 
32,  Wilson  township.  He  then  sent  word 
for  his  mother  and  other  members  of  the 
family  to  join  him  here,  and  after  their  ar- 
rival in  [856  he  and  his  brother  Samuel 
erected  a  small  house  on  what  is  now  the 
James  Butterworth  place,  it  being  ready  for 
occupancy  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  It  is 
still  standing,  hut  has  since  been  enlarged 
and  improved.  The  brothers  all  set  to  work 
to  improve  the  farm,  breaking  the  land  with 
four  yoke  of  cattle,  hut  it  was  slow  and 
tedious  work  for  them,  as  they  were  entire!} 
unfamiliar  with  agricultural  pursuits,  hav- 
ing been  brought  up  to  work-  in  cotton  mills. 
(  me  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  the  original 
tract  is  still  in  possession  of  die  family,  our 
subject  owning  half  of  this  amount.  Ills 
laud  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
is  well  improved.  I  le  has  set  out  many  trees 
along  the  highway,  which  are  a  source  ol 
great  pleasure  to  those  who  drive  along  the 
road.  lie  also  owns  a  forty  acre  tract  of 
land  on  section  29,  Wilson  township,  and 
some  property  in  the  village  of  VVapella,  all 
of  which  has  been  acquired  through  his  own 

unaided  efforts.     Being  a  man  of  g 1  busi- 

ih'ss  ability  ami  sound  judgment  he  has 
Steadily  prospered,  ami  well  merits  the  suc- 
cess that  he  has  achieved  in  life. 

Mr.  Butterworth  was  married  February 
_}.  [858,  to  Miss  Hannah  D.  .Martin,  who 
was  horn  either  in  Ohio  or  Virginia.  Her 
parents,  Samuel  and  Rebecca  Martin,  were 
both  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  were 
carle  settlers  of  Randolph  township,  Mc- 
Lean county.    Illinois.      By   this   union   were 


Till-.   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


3'9 


1»  Tii  five  children,  namel)  :  11)  Mary  is 
now  the  wife  Adolphus  Mitchell,  of  Iowa, 
ami  has  seven  children,  Ezra,  Irvin,  Charles, 
Bessie,  John,  Ray  and  Inez.  (2)  Charles,  a 
resident  of  California,  married  Ida  Petra  and 
has  three  children,  Earl,  Mabel  and  cue  un- 
named. (3)  Anna  is  the  wife  of  Lincoln 
Walden,  of  Wilson  township,  and  they  have 
three  children.  Clarence.  Blanche  and 
George.  141  Laura  A.  is  the  wife  of  A.  R. 
Black,  who  lives  on  the  home  place  with  our 
subject,  and  they  have  four  children,  lrcia, 
John.  Clara  and  Archie.  (5)  Clara  is  the 
wife  of  Grant  Walden.  of  Wilson  township, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Fern  and  Lotas. 
The  wife  of  our  subject  died  in  [899,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-nine  years,  and  was  laid  to 
rest  in  the  Sugar  Grove  cemetery.  She  was 
a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  Episi 
pal  church,  to  which  Mr.  Butterworth  also 
belongs,  and  he  has  served  as  a  trustee  of 
the  same.  Politically  he  is  a  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  held  the  office 
of  township  clerk,  lie  is  known  among  his 
fellow  citizens  for  his  reliability  in  all  things, 
and  he  justly  merits  their  confidence  and  re- 
gard. 


JOHN"   KILLOUGH. 

This  gentleman  is  entitled  to  distinction 
a-  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  enterpris- 
ing men  of  Clinton,  and  has  for  man)  years 
been  prominently  identified  with  her  business 
and  political  interests.  Upon  the  commercial 
activity  of  a  community  depends  it-  pros 
perity  and  the  men  who  are  now  recognized 
a-  leading  citizen-  are  those  who  are  at  the 
head  of  paying  business  enterprises,  such  as 
Mr.  Killough,  who  i-  the  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Killough  &  Johnson,  well-known 
hardware  merchants  of  Clinton. 


Mr.  Killough  was  born  near  Fulton 
House,  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
cember  10.  [845,  and  1-  a  son  of  Robert  and 
Sidney  1  Hoopes)  Killough,  who  were  farm- 
ing people.  The  father  attained  the  age  of 
enty-three  years,  and  the  mother  sixty- 
nine.     Our  subject  grew  to  manh 1  on  the 

home  farm,  and  after  attending  the  public 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  for  some  time, 
he  entered  tin-  Stale  Normal  School  at  Mil- 
lersville,  Pennsylvania,  afjer  which  he  en- 
gaged in  teaching  and  later  he  spent  a  year 
and  a  half  at  a  polytechnic  college  in  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  took  a  course  in  civil  en- 
gineering. 

Mr.  Killough  came  west  in  [868,  to  take- 
up  civil  engineering,  but  for  one  term  en- 
gaged  in  teaching  near  Delavan,  Tazewell 
county,  Illinois.  Subsequently  he  was  with 
the  engineering  corps  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad  for  two  year-  and  a  half  on  con- 
struction work,  and  then  went  t.>  Canada  in 
the  emplo)  of  what  is  now  the  Michigan 
1  entral  Railroad  one  year.  During  the  fol- 
lowing two  years  he  was  with  the  Hamilton 
&  Lake  Erie  Railroad,  headquarters  at  Ham- 
ilton, (  >ntario.  At  the  end  of  this  period  he 
determined  to  change  his  vocation,  and  hav- 
ing accumulated  enough  to  embark  in  busi- 
-  and  establish  a  home  for  himself.  Mr. 
Killough  came  to  Clinton,  Illinois,  in  1S75. 
having  heard  good  reports  of  tin-  progres- 
sive little  city  and  the  line  country  surround- 
ing it.  He  purchased  II.  II.  Harwood's  in- 
terest in  the  firm  of  Harwood  &  Merriam, 
hardware  dealer-.  Under  the  linn  of  Mer- 
riam &  Killough  they  carried  on  business  un- 
til [878,  when  our  subject  purchased  his 
partner's  interest.and  was  then  alone  in  busi- 
ness until  February  1.  [901.  He  bought  the 
building  which  hail  been  erected  bj  William 
Clagg  iii  [865.  It  wa-  then  eighty  by  twen- 
ty-two feet   in  dimensions.      Mr.     Killough 


320 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


built  an  addition  in  the  rear,  making  it  one 
hundred  and  twenty-four  feet  deep.  He 
utilizes  both  the  first  and  second  floors,  as 
well  as  the  basement.  *  >n  the  20th  of  April. 
[885,  the  building  collapsed,  water  having 
damaged  the  brick  foundation  so  that  die 
walls  fell  in,  crushing  everything  with  it. 
\-  this  occurred  on  Sunday  morning  no  lives 
were  lost.      In  it^  place  Mr.   Killough  erected 

..id  substantial  brick  building,  which  lie 
now  occupies.  He  also  rents  the  second  fi 
of  an  adjoining  building,  and  has  built  a 
warehouse,  sixtj  five  b)  thirtj  feet,  across 
the  street  from  hi^  store.  Besides  his  busi- 
ness property  he  owns  a  line  residence.  Buy- 
ing the  property  of  J.  R.  Melrvin  on  East 
Main  street,  lie  lore  down  the  brick  house 
standing  thereon,  and  erected,  in  its  place  a 
line  two-Story  frame  resilience,  which  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  large  modern  piazza  and  spa- 
cious, well-shaded  grounds.  It  is  one  of  the 
best  and  most  attractive  homes  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Killougll  married  Miss  Delia  BriggS, 
daughter  of  Uriah  Briggs,  of  Delavan,  Illi- 
nois, and  to  them  was  horn  one  child.  Merna 
C,  who  was  graduated  in  the  Clinton  high 
sch'  10I  in  [901. 

When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  Mr.  Kil- 
lough  desired  to  enlist,  hut  his  parents  re- 
fused their  consent,  believing  him  too  young 
to  enter  the  service.  At  length,  in  July, 
[863,  he  enlisted  in  the  State  Militia  for  one 
hundred  days,  and  in  [864  enlisted  in  the 
I 'nited  States  service  Me  is  now  a  promi- 
nent member  and  past  commander  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post  at  Clinton.  In  his  re- 
ligious views  he  is  liberal.  His  father's  peo- 
ple were  Presbyterians,  while  his  mother's 
people  were  members  of  the  Societj  oi 
Friends.  Politically  Mr.  Killough  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  ami  has  taken  a  very 
active  and  influential  part  in  public  affairs. 
During  his   residence   in   Clinton   he  served 


four  years  as  county  surveyor;  in  1882  was 
elected  supervisor,  which  office  he  held  nine 
consecutive  years;  was  school  director  seven 
wars;  and  in  iS<><;  was  elected  mayor  of  the 
city.  During  his  administration  of  two  years 
a  number  of  very  important  improvements 
were  made,  including  the  paving  of  the 
square,  lie  takes  an  active  interesl  in  all 
enterprises  calculated  to  promote  the  general 
welfare.  It  is  to  such  men  that  the  west 
owes  us  prosperity  and  progress,  and  ii  Clin- 
ton had  more  such  men  she  would  soon  rank 
among  the  finest  cities  oi  her  size  in  the 
state.  Mr.  Killough  is  a  past  master  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge,  and  also  a  member  of  the 
chapter,  commandery  and   Eastern  Star. 


F.  E.   PINKERTON. 

\s  the  founder  and  proprietor  of  the 
leading  daily  and  weekly  paper  of  Clinton, 
Mr.  Pinkerton,  during  his  short  residence 
in  this  city  has  become  prominently  identi- 
fied with  her  business  and  social  interests. 
lie  was  horn  in  Tremont,  Schuylkill  county, 
Pennsylvania.  December  _'o,  [852,  and  is  a 
s,.n  of  Colonel  C.  1..  and  Fann]  (Singer) 
Pinkerton,  and  a  grandson  of  George  Pink- 
erton. who  was  also  a  native  of  the  Key- 
st'  >ne  state. 

1  .  .1.  mel  P.  P.  1  'inkerfc  in  w  as  b  >rn  in 
Halifax.  Pennsylvania,  and  received  his 
early  mental  training  in  the  public  schools. 
For  a  while  he  engaged  in  teaching  Put 
when  a  young  man  took  up  the  study  of  law 
and  later  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the 
state.  As  a  lawyer  he  obtained  a  wide- 
spread reputation  and  was  sent  to  the  legis- 
lature by  the  Republican  party,  of  which 
political  faith  he  was  a  strong  advo- 
cate.     During  the  Civil   war  he   served   on 


F.   E.   PINKERTON. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


323 


the  staff  of  Governor  Curtis.  He  was  an 
earnest  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  marriage 
with  Miss  Fanny  Singer  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  nine  children,  five  of  whom  arc  now  liv- 
ing, namely:  Margaret;  F.  E.,  our  subject; 
Jane  Mary:  Edward  K. :  and  Bertrand  I ). 
The  two  latter  arc  residents  of  this  state, 
the  former  is  engaged  in  paper  box  manu- 
facturing in  Chicago,  while  the  latter  is  one 
of  the  editors  and  part  owner  of  the  News 
Herald,  of  Lincoln.  Illinois.  About  a  year 
previous  to  the  death  of  our  subject's  fa 
ther,  he  emigrated  west  and  the  death  of 
Loth  he  and  his  wife  occurred  in  this  state. 
F.  E.  Pinkerton  availed  himself  of  the 
common  schools  and  of  a  night  school  and 
in  this  way  obtained  a  good  elementary  edu- 
cation. While  still  at  home  he  began  learn- 
ing the  trade  of  a  printer,  being  for  two 
years  in  the  employ  of  the  "Tremont  News." 
The  succeeding  two  years  was  spent  at  Ply- 
mouth. Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed a~-  a  printer  on  the  "Star."  Thinking 
that  a  larger  city  offered  better  inducements, 
he  secured  a  position  as  a  compositor  on  the 
"Scrahtbn  Republican,"  which  position  he 
retained  for  six  months.  At  the  end  of  that 
period  he  engaged  in  reportorial  work  on  the 
"Scranton  Times."  where  he  remained  an- 
other six  mouths.  He  the:;  became  iden- 
tified with  the  Xichols,,,i  Examiner,  which 
paper  he  conducted  for  two  years,  or  until 
1875.  In  that  year  he  came  west  and  lo- 
cated at  Rantoul,  where  he  gained  posses- 
sion of  the  "Rantoul  Journal."  which  he 
published  for  two  years.  Then  in  partner- 
ship with  11.  E.  Bullock,  they  consolidated 
the  Journal  and  the  "Rantoul  News"  ami 
established  a  new  paper  called  "The  Ran- 
toulian."  Later  he  purchased  his  partner's 
interest  and  changed  the  name  to  "The  Ran- 
toul   PfCSS,"   which   paper  he  conducted    for 


eighteen  years.  In  the  publication  of  this  pa- 
per, Mr.  Pinkerton  met  with  success  and  in 
[896  he  disposed  of  it  for  four  thousand 
dollars.  This  was  in  [895,  and  in  May  of 
the  same  year  we  find  him  a  citizen  of  Clin- 

where  he  purchased  the  "Clinton  Week- 
ly Public,"  which  Ik-  continued  to  publish 
for  about  six  mouths.  Thinking  that  Clin- 
ton offered  a  field  for  an  evening  daily  pa- 
per, he  established  the  "Clinton  Daih  Pub- 
lic," which  he  continued  to  publish  until 
until  April  15.  moi.  when  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  brother,  B.  E.  Pink- 
erton, ami  F.  R.  Cross,  under  the  linn  name 
of  Pinkerton.  Cross  &  Co.  They  then  pur- 
chased the  "Lincoln  Daily  News"  and  "The 
Weekly  Herald."  both  of  Lincoln.  Illinois, 
which  they  consolidated  and  now  publish 
under  the  name  of  "The  Lincoln  Daily 
News-Herald"  and  "The  Weekly  Herald." 
This  company  also  continue  the  publication 
of  the  Clinton  Daily  and  Weekly  Public, 
which  are  under  the  direct  supervision  of 
our  subject.  In  addition  to  his  newspaper 
interests.  Mr.  Pinkerton  is  a  half  owner 
of  the  Paper  Box  Factory  in  Chicago, 
which  is  under  the  management  of  his 
bn  'ther. 

Mr.  Pinkerton's  venture  has  prosed  a 
profitable  one  and  his  paper  has  become  a 
power,  not  only  as  a  newspaper,  hut  as  a 
fearless  exponent  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party. 

In  [88l  Mr.  Pinkerton  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mollie  E.  Boise,  of 
Rantoul,  a  daughter  of  J.  J.  and  Lucy  S. 
I',, use.  Lor  thirty-live  wars  Mr.  Poise  held 
the  position  of  station  agent  for  the  Illinois 
Central.  He  is  now  deceased,  hut  his  wife 
is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  in  Pan 
toul. 

To  Mr  .and  Mrs.  Pinkerton  have  been 
born  the  foil, ,  wing  children  :     Charles,  who 


324 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


has  a  position  in  his  father's  and  uncle's 
box  factory  in  Chicago;  Francis;  Leon; 
and  Maisie,  all  at  home. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Pinkerton  is  a  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  both  of  Clinton.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pinkerton  attend  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church.  In  polities  Mr.  Pink 
ton  i^  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  and  while 
a  resident  of  Rantoul  was  secretarj  of  the 
ucation  for  six  years. 
Since  coming  to  Clinton  our  subject  has 
always  been  found  ready  and  willing  to  do 
all  in  his  power  to  advance  any  cause  which 
promised  to  he  for  the  public  good.  lie 
was  one  of  the  thirteen  gentlemen  that  or- 
ganized the  Clinton  Chautauqua  and  has 
never  hesitated  to  use  the  columns  ol  his 
paper  to  promote  its  interests. 


JAMES  VV.  1IAM.MI  I 

Among  the  leading  citizens  of  DeWitt 
county  who  have  been  identified  with  its  in- 
terests since  pioneer  days  is  James  \\  .  I  lam- 
mitt,  who  dates  his  residence  here  from  <  >c- 
tober,  [833.  He  has  by  honest  toil  and  in- 
dustry succeeded  in  acquiring  a  handsome 
competence,  which  now  enables  him  to  spend 
the  sunset  of  life  in  ease  anil  retirement  on 
the  old  homestead  on  section  iS.  Waynesville 
township,  which  is  now  carried  on  by  his 
son  (  )scar. 

A  native  of  Ohio.  Mr.  1  lammitt  was  horn 
in  Morgan  county.  July  11.  [818,  and  is  a 
5  tnuel  1  lammitt.  whose  birth  oc- 
curred near  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  in 
[789.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Benja- 
min Hammitt,  was  born  in  Rhode  Island  of 

tch  ancestry  and  at  an  early  day  removed 


to  West  Virginia,  where  he  died  during  the 
infancy  of  his  son  Samuel.  On  reaching 
manhood  the  latter  left  his  native  state  and 
went  to  Ohio,  living  first  in  Muskingum 
county  and  later  in  Morgan  county,  where 
he  opened  up  and  improved  a  farm.  In 
[833  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  what 
is  now  Waynesville  township,  DeWitt  coun- 
ty, where  he  entered  land  and  purchased  a 
tract  of  eight)  acres.  In  course  of  time  lie 
had  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  on  which  he  made  his  home  until 
called  to  his  final  rest  in  [862.  at  the  a-e 
of  seventj  three  years,  llis  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Catherine  McElhiney, 
passed  awaj  some  years  previously. 

James  W.  I  lammitt  was  a  lad  of  fifteen 
years  when  he  came  with  the  family  to  this 
county,  and  he  rendered  his  father  valuable 

istance  in  opening  up  the  farm,  remain- 
ing at  home  until  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
lie  was  then  married  in  Logan  county.  Illi- 
nois, (  (ctober  <>.  [845,  to  Miss  Susan  Brock, 
a  native  of  Indiana  and  a  daughter  of  An- 
drew Brock,  "in-  of  the  first  settlers  of  this 
section  of  the  state,  having  located  here  in 
[829.  Mrs.  Hammitt  was  reared  in  Illinois 
and  was  to  her  husband  a  faithful  companion 
and  helpmeet  for  near  fifty-one  years.  She- 
died  in  [896  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Waynes- 
ville cemetery.  Air.  Hammitt  has  nine  chil- 
dren living,  namely:  Sebastian,  a  farmer  of 
Iowa;  Hannah,  wife  of  <  >.  II.  Buck,  of  Mc- 
Lean county.  Illinois;  Guy,  a  resident  of  At- 
lanta. I  -  ;  Martin,  who  .  iwns  and 
operates  the  -Id  I  lammitt  homestead;  I  at, 
a  resident  of  Atlanta;  <  >scar,  who  was  mar- 
ried in  June.  100 1.  to  Emma  McMillen,  of 
Waynesville  township,  and  is  now  carrying 
on  the  home  farm:  James,  a  farmer  of  Mc- 
Lean county;  Benjamin,  who  operates  a  part 
.  if  the  In  ime  farm  :  and  Katie,  wife  of  George 
Smith,     of    Waynesville,   whose  sketch    ap- 


Til]-.   BIOCKAPHICAL   RECORD. 


325 


pear-  elsewhere  in  this  work.  John  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-four  year-,  and  two  chil- 
dren died  in  infancy. 

Alter  his  marriage  Mr.  llammitt  located 
on  section  18,  Waynesville  township,  where 
he  entered  forty  acre-  of  land,  and  at  once 
began  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of 
that  place  Subsequently  he  entered  an  ad- 
joining eighty-acre  tract,  and  still  later 
bought  more  land  from  time  to  time  until 
he  had    four   hundred    and    sixty   acre-    on 

ti  >ns  t8  and  [9,  Waynesville  township, 
DeW'itt  county,  and  eighty  acres  in  Logan 
county.      His    lirst   home   wu   a    log  cabin, 

which  in  later  years  was  replaced  by  a  g 1 

frame  residence:  good  barns  and  outbuild- 
ings were  also  erected,  fruit  and  -hade  tret- 
were  set  out  and  many  other  improvements 
made  to  the  place.  There  are  now  two  sets 
of  buildings  upon  the  farm  and  everything  is 
in  first-class  order.  Mr.  llammitt  contin- 
ued to  actively  engage  in  farming  until  1895, 
when  he  rented  his  land  to  his  sons  and  has 
since  lived  a  retired  life,  enjoying-  a  well 
earned  rest. 

The  Democratic  party  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  llammitt  a  stanch  supporter  of  its 
principles,  and  he  has  never  failed  to 
for  each  presidential  candidate  of  that  party 
since  casting  his  first  ballot  for  Martin  Van 
Buren  in  1840.  He  has  d<  me  all  in  his  power 
to  advance  the  educational  interests  of  his 
community,  and  for  many  years  efficiently 
served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  and 
president  of  the  district  For  the  long  period 
Jit  years  he  has  made  his  home  in 
DeWitt  county,  during  which  time  he  has 
-ecu  \  illages  and  cities  spring  up  within  its 
borders,  the  wild  land  transformed  into 
beautiful  homes  and  farms,  railroad-  built 
and  the  telegraphs  and  telephones  intro- 
duced. Deer  and  other  wild  game  was  very 
plentiful  when  he  first  came  to  the  county. 


At  that  time  the  nearest  postoffice  was  at 
Bloomington,  twenty  mile-  away,  (due  his 
father  went  to  the  office  for  the  mail  and 
finding  the  postmaster  out  he  hunted  him  up 
on  the  street.  When  found  that  official  took 
off  his  hat.  in  which  he  carried  a  hunch  of 
letters,  and  from  the  number  -elected  the  one 
intended  for  Mr.  Hammitt,  who  then  paid 
the  twenty-five  cents  charged  a-  postage  at 
that  time. 

In  the  spring  of  [go]  a  cyclone  struck  a 
granary,  cow  house  and  two  corn  cribs  and 
-entered  them  all  over  the  farm  besides  de- 
stroying shade  trees  and  doing  other  dam- 
age. 

— ■»  •  » — 

TRUMAN  MASON. 

The  subject  of  this  -ketch,  who  was  tor 
many  year-  actively  identified  with  the  ag- 
ricultural interests  of  Wilson  township,  and 
i-  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Wapella,  was 
born  July  10.  1842,  in  Logan  county.  Illin 
011  the  Tazewell  county  line.  His  father, 
Oliver  Mason,  was  horn  in  Pennsylvania, 
about   1S17.  and  was  a  son  of  Truman  Ma- 

.  who  brought  his  family  to  Illinois  about 
1827  and  first  settled  in  Sangamon  county, 
where  he  -pent  two  years,  and  then  removed 
to  Logan  county,  where  he  purchased  land 
and  opened  up  a  farm  on  the  Tazewell  coun- 
ty line.  His  la-t  days,  however,  were  spent 
in  McLean  county.  Oliver  Mason  grew  to 
manhood  in  Logan  county,  and  in  later  years 
he  became  the  owner  of  a  well-improved 
ami  valuable  farm  of  -i\  hundred  and  twen- 
ty acres  in  Tazewell  county,  being  "lie  of 
the  substantial  farmers  of  his  locality.  He 
married  [sabel  Adams,  a  native  of  Tennes- 
see, who.  when  a  child,  came  with  her  par- 
ent- to  Illinois  prior  to  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
Her  father.  Captain  John  Adams,  command- 


326 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ed  a  company  in  that  war.  and  was  killed  in 
Stillman's  defeat  near  Chicago,  where  a 
monumenl  is  now  being  erected  to  his  mem 
ory.  lie  was  also  a  native  of  Tennessee. 
The  father  of  <  >nr  subject  spent  his  last  years 
in  Armington,  Illinois,  where  he  died  in 
iN<>_\  and  the  mother  passed  awaj  in  [898. 
Thej  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
sex  en  now  living,  five  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. 

Truman   Mason,  the  oldesl  child,  passed 

his  boyh 1  and  youth  on  the  old  homestead 

in  Tazewell  county,  and  received  a  good 
practical  education  in  the  local  schools.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  he  manifested  his  patriot 
ism  by  enlisting  in  Vugust,  [863,  in  0 
pany  A,  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Illi- 
nois \  olunteer  Infantry,  which  was  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  For  about 
two  years  he  did  guard  duty  at  Memphis,  but 
was  also  in  a  number  of  engagements,  in- 
cluding the  battles  of  Holl;  Springs  and 
Pleasanl  Hill,  Louisiana.  For  si\  months 
lie  was  ill  in  the  hospital  at  tjnincv.  Illinois, 
and   at   the  close  of  the  war   was  honorably 

discharged  in  June.    [865.     The  following 

two  years  were  spent  upon  his  father'  farm. 

In  McLean  county,  on  the  1  ith  of  1  d 
tober,  r866,  Mr.  Mason  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jane  L.  Heard,  who  was 
horn  in  I  (hio,  but  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Tazewell  and  McLean  counties,  this  state, 
where  her  father.  William  II.  Heard,  was 
engaged  in  farming.  Three  children  blessed 
this  union,  namely:  Delia,  now  the  wife  of 
S.  F.  Merritield.  who  is  now  operating  the 
Mason  farm;  I  >li\er  1'..  at  home:  and  Dora. 
wife  of  John  A.  llnrd.  of  Wilson  township. 
1  >c\\  itt  county. 

For  one  year  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Ma- 
son continued  to  engage  in  farming  in  Taze- 
well county,  but  in  the  fall  of  [867  removed 
to  a  farm  in  Wilson  township,  this  county. 


and  to  its  improvement  and  cultivation  de- 
voted his  time  and  attention  for  some  years. 
lie  erected  good  and  substantial  buildings 
upon  the  place  and  converted  it  into  one  oi 
the  most  highly  cultivated  and  desirable 
farms  of  its  size  in  that  locality.  It  consisted 
of  oik-  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  In  C899 
Mr.  Mason  removed  to  W'apella  and  bought 
a  nice  residence,  where  he  has  since  lived  re- 
tired, enjoying  the  fruits  of  former  toil. 

By  his  ballot  Mr.  Mason  has  supported 
the  Republican  party  and  its  principles  since 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  General 
(J.  S.  Grant  in  [868,  and  he  has  ever  taken 
an  active  and  commendable  interest  in  public 

affairs.  Me  served  several  terms  as  com- 
missioner of  highways,  and   for  some  years 

was  a  member  of  the  school  hoard,  having 
always  supported  all  enterprises  calculated  to 
advance  the  moral,  educational  or  material 
welfare  of  his  community.      Jle  attends  the 

Christian  church  and  is  a  charter  member 
"f  Mapella  I'ost,  ( ,.  .\.  R.  As  a  public-spir- 
ited and  progressive  citizen  he  has  always 

been    found  as  true  to  his  duties  of  citi  1 
ship  in  days  of  peace  as   when   he   followed 
the  old    flag   to    victory   on   southern    battle- 
fields. 

■»  •  » 

THOMAS   M.    MADDOX. 

For  almost  half  a  century  Thomas  M. 
Maddox  has  been  identified  with  the  inter- 
ests of  DeWitl  county,  and  is  still  success- 
fully engaged  in  farming  on  section  20, 
Barnett  township.  He  was  born  in  Gibson 
county,  Indiana,  on  the  1st  of  September, 
1  Sic;.  I  lis  father.  Dr.  John  W.  Maddox, 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  at  an  early 
day  removed  to  Indiana,  where  he  married 
Mrs.  Jane  1  Montgomery)  Warrick,  whose 
tirst  husband  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in 


T.   M.    MADDOX. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


520. 


the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  on  the  Wabash 
river.  For  a  few  years  the  Doctor  was  en- 
gaged in  practice  in  Gibson  county,  and 
from  there  he  went  to  the  Red  River  coun- 
try. He  subsequently  came  to  Illinois  and 
purchased   a   place   in    Sangamon    county, 

■  of  Springfield,  but  died  there  before  the 
arrival  of  his  family.  When  the  news  of 
his  death  reached  them  they  decided  to  re- 
main in  Gibson  county,  Indiana,  and  there 
the  mother  reared  her  three  children,  of 
whom  Thomas  M.  was  the  onlj  .-on  and 
youngest  child. 

Our  subject  received  a  fair  common- 
school  education,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
year-  started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in 
the  world.  He  was  married  in  his  native 
county  in  October,  [842,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Teal,  who  was  al>o  born  there  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Adam  Teal.  They  began  their 
domestic  life  in  Gibson  county  upon  land 
which  Mr.  Maddox  had  leased,  hut  at  the 
end  of  two  year-  he  sold  his  lease  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  [846.  lie  first  lo- 
cated in  Logan  county,  where  he  bought 
eighty  acre-  of  land  and  entered  forty  acre- 
more,  and  to  the  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion of  that  place  he  devoted  hi-  attention 
for  five  years.    Selling  out  in  [852,  he  came 

DeWitt  county  and  purchased  his  pri 
ent  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  section  20,  Harnett  township.  Only  a 
few  acres  in  one  corner  was  then  under 
cultivation,  hut  soon  acre  after  acre  was 
placed  under  the  plow  until  it  was  all  broken. 
Hi-  first  home  wa-  a  -mall  frame  re-idei 
which  in  later  year-  was  replaced  by  a  more 
commodious  dwelling.  He  also  built  a 
large  barn,  set  out  fruit  and  shade  trees, 
and  made  many  other  valuable  improve- 
ments upon  the  place.  He  also  owned  an- 
other farm  of  one  hundred  acre-,  which  i- 
now  the  property  of  hi-  son,  Joseph  T.,  and 

15 


in  connection  with  general  farming  he  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  raising  of  cattle, 
!'.•  irses,  sheep  and  hi  g 

Mr.  Maddox'-  first  wife,  who  was  to  him 
a  faithful  companion  and  helpmeel  for 
thirty-eight  year-,  died  June  13,  1880,  leav- 
ing three  children,  namely:  John  \\  ..  who 
1-  now  carrying  on  a  ranch  in  Colorado; 
Joseph  T.,  whose  sketch  appears  el-ewherc 
in  this  work;  and  Nancy  Jane, wife  of  James 
Hall,  a  farmer  of  llallville.  DeWitt  count). 
Mr.  Maddox  was  again  married  in  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  July  14.  [881,  hi-  -croud 
union  being  with  Miss  Ann  Sumner,  who 
was  Lorn  in  the  same  neighborhood  a-  her 
husband  in  Gibson  county,  Indiana,  but 
was  reared  in  Logan  county,  this  state,  and 
prior  to  the  death  of  hi-  first  wife  lived  in 
the  family  for  some  year-. 

Politically  Mr.  Maddox  has  been  a  life- 
long Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  Martin  Van  Buren  in  1X40. 
lie  has  never  missed  a  presidential  election 
since  that  time  though  he  once  had  to  he  car- 
ried to  the  polls  on  account  of  a  broken  leg. 
For  three  consecutive  terms  he  was  an  influ- 
ential member  of  the  county  hoard  of  super- 
visors and  served  on  several  important  com- 
mittee-, lie  ha-  also  filled  the  offices  of 
highway  commissioner  and  school  director, 
and  has  ever  made  a  faithful  and  efficient 
officer.  Religiously  his  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church, 
and  both  are  highly  respected  and  esteemed 
by  all  who  km  >vv  them. 


J(  IHN  HENRY  McCORD. 

(  hie  of  the  most  beautiful  a  ntntry  hi  imes 
I  >e\\  itl  county  i-  that  of  John   1 1.   Mc- 
ilture  and  artistic  taste  of  it- 


330 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


cupants  being  reflected  in  its  appointments, 
while  .1  gracious  hospitality  adds  a  charm  to 
its  material  comforts.  Mr.  McCord,  who  is 
a  successful  farmer  and  stock-dealer  oi 
Santa  Anna  township,  was  born  December 
Hi.  [838,  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides, 
and  is  the  only  child  of  William  Young  and 
1  [arriel  1  Weedman  )   McCord. 

(  In  the  paternal  side  he  traces  his  ances- 
try hark  to  Robert  MacCord,  a  highlander 
and  chief  of  his  clan,  who  was  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Killecrankie  Pass,  Scotland,  aboul 
[689,  during  the  rebellion.  I  lis  son,  John 
MacCord,  the  next  in  direct  descent  in  our 
subject,  took  part  in  numerous  wars  and 
died  in  Scotland  about  [715  or  1717.  I  lis 
sons  were  John,  David,  William,  Robert, 
Samuel.  Benjamin  and  James,  who  after 
their    father's   death    went    to   Stew  artSt  >w  n. 

mtj  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  about  17-'" 
John,  David  and  William  came  to  the  new 
world  and  located  in  Pennsylvania.  John 
later  removed  to  North  Carolina,  while 
David  and  William  were  killed  by  the  In- 
dians. The  coat  of  arms  of  tins  family  was 
a  shield  i.f  gold  and  black  and  white,  with 
three  hearts  and  three  lance  heads  on  it.  sur- 
mounted by  a  closr,i  helmet.  Families  of 
this  name  still  reside  in  County  Tyrone,  Ire- 
land, and  all  are  Presbyterians. 

James  McCord,  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  County  Tyrone,  Ire- 
land, in  1739,  and  was  four  years  "Id  when 
he  came  to  America  with  his  father.  Robert 
McCord,  who  was  one  of  the  seven  brothers 
previously  mentioned.  After  the  death  of 
their  father  these  brothers  changed  the  fam- 
ily name  from  MacCord  \<>  McCord.  James 
McCord  spent  his  early  life  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  from  there  went 
io  Wilkes  county,  North  Carolina,  where  he 
married   Miss  Jane   Scroggs,   who   was   also 


oi  Scotch  descent.  Subsequently  he  removed 
to  Iredell  county,  the  same  state,  and  from 
there  to  Overton  county.  Tennessee,  where 
he  died  November  4.  [824.  He  served  as 
general  wagonmaster  in  the  Revolutionary 
war  under  Washington,  llis  wife  died  No- 
vember t_\  [789. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
nine  children,  one  of  whom  was  lames  Mc- 
Cord. the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  lie 
was  born  in  Wilkes  county,  North  Carolina, 
February  22,  1 77<>.  and  was  married  in 
(  Iverton  county.  Tennessee,  March  29,  1X04, 
to  Miss  Mary  Moore,  a  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Sarah  t  Smith  I  Moore,  the  former  of 
Welsh  and  the  latter  .  if  Scotch  descent.  I  ler 
lather  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  and  during  the 
Revolutionary  war  made  canteens  for  the 
army.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McCord  located  at  Peterman's  Bend  on  the 
()hies  river  in  Overton  county,  Tennessee, 
where  all  their  children  were  horn.  About 
1  Si  -  they  removed  to  Spring  (reek,  and  in 
1832  came  to  DeWitl  county,  Illinois,  locat- 
ing on  a  farm  in  DeWitt  township  now 
owned  by  S.  J.  Thomas.  At  that  time  there 
were  only  six  families  in  that  locality,  these 
being  Dennis  Hurley,  John  Weedman.  Rich- 
ard Kirby,  William  Daley,  Robert  Cum- 
mings,  James  M.  Porter,  who  were  supposed 
to  be  the  original  settlers.  The  first  home  of 
the  McCord  family  was  a  double  log  house 
with  a  hall  through  the  center  and  a  fireplace 
at  each  end.  In  later  years  this  was  replaced 
by  a  good  frame  residence,  which  is  still 
standing.  I  [ere  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject  died  December  ,}.  [852,  and  his  wife, 
who  was  horn   in  Granville  county,   North 

rolina,  October  29,  \jj<).  passed  away 
May  23,  [858.  Their  children  were  Charles  ; 
James  W. :  William  Y..  the  father  of  our 
subject;     Mi's.     Sarah     Pool;    Mrs.    Martha 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


33i 


Shinkle;  Mrs.  Hannah  Wakefield  and  John, 

twins:  Mrs.  Mary  Heath:  and  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Brown. 

William  V.  McCord  was  horn  in  Over- 
ton county,  Tennessee,  October  29,  1816, 
and  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval  to  DeWitt  county.  In  1837  he  en- 
tered eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  31, 
Santa  Anna  township,  where  our  sub j eel 
now  lives,  and  to  that  tract  he  added  until  he 
had  two  hundred  acres.  Hi-  first  heme. 
which  was  a  small  house,  was  destroyed  by 
tire  in  iSn_>.  and  he  then  erected  a  commodi- 
ous and  hands,  mie  brick  residence — one  of 
the  largest  and  finest  in  the  county.  He  cut 
black  walnut  timber  and  had  it  kiln  dried  for 

the  inside   w 1   work,   making  an  elegant 

finish,  as  it  is  all  hand  work  and  is  still  in  a 
fine  condition.  In  186]  he  set  cut  fruit  and 
shade  trees,  which  now  spread  wide  their 
branches  and  add  greatly  to  the  beauty  and 
attractive  appearance  of  the  place.  This  de- 
lightful home  is  t>n  a  natural  elevation,  one 
mile  west  of  Farmer  City,  and  it  invariably 
attracts  the  eye  of  the  passing  traveler.  In 
early  days,  after  his  crops  were  harvested, 
William  V.  McCord  used  to.  take  much  en- 
joyment with  his  neighbors  in  hunting,  and 
owned  several  tine  horse-  to  be  used  on  such 
occasions,  lie  was  a  fine  rifle  shot,  and  deer 
and  other  wild  game  was  then  plentiful.  He 
and  his  neighbors  would  club  together  to  rid 
the  country  of  the  wolves  which  killed  their 
Stock,  ami  he  i-  -aid  to  have  brought  down 
more  deer  and  wolves  than  any  other  man  in 
this  section  of  the  state.  lie  fenced  off  a 
park  upon  John  Weedman'*  farm,  in  which 
he  kept  over  twenty  deer.  When  young  ami 
getting  a   -tart    in   life  he  often   hauled   his 

produce  to  Chicago,  ami   then  took   g 1- 

from  there  to  St.  Louis  by  wagon,  a-  that 
was  the  only  means  of  transportation  at  that 
time.     It  required  ab  Ut  three  weeks  to  make 


these  trips.  In  company  with  John  Weed- 
man.  Jr.,  he  erected  a  flouring  mill  at  a  cost 
of  twenty  thousand  dollars — the  tir-t  in 
Farmer  City,  it  being  located  near  the  pr< 
rut  water  work-,  but  after  running  it  nine 
year-  he  disposed  of  hi-  interests,  and  later 
it  was  destroyed  bj  lire.  Mr.  McCord  was  a 
Stanch  Republican  and  took  a  very  active 
and  prominent  part  in  political  affair-,  lie 
served  as  town-hip  assessor  a  number  of 
year-,  during  which  time  the  Indianapolis, 
Bloomington  &  Peoria  Railroad,  now  known 
as  the  Big  Four,  was  built,  and  he  wa-  one 
of  the  directors  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
lie  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  twenty 
years,  and  assessor  seventeen  years,  ami  his 
official  duties  were  always  discharged  with 
credit  to  himself  ami  to  the  entire  -atisfac- 
tion  of  his  constituents.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  farmer  City,  with  which  he  was  officially 
connected,  and  gave  liberally  to  the  erection 
of  both  the  old  and  new  churches.  As  a  citi- 
zen of  the  community  in  which  he  so  long 
lived  and  was  so  active,  he  was  highly  re- 
spected for  his  genuine  worth,  enjoyed  the 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  him  and  was  re- 
garded as  a  man  of  excellent  judgment. 

On  the  Nth  of  February,  [838,  William 
Y.  McCord  married  Mi--  Harriet  Weed- 
man,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  i  Wil- 
son) Weedman.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1700.  and  wa-  a  -on  of 
Weedman.  who  was  of  German  and 
English  extraction.  At  an  early  day  John 
Weedman  removed  to  Ohio;  and  in  [830 
came  t.  ■  1 11  i it  .i-.  li  eating  in  Rand,  ilph  ( in  i\  e, 
McLean  county,  first,  but  settling  in  Hur- 
ley's Grove,  Santa  Anna  township,  DeWitt 
county,  in  [835.  Here  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  as  a  farmer  and  -tock- 
raiser  and  died  at  an  advanced  age.  He 
married  Rachel  Wilson,  a  daughter  of  Asa 


33  = 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Wilson,  who  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and 
from  that  state  removed  to  Ohio  and  later 
to  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weedman  had  ten 
children,  namely:  Asa,  Harriet,  George, 
Amos,  John,  Isaiah.  Luanda.  Eliza  E.,  Za- 
dok  and  Thomas  S.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject died  January  [8,  [880,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three,  and  the  mother  in  September, 
i  S< 1 7 .  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 

Reared  on  the  home  [arm,  John  II.  Mc 
Cord  acquired  his  elementary  education  in  a 
log  school  house  of  the  neighborhood,  and 
later  attended  the  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington  for  one  year.  Hi-  life  has 
been  di  i  farming  and  stock-raising, 

with  the  exception  of  the  nine  years  when  he 
was  with  his  father  in  the  milling  busim 
at  Farmer  City.  II*  succeeded  to  the  old 
homestead,  and  has  added  to  it  until  he  now 
owns  three  hundred  and  twent)  acres  of 
land,  under  a  higli  state  of  cultivation.  The 
fields.  de\  i  >;ed  u  i  the  raising  of  grain, he  m  iw 
rents,  while  he  keeps  the  pasture  laud  for 
his  st<  ick,  de\  i  'tin-  his  entire  time  and  atten- 
tion to  the  raisin-  of  standard-bred  hoi 
and  a  high  grade  of  cattle.    H  nnually 

threi  ds  of  cattle  and  In  igs  for 

the  market. 

Mr.  McCord  has  been  twice  married,  his 
tirst   wife  being  Miss  Sarah  A.   Slick.      Her 
grandparents.   Philip  and   Mary   (Panteli 
Slick,  were  earl)   settlers  of  (his  state,  where 
the    former   died   at    the  age   of   sevent) 
years,    the   latter   at    the   age   of   eighty-two. 
Their     children     were      Thomas,     William. 
Isaiah.   Samuel.  John.   Margaret   and   Mary. 
Thomas  Slick.   Mrs.   McCord"  s   father,  was 
horn    in    Frederick   county.    Maryland,   and 
wedded  Miss  Rachel  Moss,  also  a  nativt 
that     state    and    a    daughter   of    Lewis   and 
Elizabeth    (Dill)    Moss.      They    settled    in 
Santa    Anna    township.    DeWitt   county,    in 

j.  and  ten  vears  later  removed  to  Farmer 


City,  where  Mr.  Slick  died  in  1889,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one  years,  hut  his  wife  is 
still  living.  They  had  eight  children,  iiame- 
1\  :  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Wisegarver,  Mrs.  Aman- 
da Thew  .  1  lamilt<  >n.  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Met  '<  >rd, 
Mis.  Eliza  Graft,  Mrs.  Almeda  Weedman, 
Mrs.  Jane  Cook  and  Marion  I  >.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Cord, who  was  horn  in  [840,  died  August 
1SS4.  leaving  three  children,  as  follows: 
1  1  1  Lora  Xettie.  now  deceased,  married 
William  A.  Cummings  and  had  five  children, 
I  ikv.  Vida,  Shannah,  Laura  and  Harriet. 
>  _•  1  William  II..  after  graduating  at  the 
Farmer  City  high  school,  entered  the  Illi- 
nois University  at  Champaign,  where  he 
graduated  in  mechanical  engineering,  and 
then  went  to  California  to  follow  his  pro- 
fession. I  le  at  i  ipidly  that  he  soon 
found  it  advisable  to  take  a  more  advanced 
course,  and  for  that  purpose  attended  Stan- 
ford University  of  California,  where  he  was 
also  graduated,  lie  is  now  superintendent 
of  a  verj  large  gold  mine  near  Nevada  City, 
California,  lie  married  Frances  Black  and 
they  have  one  son,  John  Thomas.  (3)  Ruin- 
is  at  home  with  her  father.  For  his  second 
wife  Mi.  McCord  married  Miss  Annie  Lee, 
daughter  of  Clinton  Lee.  and  to  them  have 
been  horn  two  children.  John  Merle  and  Inez. 
Socially  Mr.  McCord  1-  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  and  religiously 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  steward 
and  trustee.  The  Republican  party  has  al- 
ways found  in  him  an  ardent  supporter,  hut 
he  has  never  cared  for  political  honors, 
has  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  straightfor- 
ward, honorable  business  man.  and  his  ad- 
vice and  counsel  are  often  sought  by  his 
neighbors  and  many  friends,  ivho  recogfiize 
his  ability  and  sound  judgment  in  business 
affairs.  He  is  a  man  of  influence  in  his 
community  and  quite  popular. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


333 


kCKLEY  &  COMPANY. 

The    firm    of    Cackle)   &  Company  are 

]>r.  ■prit-t-  -r>  of   what   is  known   as   the 

i  on  the  east  side  of  the  square, 
which  is  the  la-  eery,  provision  and 

meat    market    establishment     ii"t     only     in 

nton  but  in   DeWitt  comity.     Both 
men  of  -  qualities,  who-,  -  in 

life  is  due  entirely  to  their  own  well-directed 

rts.      By      straightforward,      honorable 

'ing  they  have  built  up  an  excellent 
trade,  and  rank  to-day  among  the  leading 
business  men  <  if  the  city. 

T.   W.  Cackley,  the  senior  member 
the  firm,   was  b>rn   in    Pocohontas  county. 
Virginia.  May   10.    :  857  F. 

Cackley,  df  this  county.     At    the    age    of 
thirteen  years  he  lost  his  mother,  and  com- 
menced  clerking   for   his   uncle,   in   wh 
employ   he   remained   t\  -       He   next 

accepted  a  position  with  Wilson  &  Com- 
pany, grocers,  as  clerk  in  the  t  which 
he  is  now  one  of  the  proprietors,  and  re- 
mained with  that  firm  eleven  years.  Dur- 
g  this  time  he  saved  enough  money  with 
which   to  embark   in   business    tor  himself. 

iblishing  the  first  free  delivery  retail  oil 
>s  in  Clinton,  and  built  up 
trade.  With  the  assistance  of  his  uncle  he 
purchased  a  team  and  fitted  up  a  delivery 
wagon,  and  continued  to  successfully  fol- 
low that  bu<ines-  for  five  years,  during  the 
last  year  of  which  he  cleared  three  thou- 
sand dollars.  With  Thomas  L.  Kelly  he 
then  purchased  the  Ixn.t  and  shoe  store 
1).  <i.  day.  and  carried  on  business  where 
Latterty   &   Company   is   now    located   until 

13,  when  he  sold  out.     In  January.  18 
he  and  Mr.  Kelly  bought  out  L.  Watt,  who 
conducted  a  small  grocery  at  their  present 
location,  and  started  in  that  business   with 


;t  thirty-eight  hundred  dol- 
lars, but  to-day  their  <t'*.k  and  fixtures 
amount  to  ten  thousand.      Their  store  build- 

-  erected  by  C.  H.  Ml 
and  was  tirst  occupied  by  Mr.  Crosby,  and 
later  by  Wilson  &  Company,  and  still  later 
by  L.  Watt.     Since  it  came  into  sion 

of  Cackley  ec  Company  it  has  been  remod- 

I  and  enlarged.  I  tended  to  Mon- 

roe- streel  -  that  it  i>  now  one  hundred 
and  thirty-two  feet  deep  and  twenty-two 
feet  wide.  It  has  a  tine  concrete  basement 
with  cold  si  S  nd  elevator,  and  is  fitted 
up  with   the  latest   improvements,   such 

ers.  marble  ectric  fans,  etc.     In 

connection  with  the  meat  market  the  firm 
carry   all   kinds   of  poultry    and    game    in 

-  'ii.  They  have  the  finest  window  dis- 
play of  any  gri  >cerv  in  the  city,  and  their 
floors    are   rat    proof.     They   have   quite 

trade,  in  addition  to  their 
retail  business,  and  employ  fourteen  assist- 
ants.  while  two  double  teams  with  tine  deliv- 
erv  wagons  are  kept  in  constant  use. 

Mr.  Cackley  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  5  lie  J.  Phares,  daughter  of 
John  A.  Phares.  whose  sketch  appears  on 
another  page  of  this  volume.  Our  subject 
purchased  the  Cro-by  property  on  East 
Washington  street,  and  when  the  old  house 
standing  thereon  was  destroyed  by  fire  he 
built  a  tine,  large,  modern  residence  and  re- 
modled  the  stable,  making  a  very  desirable 
place.  He  is  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge, 
chapter,  council  and  commandery  of  the 
Masonic  order,  and  in  connection  with  his 
win  50  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star 

chapter  of  the  same  fraternity.  He  has 
been  president  of  the  blue  lodge  ten  years. 
In  his  religion-  views  lie  i-  a  Presbyterian, 
and  in  polil  stanch   Republican. 

Thomas  L.  Kellv.  of  the  firm  ><i  Cack- 


334 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ley  &  Company,  was  born  in  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  January  [2,  [844,  his  parents 
being  John  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Sharp) 
Kelly.  The  father  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
Jive  years,  but  the  mother  is  still  living  and 
now  makes  her  home  with  her  son  in  Clin- 
ton. In  the  family  were  seven  children,  of 
whom  Wesley  also  resides  in  Clinton. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  Thomas  L. 
Kellv  commenced  learning  photography,  but 
not  liking  the  business,  he  soon  turned  his 
attention  to  farming,  which  he  followed 
four  years,  lie  next  clerked  in  a  grocery 
stoic  iii  Lexington.  Kentucky,  five  years, 
and    after   coming   to   Clinton,     Illinois,     in 

[878,  followed  the  same  pursuit  with   Reu 
lien  Sackett   for  a  year  and  a  half.      In  part- 
nership  with   his  brother   he   then   opened   a 
restaurant,  which   they  conducted   under  the 
linn    name    of    Kelly     Brothers    until     [889. 

The     following    year    he    became    connected 

with  T.  W.  Cackle)    in  tin-  1 1  and  shoe 

business,  as  previouslj  stated,  and  together 
they  have  since  carried  on  operations.  \\  ith 
Mr.  tarter  he  laid  out  the  Kelly  addition 
to  Clinton,  having  purchased  ten  acres  oi 
land  of  C.  II.  Mo.. re.  In  j886  he  built  the 
present  Mclntire  cottage  on  West  Washing- 
ton street,  and  the  following  year  erected  the 
pleasant  residence  he  now  occupies  at  the 
crner  of  Washington  and  North  Center 
streets,  which  was  formerly  a  business  coi 
ner,  having  been  the  site  of  a  store,  tanyard 
and  blacksmith  shop, 

Mr.  Kelly  married  Miss  Fanny  M.  Ad- 
ams, a  native  of  Clark  county,  Kentucky, 
anil  a  daughter  of  John  Q.  Adams.  In  his 
political  affiliation  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in 
his  social  relations  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent <  >rder  of  Foresters  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  having  served  as  chancellor  and 
represented  his  lodge  in  the  grand  lodge  of 
the  latter  order.      Like  his   partner   in  busi- 


ness, Mr.  Kelly  is  a  self-made  man,  and 
both  deserve  great  credit  for  the  sueeess 
that  they  have  achieved  in  life. 


W.   SO  >TT  HARROLD. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  farm- 
ers and  stock-raisers  of  W'apella  township 
is  W.  Scott  Harrold,  who  owns  and  op- 
erates a  line  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty-one  acres,  pleasantly  located  on  sec 
tion  .}_'  within  two  miles  of  the  village  of 
W'apella.  Me  is  a  native  of  this  county, 
horn  on  the  old  home  farm  near  where  he 
now  resides,  January  8,  1841;,  and  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  a  prominent  pio- 
neer family. 

Isam  Harrold,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  horn  in  North  Carolina  in  1N15, 
and  was  a  son  of  Jonathan  Harrold,  who 
removed  with  his  family  to  Virginia  in 
1825,  and  a  few  years  later  went  to  Indiana. 
where  he  opened  up  a  farm,  making  his 
home  there  for  a  few  years.  In  [833  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  made  a  permanent  lo 
cation  near  Waynesville,  DeWitt  county. 
Mere  Lain  llarrold  entire. 1  several  tracts 
of  land,  including  that  owned  and  occupied 
by  our  subject,  and  from  the  wild  land  de- 
veloped a  good  farm  in  W'apella  township, 
becoming  one  of  the  most  substantia]  agri- 
culturists ,,f  his  community.  Me  wedded 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Lisenhy.  who  was  horn  in 
Monroe  county.  Kentucky,  hut  was  reared 
in  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  from  the  age  of 
nine  years,  her  father.  Alexander  Lisenhy, 
being  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  region, 
having  located  here  the  winter  of  the  deep 
snow.  Mr.  Harrold  died  February  -•<>. 
1893,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  Sep- 
tember,  [891,  both  heing  laid  to  rest  in  the 
Crum  cemetery. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


-  :t  Harrold,  of  this  review,  is  the  only 
son  ami  fourth  in  order  "t"  birth  in  their 
family  <<i  six  children,  the  Others  being 
Louisa,  wife  of  J.  II.  Farris,  of  Washing- 
ton county,  I«>\\a:  Rebecca,  wife  of  Allied 
Wilson,  "f  Wapella  township,  this  county: 
Ruth,  wife  of  J.  H.  Borders,  of  the  same 
township;  Mr-.  Nancy  Troxel,  a  widow, 
who  owns  the  old  home  farm  but  now  re- 
sides in  Normal,  Illinois:  and  Laura,  wife 
of  C.  J.  Riddle,  a  thrifty  farmer  of  Wapella 
township. 

On  the  old  home  farm  our  subject  grew 
to  manhood,  and  obtained  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood  and 
the  schools  of  Wapella.  During  his  minor- 
ity he  gave  his  father  the  benefits  of  his 
labor,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  took 
charge  of  the  farm.  After  his  marriage  be 
located  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides, 
built  a  good  residence,  barn  and  outbuild- 
ings and  made  many  other  improvements 
which  add  greatly  to  the  value  and  attract- 
ive appearance  of  the  place.     In  addition  to 

eral  farming  he  carries  on  stock-raising 
with  marked  success,  and  i-  to-day  one  of 
the  nn  >st  prosperous  ami  substantial  citizens 
of  Wapella  township. 

Mr.  Harrold  has  been  twice  married, 
bis  tirst  wife  being  Miss  Eveline  Cantrell, 
who  was  born  in  Waynesville  township,  this 
county,  and  died  here  June  i_\  1885,  leav- 
ing three  children,  namely:  Roy  M..  who 
i-  now  married  and  engaged  in  farming  in 
this  county:  I'.erzie  A.,  who  was  educated  at 
the  Clinton  high  school  and  the  State  Nor- 
mal School,  at  Normal,  Illinois,  and  i-  now 
one  of  the  successful  teachers  of  DeWitt 
county:  and    Bernice,   at   home. 

On  the  30th  of  December,  [886,  Mr. 
Harrold  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Alice  King,  also  a  native  of  DeWitt  count)', 
and   a  daughter  of   Robert    King,   who   was 


one  of  the  early  settlers  here.  She  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Waynes- 
ville and  LeRoy  ami  the  State  Normal 
School,  and  prior  to  her  marriage  SUCO 
fully  engaged  in  teaching  for  several  years. 
The  children  born  of  this  union  are  Helen 
and  Welby  K.  Mr-.  Harrold  i-  an  earnest 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of   Wapella  and   its   auxiliary   societies,   and 

in  active   worker  in  the  Sunday-school. 

The  Republican  party  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  Harrold  a  stanch  supporter  of  its 
principle-  since  he  cast  hi-  tirst  presidential 
vote  for  General  I".  S.  Grant  in  [872,  but 
he  ha-  never  cared  for  office,  preferring  to 
give  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  affairs.  He  was  elected,  however, 
and  efficiently  served  as  president  of  the 
board  of  township  trustees  for  some  years, 
and  he  has  never  withheld  his  support  from 
any  enterprise  having    for    its    object    the 

d  of  tin'  community  in  which  he  lives. 
He  has  witnessed  the  wonderful  develop- 
ment and  progress  that  has  been  made  in 
this  section  of  the  state  during  the  past  half 
century,  and  has  ever  borne  bis  part  in  the 
work  of  upbuilding,  s, ,  that  he  is  accounted 
one  of  the  most  useful  and  valued  citizens 
of  Wapella  township. 


ARTHUR    M(  >ORE. 


Arthur  Moore,  of  Clinton,  is  the  only 
son  of  the  late  C.  II.  Moore,  who  w; 
many  year-  prominently  identified  with  the 
interests  of  Clinton,  and  i-  represented  on 
another  page  of  this  volume.  Our  subject 
wa-  born  in  Tremont,  Tazewell  county,  Il- 
linois. September  28,  [846,  but  was  reared 
in  Clinton,  a-  the  family  removed  to  this 
during  his  childhood.      He  received  a 


336 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


g !   collegiate   education   and   a   thorough 

business  training,  his  time  being  de- 
voted to  assisting  his  father  in  looking 
ter  his  agricultural  interests  when  not  in 
school,  IK-  gave  such  strict  attention  to 
business  that  on  attaining  his  majority  he 
was  well  prepared  to  begin  the  battle  of 
life  for  himself,  having  made-  a  close  study 
of  the  precepts  and  practice-  of  our  ah 
financiers.  Preferring  an  independent  ca- 
reer, he  accepted  a  position  with  Magill 
Brothers  at  twelve  dollars  per  month  and 
board,  much  against  In-  father's  wishes, 
hut  ere  long  was  prevailed  upon  t"  enter 
his  father's  office  a-  private  secretary.  Later 
he  was  made  superintendent  of  his  father'- 
vast  estate,  having  charge  of  In-  farms, 
stock,  etc.  lie  oversaw  the  laying  of  i 
five  hundred  miles  of  tiling,  but  this  ne< 
sitated  his  being  out  in  all  kind-  of  weather. 
which  finally  impaired  hi-  health  and 
was  compelled  t"  seek  a  change  of  climate. 
Since  hi-  father'-  death,  however,  he  has 
made  hi-  heme  uninterruptedly  in  Clinton, 
that  he  may  have  better  control  of  the  vast 
interests  left  t.>  him.  Here  he  owns  a  beau- 
tiful residence,  which  was  begun  bj  hi-  la- 
ther and  i-  constructed  of  brick.  In  [854 
the  real'  wall  was  blown  down,  but  wa-  re- 
built the  following  year,  ami  in  1867  the 
building  wa-  enlarged  and  improved,  mak- 
ing a  commodious  and  hand-Mine  residence, 
1. ne  ..I  the  finest  in  the  country.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  spacious  and  well-kept  lawn 
and  shady  walk-  and  drives.  In  his  hi 
farm  Mr.  Moore  ha-  -i\  hundred  acre-  of 
land,  and  this  i-  only  one  pf  the  main  line 
farm-  which  he  own-  in  DeWitt  county. 
lie  has  always  been  a  very  active  and  ener- 
getic man.  and  has  been  able  to  carry  for- 
ward to  a  successful  completion  whatever 
he  has  undertaken. 

The  highly  accomplished  lady  who  now 


hears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Moore  was  in  her 
maidenhood  Miss  Mary  C.  Piper,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Orlando  F.  and  Mary  V  1  Hawkins) 
Piper,  "f  Macomb,  McDonough  county,  Il- 
linois. Her  father  was  born  in  Palestine, 
Illinois,  and  from  there  removed  to  La 
Porte,  Indiana.  lie  died  at  Macomb  in  the 
fall  mi'  [890,  at  the  age  of  seyent}  eight 
years,  hut  the  mother  is  still  living  at  the 
age  of  seventy-three.  They  were  tin-  par- 
ent- mi'  eight  children,  namely:  Edward, 
deceased;  Mice  1'..;  Mary  C. ;  Annie,  de 
ceased;  Walter  I...  deceased;  Charles  \V.. 
deceased;  Lewis;  and  Orlando  II.  The 
three  -mii-  and  one  daughter  died  of  typhoid 
ic\cw  hut  at  different  time-.  Mr.  Moore's 
home  ha-  been  a  very  happy  one.  lie  has 
always  taken  great  pride  in  keeping  high 
grade  cattle  and  horses,  and  ha-  -Mine  line 
specimens  upon  hi-  place.  Public  affairs 
have  claimed  his  attention  at  different 
times,  and  he  ha-  served  a-  deputy  sheriff 
under  Thomas  Gardner.  In  [900  he  was 
elected  county  surveyor  and  made  J.  S 
Brown  hi-  deputy,  lie  take-  a  deep  inter- 
est in  everything  pertaining  to  the  public 
welfare  of  his  city  and  county,  ami  with- 
hold- hi-  support  from  no  enterprise  cal- 
culated to  prove  m|'  public  benefit. 


FAMES  HIRST. 


lame-  llir-t.  a  prominent  retired  farmer 
now  living  in  Farmer  City,  ha-  been  a  resi- 
lient of  DeWitt  county  since  i<\-v  He  was 
born  near  Leeds,  England,  January  X.  iS_>N. 
and  i-  a  son  of  Edward  and  Hannah  llir-t. 
The  father  was  born  in  Huderslield.  near 
Hull,  and  belonged  to  a  good  old  English 
family.  He  served  in  the  army  under  the 
Duke  Mt'  Wellington,  and  participated  in  the- 


JAMES   HIRST. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


339 


battle  of  Water!. »i.  His  business  «;i~  that 
of  a  broadcloth  manufacturer.  In  1840  he 
came  to  America,  accompanied  by  his  wife 
and  nine  children.  His  wife  was  in  poor 
health,  and  believing  that  an  ocean  voyage 
ami  a  change  of  climate  would  prove  bene- 
ficial they  crossed  the  Atlantic,  but  she  died 
in  1842,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  Her 
birth  occurred  in  Dublin,  Ireland.  Her 
children  were:  John:  Mary,  who  remained 
in  England;  William;  Henry.  Edward,  who 
was  in  the  same  company  and  regiment  as 
our  subject,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Deep  Bottom,  Virginia,  August  i_\  1864, 
after  serving  three  years:  Eliza;  James; 
Eli;  Maria:  Hannah:  and  two  who  died 
in  infancy.  <  >ur  subject  and  his  sister, 
Maria,  are  the  only  ones  now  living.  She 
now  resides  in  Springfield,  Ohio.  For  his 
second  wife  the  father  married  a  Miss  Sams. 
by  whom  he  had  one  son.  George  W.  The 
lather  owned  and  operated  a  farm  in  Ed- 
wards county.  Illinois,  until  called  to  his 
final  rest  in  1846,  at  the  age  of  seventy  year-. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  emigration  to  the  United. 
State-,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Edwards 
count}'.  Illinois.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he 
went  to  Clark  county.  Ohio,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  1853,  and  then  cam< 
DeW'itt  county.  Illinois,  where  he  worked 
for  John  Weedman  until  his  marriage.  He 
then   rented   land   and   1    g  in    farm 

on    his   own    account    until    the    Civil    war 
broke  out. 

In  October,  1861,  Mr.  Hirst  enlisted  in 
mpany  I.  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  went  with  his  command  first 
to  St.  Louis.  Missouri,  from  there  to  W'ill- 
iamsport,  Maryland,  and  then  to  Hancock, 
Virginia,  taking  part  in  the  battle  at  that 
place.  He  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Win- 
chester, and  then   went  up  the  Shenandoah 


valley  to  Fredericksburg,  Virginia,  whence 
the  command  was  ordered  hack  to  ] ',  ,rt  Re- 
public, and  took  part  in  the  engagement  at 
that  place.  The  regiment  was  then  sent  to 
Harrison's  Landing  to  cover  McClelland's 
retreat,  and  subsequently  marched  to  York- 
town.  They  went  into  winter  quarters  at 
Suffolk,  and  the  following  spring  proceeded 

Port  Royal.  South  Carolina.  When  his 
regiment  veteranized  in  [863  he  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  disability  and  re- 
turned home,  having  fought  most  valiantly 
under  the  stars  and  stripes,  showing  great 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  his  adopted  country. 
\fter  his  return  home.  Mr.  Hirst  bought 

.mi  ..f  eight\"  acres  in  Santa  Anna  town- 
ship belonging  to  the  Jacob  Kirby  heirs,  and 
to  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  that 
place  he  devoted  his  energies  for  several 
years,  meeting  with  good  success  in  his 
farming  operations  and  accumulating  a  nice 
property.  He  still  owns  the  farm,  hut  in 
[897  he  removed  to  Farmer  City  and  pur- 
chased a  nice  residence  on  William  street. 
built  by  Edwin  Embry,  and  here  he  is  now 
living  a  retired  life,  enjoying  the  fruits  of 
former  toil.  He  deserves  great  credit  for 
the  success  that  lie  has  achieved  in  life,  hav- 
ing received  no  outside  aid  or  financial  as- 
sistance, but  being  a  man  of  sound  judg- 
ment and  good  business  ability,  he  has  stead- 
ily prospered  until  he  is  now  quite  well-to- 
Socially  he  is  a  prominent  and  influen- 
tial member  of  the  Grand  Army  l'ost  at 
Farmer  City,  in  which  he  has  tilled  offices, 
and  is  now  junior  vice-commander,  and  he 
gs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge.  No. 
710.  and  the  Independent  Order  of  <  )A<\ 
bellows,  both  of  Farmer  City. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1856,  Mr.  Hirst 
married  Miss  Ruby  Dart,  a  daughter  of 
Mrs.  Ruby  Dart.  By  this  union  were 
born    four    children:       William,    who    died 


34Q 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


in  infancy;  Frances,  of  Farmer  City; 
Mar)  I.,  of  Chicago;  and  James  Louis,  a 
farmer,  who  married  Emma  F.  I 'aye  and 
has  two  daughters,  Ruby  and  Lois.  The 
wife  of  our  subject  died  in  1863,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-four  years,  and  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, October  15.  c866,  his  second  union  be- 
ing with  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Kirby,  a  daughter 
of  Phineas  Page  and  widow  of  Jacob  Kirby, 

who  at  his  death  left  two  children.  William 
II.  and  Flora  E.  Mr>.  Hirst  died  March 
i_\  1898,  ai  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  By 
Ins  second  marriage  our  subjeel  hail  one 
daughter,  Winifred  Jane,  who  married 
Lewis  Rutledge  aftd  has  one  son,  Hirst  Rut- 
ledge,  who  is  Mr.  Hirst's  onlj  grandson. 

Hirst  Rutledge  traces  his  ancestry  back 
to  Thomas  and  Sarah   (Officer)    Rutledge, 

wlio  were  of  English  and   Irish  descent.    The 

former,  a  native  of  Georgia,  hnt  was  a  n 
denl  of  Kentucky  while  serving  as  ,1  ranger 

in  the  war  of  iSu,  and  at  an  early  day  came 
to  Illinois.  \fter  living  for  some  time  in 
White  county,  he  removed  to  McLean  coun- 
ty in  [828,  and  there  died  two  years  later, 
at  the  aye  of  sixty-two.  Mis  wife  survived 
him  about  thirteen  years.  They  were  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  including:  Cynthia, 
Jane.  Robert,  Officer,  Mark  and  William 
Jackson. 

William  Jackson  Rutledge,  just  men- 
tioned, was  horn  in  White  county.  Illinois. 
June  23,  (8l6.  lie  had  \er\  little  oppOT 
trinity  to  attend  school,  hut  nature  did  much 
for  him.  and  he  was  a  fine  man  in  every 
sense.  Through  his  own  efforts  he  became 
a  well-educated  man  and  successful  farmer. 
In  early  life  he  assisted  in  the  support  of  his 
mother  and  the  younger  members  of  the  fam- 
ily until  nineteen  years  of  aye.  He  then 
married  Eliza  Duffield,  who  died  three  years 
later,  leaving  two  children:  Martha  J.,  de- 
ceased; and  John  Allen,  the  grandfather  of 


Hirst  Rutledge.  The  father  of  these  chil- 
dren was  again  married  in  1839,  his  second 
union  being  with  Mary  YanDevender, 
daughter  of  Jacob  VanDevender.  Mr.  Rut- 
ledge died  at  the  age  of  sixty  six  years.  He 
w  as  1  me  <  >f  the  pn  iminent  anil  w  ell  -n  i-di  1  cit- 
izens of  his  community,  and  Rutledge  town- 
ship. DeWitt  county  .was  named  in  his 
honi  ir. 

John  Allen  Rutledge  succeeded  to  his 
father's  estate,  which  consisted  of  over  six 
hundred  acres,  and  successfully  followed 
farming  throughout  life,  lie  married  Miss 
Calistia  J.  ^.rbogast,  a  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Sarah  (Wood)  Arbogast,  and  she  still 
siir\i\cs  her  husband,  making  her  home  in 
Farmer  City.  The  children  horn  to  them 
wen'  as  follows;  t  1  )  Charles  Jasper  died 
young,  i  _•  1  George  V  wedded  Mary  J. 
Fuller  and  they  have  four  children.  Lula  I.. 
J.  Clyde,  \manda  and  David.  (3)Martha 
A.,  the  deceased  wife  of  A.  Huffman.  (4) 
William  J.  married  Lucy  Parvin  and  they 
have  four  children.  George,  Omer,  Cecil  A. 
and  I 'earl.  (5)  John  S.  married  ( 'larinda 
I.  Andrew.  (6)  Lewis  M.  married  Wini- 
fred J.  Hirst,  and  they  have  one  son,  I  hist. 
1  7  1  (  )llie  I  I.  is  the  wife  of  Flora  I  >Oty  and 
they  have  three  children.  Owen  M..  Arthur 
I;.,  and  Lott.  (8)  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of 
M.  B.  Kincaid.  (9)  Mamie  I),  is  the  wife 
of  C.  II.  Judd.  (  mi  One  son  died  in  in- 
fancy. 


LAFAYETTF.    I  ):■;    HOICK. 

This  well-known  resident  of  Clinton, 
who  was  one  of  the  first  men  to  make  a  suc- 
cess as  a  breeder  of  line  thoroughbred  trot- 
ting horses,  was  born  in  Johnson  county. 
Iowa,  February  8,  1853,  and  comes  of  good 
old     Revolutionary    stock,    being    a    great- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


34  1 


grandson  of  John  De  1  ><  'ico.  who  fought  for 
American  independence.  He  was  born  in 
Paris.  France,  May  15.  1750.  ami  came  to 
this  country  with  the  French  Huguenots 
who  were  driven  from  their  native  land  on 
account  "f  their  religious  belief.  He  set- 
tled in  Shaftsburg,  Vermont,  where  he  died 
in  i—<>i.  There  he  had  married  Amy  How- 
let,  who  was  horn  at  that  place  January  [2, 
1753.  and  died  in  [823.  The  only  known 
son  of  this  worthy  couple  was  William  Lud- 
low De  Boice,  the  grandfather  of  our  suh- 
ject.  He  wa-  married.  September  29,  [806, 
to  Philanda  Merrick,  of  Windham  county. 
Vermont.  She  was  horn  in  Dummerston, 
that  county.  April  i<).  17S4.  and  died  Feb- 
ruary 7.  [873.  They  had  one  son,  Will- 
iam II.  De  Boice,  who  was  horn  in  Onon- 
dagua  county.  New  York.  June  28,  1S10. 
and  died  in  Clinton.  Illinois,  in  1891.  On 
the  7th  of  March.  1858,  lie  married  Miss 
Annie  S.  Taylor,  of  Madison  county.  Ohio. 
who  was  horn  in  Bangor,  Maine.  Septem- 
ber 5,  [821.  The  children  horn  of  this 
union  were  William  Harrison,  who  died  in 
I  ronton.  Missouri,  January  3,  [862,  from 
injuries  received  in  the  war  of  the  Rehel- 
I1011 :  Frank  Marion,  who  was  injured  in  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg  and  died  at  Memphis. 
Tennessee,  January  18,  [863;  Amy  A.,  wife 
of  E.  Sylvester  Miller,  of  Clinton.  Illinois; 
Sylvia  Cerepita,  wife  of  Charles  Taylor,  of 
Mexico:  Annie  Marie,  wife  of  J.  Warner, 
of  Chicago;  and  Lafayette,  of  this  review, 
lor  his  second  wife  the  father  married  Mrs. 
Alma  Ward,  a  -ister  of  Peter  Hagle.  of 
Clinton.  She  i-  now  living  in  Springfield, 
Illinois.  By  this  marriage  were  horn  two 
children:  Fred  W..  a  resident  of  Kansas 
City;  and  Clara  Jane,  deceased  wife  oi 
Richard  I 'aimer.  In  early  life  the  father 
removed  to  Madison  county.  Ohio:  later 
went  to  Iowa,  and  in   [854  came  to  Clinton, 


Illinois.  He  purchased  the  Betzer  farm  in 
thi-  county,  which  he  improved,  hut  after 
owning  the  same  for  ten  years  he  sold  and 
bought  what  is  now  known  as  the  L.  Ab- 
bott farm.  This  he  disposed  of  in  [872, 
when  he  retired  from  active  labor  and  re- 
moved to  Clinton,  buying  the  Leader  prop- 
erty. He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
served  as  commissioner  of  his  town-hip  for 
a  time.  Socially  he  affiliated  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

It  was  during  the  infancy  of  our  subject 
that  the  family  came  to  DeWitt  county,  and 
until  seventeen  years  of  age  he  followed 
farming  here.  He  then  went  to  Kansas 
and  was  engaged  in  freighting  first  from 
Wichita  and  later  from  Wellington.  Cald- 
well and  Reno,  this  being  before  the  day  of 
railroads  in  the  west.  In  the  fall  of  1X71. 
he  returned  to  Clinton  and  was  connected 
with  the  Sylvester  mills  for  two  years,  hut 
failing  health  soon  forced  him  to  seek  out- 
door employment.  He  then  purchased  the 
William  •  '•.  Savage  farm  of  fifty  acres,  and 
turned  his  attention  to  the  raising  and  train- 
ing of  trotting  horses.  I  le  ha-  since  owned 
some  of  the  hest  breeds  in  the  state,  and 
usually  sells  from  ten  to  fifteen  annually. 
He  now  owns  the  noted  stallion.  Al.  Kone, 
which  is  one  of  the  finest  in  central  Illinois, 
and  which  was  purchased  by  him  in  [892 
when  two  years  old.  He  also  has  Edna 
Kone.  and  has  raised  Sadie  1).  and  Easter 
Lily,  besides  several  two.  three  and  four- 
year-olds,  which  he  -till  owns.  He 
eight  breeding  mares  and  keep-  hue  trot- 
ters on  hand  all  the  time.  Each  year  he 
has  a  regular  -ale.  He  has  won  races  in 
various  part-  of  the  -tate.  anil  wherever  his 
horses  have  been  entered  they  have  gained 
such  a  wide  reputation  that  large  crowds 
gather  to  see  them.  They  have  won  a  large 
percentage  of  the  race-  in  which  they  have 


342 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


been  entered,  His  fine,  large  stable  upon 
his  place  was  destroyed  bj  fire  in  i<)oo, 
and  he  has  since  used  the  stable  a1  the  Clin- 
ton Fair  grounds,  where  he  has  plenty  of 
opportunity  to  exercise  his  horses,  lie  em 
ploys  only  the  must  competenl  men  to  assist 
him  in  caring  for  his  horses,  but  he  breaks 
and  drives  all   of  them  himself. 

Mr.  De  Boice  married  Miss  Ida  Savage, 
a  daughter  of  William  Gibson  Savage,  de 

;ed,  who  was  one  of  the  esteemed  citi 
zens  of  Clinton,      lie  was  born  near   Lake 
Champlain,    New    York,    in    August,    i8n. 
Her  grandfather,  Gibson  Savage,  was  horn 
in    Xew    England,   of   Scotch    and    English 
parentage,  and   removed   to  Ohio  prior  to 
[820.      There  her  father  grew   to  manh< 
and     learned     the     tanner's      and      saddler's 
trades,  but  later  followed  farming  in  Cham- 
paign  county,   Ohio,   until    1849,    when   he 
came  to  DeWitl  county,  Illinois.     He  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits  for 
some    years    and    also    dealt    largel)    in    real 
estate,  especially   in  hnsiness  property,      lie 
amassed  quite  a   fortune,  and  died  honored 
and    respected    by    all    who   knew    him.      In 
August.    1835,  he  married   Miss   Sarah  Gid- 
eon. -I  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  who  was 
born  in  Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  Novem 
her  <  ■.   1N14.  and  is  a  daughter     '   Geot 
and      Elizabeth      1  Miller  1      Gideon.       She 
proved  a  valuable  counsellor  and  helpmeet 
to  her  husband,  ami  since  his  death  has  dis- 
played   much   hnsiness   ability    in    the   man- 
agement of  the  large  propert)  left  her.     She 
is  now   erecting  a  fine  residence  for  hersell 
in    Clinton.     Very    charitable   and   hem 
lent,    she   gives   liberally    to   all    enterprises 
calculated   to  advance    the     public     welfare. 
Mr.  and   Mrs.   De   II.  .ice  have  four  children: 
Sadie   (.'..   who   was  graduated    with   honors 
at   the  Clinton  high   school   in    1901  ;   Will- 
iam II.;  Edna;  and  Bennie. 


The  Republican  party  has  always  found 
in  Mr.  De  Boice  a  stanch  supporter  of  its 
principles,  and  he  is  now  efficiently  serving 
his  third  term  as  commissioner  of  high- 
ways. In  religious  beliel  he  is  a  Univer- 
s.dist.  ami  in  his  social  relations  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Uniform  Rank  of  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  United  Protective  League  and 
the   Masonic   fraternitv. 


Will  I  \.\l  I!.  LANE. 

It  requires  some  effort  of  the  imagina- 
tion and  the  authentic  stories  of  the  old  pio 
neers  t,,  enable  the  modern  tourist  to  associ- 
ate  the  smiling  fields  of  grain,  the  comfort- 
able homes  ami  varied  improvements  t.>  be 
found  in  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  with  the 
time  when,  hnt  a  few  \cars  ago,  this  was  a 
remote  frontier,  with  no  communication 
with  civilization  except  by  days  of  slow 
travel  over  trails  made  l.v  wild  beasts  or  In 
dians.  This  was  the  condition  of  the  land 
when  our  subject,  who  is  William  I'..  Lane, 
came   t. .  this   prosperous  O  >nntv  . 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Lane  was  in  Monroe 
comity.  Kentucky,  on  September  [6,  \Xjj. 
and  he  was  hnt  six  weeks  old  when  his  par- 
ents, who  were  Lzekiel  and  Talilha  Lane. 
came  t..  Hamilton  county,  Illinois.  Both  of 
them  were  natives  of  Tennessee,  who  after 
marriage  had  moved  to  Kentucky,  and  as 
indicated,  located  in  Illinois.  For  eighl 
years  they  engaged  in  farming  in  Hamilton 
county,  hnt  in  1835,  Mr.  Lane  walked  all 
the  distance  to  Danville,  and  there  entered 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  governmenl 
land  in  what  is  now  DeWitt  comity,  and  in 
what  was  later  named  (reek  township.  For 
many  years  Ezekiel  Lane  was  known  to  the 
people   of    this    neighborhood    as    a    faithful 


CO 

r 
> 

2 

m 

> 
z 

D 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


minister  in  the  New  Light  church,  and  lxith 
he  and  his  wife  were  known  as  kind,  good 
neighbors,   among  the  early   settlers.      Mr. 

lane  died  at  the  aye  of  fifty-two  years,  his 
wife  passing  away  at  tl       g       i  forty-two. 

ir  of  their  eight  children  still  survive. 
these  being:  Tillmon,  a  resident  of  Lane: 
William  IV.  our  subject;  Marinda,  the 
widow  of  John  St>>ne.  an  early  settler  of  this 
county,  and  now  resides  with  a  daughter  in 

\V 1    River,    Nebraska:    and    Mary    Ann. 

who  married  Jerry  Lane,  now  living  in  Lane. 
Mir. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject,  Will- 
iam P..  Lane,  was  necessarily  very  limited. 
The  school-house  was  made  of  logs  and  the 

canvas  which  supplied  the  lack 
window     -     -       admitted    more    cold    and 

in  than   light,  but  the  time  spent  there 
',   for  the  eager  little  student 
who  trudged  through  the  snow  during  the 
bitter  winter  weather,  only  regretting  that 
lie  *  -pared  from  the  farm  work  only 

a  few  day-  in  the  week.  However,  the  knowl- 
_  ■.•  now  I   by   Mr.   Lane  is  of  a 

practical  kind,  r  a  -     ciation  with 

men  of  affair-  has  developed  and  broadened 
his  st'  >re  •  if  infi  irmati<  »ri,  and  he  is  one  of  the 
intelligent  citizens  of  Lane. 

Early    in    life   our    subject    learned   the 
hardships  of  pioneer  farming,  and  for  many 
S      ultural  pursuits  ex- 
clusively.     In    the   meantime   the   town    of 
ne,  named  in  his  honor,  had  been  estab- 
lished on  a  portion  of  hi-  land,  and  in   it 
he  removed  thither  and  opened  up  a  grocery 
hich   he  nducted 

for  a  i>eriod  of  twelve  years,  since  which  he 
has  lived  in  comparative  retirement,  in  his 
pleasant  home  in  Lane.  His  means  are  am- 
ple, and  he  .  >w  ns  a  farm  <  if  .  me  hundred  acres 
in  Creek  township. 

Mr.   Lane  was   first  married   in    1 S 5  1    to 


Jane  Murphy,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Lieu- 
tenant Richard  Murphy,  who  was  killed  in 
the  Mexican  war.  and  seven  children  were 
born  to  this  union,  viz.:  Talitha,  who  mar- 
ried George   Peck,  and  resides  in  Color. 

ilorado,  and  has  two  children; 
E  rah,  who  is  the  widow  of  01<  >  'leson,  of 
Decatur,  has  five  children,  two  girl-  and 
thr©  Ezekiel,  who  conduct-  a  restaur- 

ant in  Clinton.  Illinois,  married  Julia  Kile- 
linger,  and  has  three  children:  John,  who 
reside-  at  Storm  Lake.  Iowa,  married  Annie 
Arnold,  and  has  four  children:  Louisa,  de- 
ceased, married  Fred  Wemple,  of  Texar- 
kana.  Arkansas,  and  left  one  child:  Lewi-, 
who  lives  at  Champaign.  Minois, 
in  the  railroad  business,  married  Susan  Mac- 
Mahon  and  has  four  children:  his  second 
marriage  being  t<  1  G  >ra  Frank,  fn  >ui  which 
lias  resulted  one  child:  and  Maggie,  who 
lives  in  Colorado  Springs,  the  wife  of  Henry 
Gouker,  and  they  have  two  children. 

In  1877  the  mother  of  these  children 
died,  and  the  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Lane 
was  on  October  17.  r88o,  to  Mrs.  Hannah 
Kranich,  who  was  the  widow  of  Alfred 
Kranich.      She         -  kiel 

Lisenby,  who  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and 
came  to  DeWitt  county  in  the  early  day- 
it-   settlement.      He  moved  to   Kansas  and 
there  his  wife  died  soon  after,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two,  but  he  survived  until  he 

ity-four  d.     Mrs.  Lane  is  one 

a  family  of  fifteen  children,  seven  of  whom 
are  yet   living,  although  no  others  have  lo- 
cated in  this  county.     By  her  first  marri 
was  born  one  daughter — Ida.  now    the  wife 
■  if  <  ie<  irge  St<  me,  of   1 1  .,  n.  Mini 

and  she  has  eight  children.     By  her  second 
marriage   Mrs.   Lane  is  the  mother 
-on — Orville,  who  was  born  on  August   n>, 
and  who  lives  at  home. 

Mr-.   Lane  early  learned  thi  -   in- 


346 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


cident  to  pioneer  life,  and  experienced  its 
privations  to  the  fullest  extent.  When  she 
was  but  seven  years  old  she  had  spun  enough 
wool  to  make  herself  a  dress,  and  she  con- 
tinued to  spin  wool  for  that  purpose  until 
she  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  Vs  her  fa- 
ther was  a  cripple,  and  there  were  no  boys 
in  the  family  with  the  exception  of  the 
youngest  child,  she  and  her  sisters  worked 
in  the  fields,  chopped  wood  in  the  timber, 
and  in  other  ways  performed  the  tasks  and 
duties  of  a  man.  She  split  die  rails  for 
mam  rods  of  fence,  and  then  laid  them,  but 
in  looking  hack  over  those  days  long  since 
gone,  she  finds  that  with  all  the  hard  work 
her  life  was  a  happy  one.  Surely  the  young 
men  and  women  of  this  day  owe  a  debt  of 
gratitude  to  such  noble  women,  who  en- 
dured SO  much  to  make  possible  what  all 
lmw  enjoy. 

Mi  Mr.  and  Mrs.  I.aue  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Christian  church,  in  winch, 
fur  a  long  peril  id.  Mr.  Lane  was  an  officer 
and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 
For  forty-five  years  he  has  been  a  member 
<if  this  religious  body  and  has  ever  exerted 
an  influence  in  favor  of  morality  and  Chris- 
tianity. In  politics  he  has  been  a  life-long 
I  lemocrat,  hut  never  a  seeker  fur  office,  lie 
has  witnessed  wonderful  changes  in  this  lo- 
cality, and  has  been  identified  with  much  of 
the  progress  and  development. 


WILLIAM   M.  ST<  »RY. 

William  M.  Story,  who  is  now  living  a 
retired  life  with  his  daughter,  Mis.  V 
near  Waynesville,  is  a  worthy  representa- 
tive of  the  honored  pioneers  of  DeWitt 
county,  and  a  true  type  of  the  energetic, 
hardy  men  who  have  actively  .assisted  m  de- 


veloping and  improving  this  beautiful  and 
fertile  agricultural  country.  When  he 
came  here  in  the  summer  of  1834  the  dusky 
savages  were  often  seen  in  this  locality  and 
wild  game  of  all  kinds  abounded,  hut  these 
have  long  since  fled  and  their  haunts  have 
been  replaced  by  waving  fields  of  grain  and 
thri\  ing  cities  and   villages. 

Mr.  Story  was  hunt  in  Morgan  county, 
Ohio,  August  23,  1829,  a  sun  nf  Palmer  and 
Mary  Ann  (Morris)  Story.  Jiis  paternal 
grandfather  was  John  Story,  who  was  a 
soldier  of  the  war  of  [812.  He  was  born 
in  1  Hie  1  if  the  eastern  states  and  from  there 
removed  to  Pennsylvania  and  later  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Morgan  county.  Our  subject's 
father  was  a  native  nf  Pennsylvania,  hut  his 
early  life  was  principally  passed  in  Morgan 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  is  said  to  have  as. 
sisied  in  boring  the  first  salt  well,  which 
was  nine  hundred  feet  deep.  lie  was  em- 
ployed in  tin-  salt  works  there  fur  several 
years,  and  then  came  to  Illinois  in  [834. 
After  spending  the  winter  in  Logan  county, 
in  the  spring  of  [838  he  boughl  a  farm  in 
Waynesville  township,  DeWitt  county,  forty 
acres  .  if  which  had  heen  broken  and  a  log 
shanty  erected  thereon,  and  he  at  1  nice 
turned  his  attention  t <  >  its  further  improve- 
ment and  cultivation.  In  [850  he  and  our 
subject  made  an  overland  trip  to  California 
with  a  cattle  train  and  twenty-three  wagons, 
and  were  six  months  and  seven  days  upon 
the  mad.  arriving  at  the  gold  diggings  at 
Hangtown  on  the  7th  of  September.  They 
spent  eleven  months  in  searching  fm"  the 
precious  metal  with  fair  success,  and  then 
returned  by  way  of  the  Panama  route.  Ar- 
riving in  New  Y"i'k  City,  they  went  up  the 
Hudson  river  to  Albany,  thence  by  train  to 
Chicago,  and  by  canal  and  the  Illinois  river 
tn  their  h.  ime.  their  arrival  being  a  ^reat 
surprise  tn  their   family  and   friends.      Sub- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


sequently  the  father  removed  t.  ■  Bloomii  g 
ton,   where  he  was  in   the  grocery 

•  ness  for  some  years,  and  he  died  in  that 
city  in  1883.  Hi>  wife  survived  him  al>"iit 
five  ye; 

On  coming  to  Illinois  William  M.  Story 
was  seven  years  ije,  and  amid  so 

common  t<>  frontier  life  he  grew  to  man- 

d.     When  only   fifteen  he  took   chai 

the  home   farm  and  carried  it  on  quite 
ally  until  he  and  his  father  went  to 

ifornia.  After  his  return  he  bought  the 
place,  and  at  different  times  purchased  other 
tracts  of  land  until  he  had  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  McLean  and  DeWitt  coun- 
ties, which  he  operated  with  good  success 

a  number  of  years.     In  18'K)  he  moved 

to  Caldwell  county.   Missouri,  in  company 

with    Daniel    Proctor,    and    together    they 

a  section  of  government  land  under 

the  graduation  act.     He  improved  this  tract 

:hree  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  en- 

g    ged  in  its  cultivation  for  three  years.     He 

then  returned  to  the  old  homestead  in  this 

o  >unty,  and  followed  farming  here  for  some 

5,  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life. 

In  December.  1851,  Mr.  Story  was  mar- 
ried in  DeWitt  county  to  Miss  Eliza  C. 
Phares.  a  native  of  Butler  county.  Ohio,  and 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ellen  Phares.  who 
came  to  this  county  about  1850.  Her 
mother  is  still  living,  at  the  advanced 

eighty-six  years.     For  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury  Mr.   and    Mrs.     Story    traveled    lif 
journey  together,  sharing  it<  joys  and   - 
rows,    its   trials   and   hardships,   but   he   has 
been  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his 
estimable  wife,  who  died  January  20.  iv 
The  children  born  to  them    were    as    fol- 
lows:    Palmer  J.  is  married  and  resides  in 
Iowa:  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Baxter  Bobee, 
of   Iowa;  Cynthia  J.   is  the  wife  of  P>.    B. 
Shafer,  of  Adair  county,  Missouri;  John  is 


married  and  engaged  in  farming  in  DeWitt 
county.  Illinois;  Sarah  L.  married  E.  L. 
Yocom,  a  substantial  farmer  of  this  county. 

who  died  January  ing  two 

children.  Harry  and  Dell:  Dell,  a  daughter 
of  our  subject,  is  the  wife  of  James  Baker, 
of  Scotland  county.  Missouri;  Lucy  died  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  years. 

In  politics  Mr.  Story  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, and  in  his  social  relations  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ma>ouic  lodge  at  Waynesville. 
He  ha<  many  interesting  reminiscences  of 
early  days,  and  is  one  of  the  honored  pio- 
neers of  this  county.      In  early  life  he  was 

eat  hunter,  bringing  down  many  a  deer 
in  this  section,  while  in  the  west  he  has 
killed  elk  and  buffalo.     Although  now   well 
advanced  in  years,  he  is  still  a    g  sh<  >t 

with  a  rifle,  his  eye  being  keen  and  his  ner 
steady.  Of  recent  years  he  has  tra\ 
considerably  over  the  west,  through  Mis- 
souri. Colorado.  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  and 
in  1897  made  a  trip  to  Alaska,  where  he  had 
many  thrilling  exepriences  and  came  near 
losing  his  life  in  a  snow  slide. 


HUGHES  BOWLES. 

1  iu-!ies  Bowles,  a  well-known  citizen  of 
Hallsville,  is  the  posse — r  of  a  go  d  prop- 
erty which  now  enables  him  to  spend  his 
years  in  the  pleasurable  enjoyment  of  his 
accumulations.  The  record  of  his  life,  pre- 
vious to  1900,  is  that  of  an  active,  enter- 
prising, methodical  and  sagacious  busil 
man.   who   bent   his  em  the   honor- 

able acquirement  ui  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence for  himself  and  family. 

Mr.  Bowles  is  one  of  DeWitt  county's 
native  sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Tunbridge  township,  December  5,  1842. 
His    father.    Henry    Bowles,     was     1>,  ,rn     in 


348 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  July  in.  1S1S. 
and  was  a  son  of  Hughes  Bowles,  a  farmer 
of  thai  county,  who,  in  the  twenties,  before 
the  winter  of  the  deep  snow,  brought  his 
family  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  being  one 
of  the  first  to  locate  here,  lie  took  up  a 
large  amount  of  government  land  and  be- 
came owner  <<\  several  hundred  acres.     1'lie 

father    .if    our    Sllbjecl    was    reared     in     this 

countj  and  married  Miss  I  assie  Hall,  who 
was  also  hern  in  Kentuck)  and  was  quite 
young  when  she  came  to  this  state.  Her 
mother,  Mar)  Mall,  was  another  of  the 
pioneers  of  DeWitt  county.  Henry  Bowles 
followed  farming,  and  plowed  much  of  his 
land  with  a  team  consisting  of  one  horse 
and  an  ox.  lie  died  September  20,  1845, 
at    the   age    of    1  ighl    years,    and    his 

wile    died    March    25,     1  N_s  1  .    at    the    age    of 

twent)  five.     She  was  born  April  7.   1826. 
\fter  the  death  of  his  mother  our  sub- 
ject made  his  home  with  his  maternal  grand- 
mother, Mi>.  Mary  Hall,  and.  other  relatives 
imiil   he   was   grown,   and   received   a  good 
common  school  education,      lie  then  worked 
b)    the    month    as    a    farm    hand    for    a    few 
years,  bul  after  his  marriage  bought  a  farm 
of    "in-    hundred    and    twenty    acres    near 
Farmer  City,  but  in  McLean  county,  and  at 
comt   enced    i<>   break   the   virgin    soil 
and   improve   the   place   b)    the  erection   oi 
fences   and   good   and   substantial   buildings. 
\  fiii  residing  th  twenty-one  years  he 

sold  the  place  and  bought  residence  prop- 
erty in  Hallsville  and  a  farm  in  Tunbridge 
township,  DeWitt  comity.  He  rented  his 
farm,  and  while  making  his  home  in  the 
village  he  operated  a  farm  nearer  that  place 
fi  ir  six  years.  I  !■■  then  1  erro  n  ed  ti  1  I  falls 
ville  and   successfully  ei  in    farming 

for  five  years.      He  then  retired  from  act 
labor  and  returned  to  Hallsville,  in   Febru- 
ary, 1900.      He  is  still  the  owner  of  a  good 


farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  acres 
of  land  near  Kinney,  hut  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life. 

In  Harnett  ti  i\\  nship,  this  county,  Mr. 
Bowles  was  married,  February  5,  [868,  to 
Miss  Rachel  Bartley,  who  was  born  in  Mad- 
ison connt\.  Ohio,  but  during  infancy  was 
brought  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  where 
she  was  reared.  Her  father,  John  Hartley, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  early 
life  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  married  Miss 
Xancx  McCHmans,  a  native  of  that  state. 
Six  children  blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mis  Bowles,  nameh  :  Myrtie  C,  now  the 
wife  of  l.d  P.  Hildreth,  a  merchant  of  Kin- 
ney; Lora  I...  wife  of  Skillman  Hunter, 
ticket  agent  and  telegraph  operator  at  Halls 
ville;  Mont  I'...  who  is  married  and  engaged 
in  farming  on  his  father's  place:  l.avcnie 
and  Edna,  both  at  home;  and  an  infant, 
deceased. 

Originally  Mr.  Bowles  was  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  casl  his  first  presidential 
vote  foi  General  George  B.  McClellan  in 
1N114,  lint  of  later  years  he  has  been  ideilti- 
with  the  I  'n  ihibitii  m  party.  I  le  has 
served  on  the  school  hoard,  but  has  nevei 
cared  for  public  office.  Religiousl)  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church  at  Hallsville,  ami  as  a  public-spirited 
and  progressive  man  he  gives  a  liberal  sup- 
port to  all  measures  calculated  to  advance 
the  moral,  educational  and  material  welfare 
of  the  community  in  which  he  resides.  So- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men  of   America. 


W.  M.  PERSINGER. 

The     fertile    prairies    of    Illinois    have 
opened  up  possibilities  before  the  expectant 

eyes  of  man)   of  her  adopted  son- 


W.    M.   PERSINGER 


MRS.  W.  M.  PERSINGER. 


THE   l'dnCRAI'IUCXL   RECORD. 


353 


none  have  better  improved  their  chanc- 
es than  W.  M.  Persing  of  the 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  DeWitt  county. 
A  nati           l  ie  Buckeye  state,  he  was  born 

-   Iney,  Shelby  county,  December  2,     - 
ami   :-  of  William   R.  and   Priscilla 

(Beatty)    Persinger,  nati. 

iia  and  Maryland.  Both  ren 
from  the  place-  of  their  nativity  to  Ohio 
about  1813,  and  were  there  united  in  mar- 
They  were  among  the  early  settlers 
Shelby  county,  and  there  made  their 
homes  during  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
the  father  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-four, 
and  the  mother  when  sixty-nine  years 
They  were  both  mem  the  Methodist 

Episcopal  church  and  died  in  the  faith.     By 
occupation  the  father  was  a  farmer,  which 

:  in  he  followed  throughout  life.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Whig.  In  the  family  were 
eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
of  whom  '  sd  two  daughters 

now   living.      The  paternal   grandfather  of 
our  subject.  Jacob  Persinger,  removed  with 
irly  in  181 3.  and  leav- 
them  there,  enlisted  in  t!  I  war 

with   Great    Britain,   and    served   about   six 
months. 

\\  illiam  M.  Persinger  was  third  in  order 
of  birth  in  his  father's  family.    In  his  native 

he  grew  to  manhood,  and  was  educated 
in  its  public  si  At  the  age  of  twenty- 

one  he  started  out   to  earn  an   independent 
livelihood   by    working  on   a    farm   by   the 
month.      When    twenty-three   yea 
he  rented  land  ami  carried  on  general  farm- 
veral  years,  anil  in  me  to 

DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  where  he  also  rent- 
ed  land   which   he  continued   to   farm   until 

While  still  residing  in  Ohio,  and  during 
the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  war.  on  t 
of   May.    [864,    Mr.    Persinger   enlisted   in 

16 


Company    K.   One     Hundred    and    Thirty- 
fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.     The  r<  f 
ment  w;  the  Tenth  Arm; 

under  command  of  General  Butler,  in  front 
of  Richmond,  and  was  ii  I  minor  en- 

cments   during   its   term  but 

was  principally  occupied  in  picket  duty.     At 

the  close  of  his  term  of  service.  Mr.   Per- 

honorably  disc!  Septem- 

at  Columbus.  Ohii  ■. 

On  the  6th  of  Aug  54,  was 

emnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Persinger  and 
Miss  Eliza  Chrisman,  a  daughter  of  David 
and  Leana  Chrisman.  the  former  a  native 

Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  Virginia. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  live 
of  whom  are  yet  living.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Persinger  have  been  horn  five  children: 
Harvey  11..  Newton  R.,  Charles 
Florence,  and  Xettie  Priscilla.  Of  these.. 
Newton  R.  married  Miss  Amy  Howard,  a 
native  of  Kenney,  Illinois,  and  they  have 
two  children.  Rosanna  and  Newton  R.,  Jr. 
Lenora  Florence  married  L.  1  >.  Scott,  now- 
living  in  California,  and  they  have  six  chil- 
dren. Harry.  Mamie.  Lewis,  Roy.  Xettie 
and  Ralph.  Charles  G.  married  Adelia  Tay- 
lor, and  they  reside  in  Macon  county,  with 
their  two  children.  Linn  and  Fl<  irence. 

In  367  ne  year  prior  to  his  removal 
to  DeWitt  county.  Mr.  Persinger  bought 
forty  a  and.   which  entually 

I,  and  eighty  acres  purchased  in  its  pi 
and  this  in  turn  was  disposed  <>i  and 
hundred  and  forty  acres  purchased.     To  this 
he  later  added  until  he  now  owns  two  bun 
dred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in   DeWitt 
county.   upon  which  he  ral 

farming  and  stock-:  lie  also  ow 

eighty  acre-  of  well  improved  land  in  Macon 
county.  Illinois,  and  eighty  acres  of  tin:' 
land  in  California.   The  latter  ed  with 

a  heavy  growth  of  pine,  and  on  account 


354 


THE   MOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  remarkable  growth  of  the  box  industry 
in  that  locality,  it  is  rapidly  increasing  in 
value.  Ml  of  the  improvements  on  the  home 
farm  were  made  by  him,  and  his  farm  is 
one  i  if  tin.-  best  in  his  township. 

In  politics  Mr.  Persinger  ^  a  Republi- 
can, and  for  two  terms  he  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  for  twelve  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  Fraternally 
lie  is  a  member  of  Kenny  Lodge,  [.  O.  O.  ]  . 
and  has  passed  all  the  chairs.  As  a  citizen 
he  is  enterprising  and  progressive,  and  never 
shirks  his  duty  in  any  respect.  I  lis  friends 
are  numerous  in  both   DeWitt  and  Macon 

o  'unties. 


GE<  >RGE  WEEDMAN. 

irge  Weedman,  deceased,  was  oni 
honored  pi'  mi  1  representative  citi- 

zens of  DeWitl  county,  his  last  days  being 
spenl  in  Farmer  City,  where  his  widow  now 
resides.  He  belonged  to  a  family  of  Hol- 
land origin,  which  was  founded  in  Penn- 
sylvania prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war  by 
his  grandfather,  George  Weedman.  \ 
made  his  home  there  for  s'.me  years  ai 
his  marriage.  His  first  wife  was  also  of 
lh 'Hand  descent.  At  an  early  day  they  re- 
moved to  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  in  1830 
came  to  Heyworth,  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
where  they  experienced  many  hardships  and 
trials  incident  to  frontier  life.  There  the 
first  wife  died  a  few  years  after  their  ar- 
rival, and  he  later  married  Phehc  llalsey. 
Who  survived  him.  living  t"  he  over  Eour- 
1  ■!  age. 
fohn  Weedman.  the  second  child 
George,  was  hern  in  Pennsylvania,  in  17')". 
and  was  quite  young  when  he  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Ohio.      On 


reaching  man's  estate  he  married  Miss 
Racial  Wilson,  a  daughter  of  Asa  Wilson, 
who  removed  with  his  family  from  Mary- 
land i"  the  Buckeye  state  when  Mrs.  Weed- 
man  was  young.  Her  parents  both  died  in 
(  >hio  at  a  ripe  "Id  age.  In  [830  Mr.  Weed- 
man  came  t"  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Ran- 
dolph's Grove,  .McLean  county,  bul  in  1835 
removed  to  Santa  Anna  township,  De- 
Witt  county,  where  his  wife  died  in  1854, 
at  the  age  of  fiftj  eight  years.  I  le  then  sold 
his  place  in  this  county  and  spent  his  last 
days  in  Webster  City,  Iowa,  where  he  died 
in  1866,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four.  For 
his  second  wife  lu-  married  .Mrs.  Minerva 
1  Ya/cll  1  •  lamble,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  re- 
turned to  Farmer  City,  Illinois,  after  Mr. 
Weedman's  death,  and  Lin  married  Major 
I  licks.  Mr.  Weedman  was  a  very  line 
man.  uprighl  and  honorable  in  all  busini 
transactions,  ami  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  At  his 
death  he  left  a  large  estate.  B)  his  first 
wife  he  had  ten  children,  namely:  Asa, 
Harriet.  George,  Vmos,  John,  Isaiah,  Lu 
cinda,  Eliza  Emma,  Zadok  Casey  and 
Thomas  St.  <  lair. 

orge  Weedman.  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  was  born  m  I '•  mty, 
(  )hi".  March  28,  iS_'4.  and  was  eleven  years 
of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  and  was  here  reared 
t"  manhood  amid  pioneer  scenes,  lie  re- 
ceived a  good  education  for  those  times. 
On  the  17th  nf  April.  [845,  he  married  Miss 
Catherine  Danner.  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Zener)  I  tanner,  who  came  to 
Illinois  in  1834,  ami  were  among  the  pio- 
rs  of  this  section  of  the  state.  Her  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Maryland  and  a  son  of 
David  and  Catherine  (Bonner)  Danner, 
who  were  probably  of  German  birth.  Their 
other  children   were   William,   David,  Lena, 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


355 


S  lly  ami  Maria.  Mrs.  Weedman's  father 
lived  for  some  time  in  Kentucky,  later  in 
Harrison  county,  Indiana,  and  then  in 
Montgomery  county,  this  state,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois.  He  was  a  shoemaker,  1 
ing  learned  that  trade  in  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, and  on  coming  to  this  state  he  I 
lowed  that  occupation  in  Farmer  City  until 
his  death.  In  politics  he  was  first  a  Whig 
and  later  a  Republican,  and  in  •..  be- 

lief was  a  Methodist,  being  an  active  mem- 
ber and  class-leader  in  that  church.  In 
Kentucky  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Catherine  Zener,  who  was  a  native  "i 
Pennsylvania  and  of  German  descent.  In 
early  life  she  was  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  but  later  joined  the  Meth- 
ist  Episcopal  church.  To  this  worthy 
couple  were  born  the  following  children: 
Absalom,  who  married  Lucretia  Covey; 
Jacob,  who  tirst  married  Paulina  Long  and 

rod  Hannah  Oviatt;  Polly,  who  mar- 
ried Nathan  Clearwatens;  Allen,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  J.  Crawford:  John,  who  married 
Sarah    Sercey;    Rachel,    wto  married 

Gilbert  Johnson  and  Ross     Payne; 

nuel,  who  died  unmarried  at  the  age  ^i 
thirty-five  years;  David,  who  is  single; 
William,  who  married  Hester  Johnson; 
Isaac,  who  married  Caroline  Draper:  and 
Catherine,  who  married  George  Weedman, 

his  review.     Mr.  Danner  w  lier 

in  the  war  of   [812. 

Mr.  ami  Mr-.  Weedman  became  the  par- 
ents of  ten  children,  namely:  11)  Jacob 
1'..  whi  i  died  in  icjoi,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five 
years,  married  Almeda  Slick  and  had  one 
child.  Thornton.  At  the  time  of  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I,  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, ami  was  on  the  skirmish  line  when 
Lee  surrendered.  (  _> )  Squire  William,  a 
resident  of  Denver,  Colorado,  married  Anna 


Chapman,  of  Kansas,  and  they  have  six 
children.  Effie,  George,  Karl.  Almeda.  Ruby 
and  Annie.  131  Rachel  i-  the  widow  of 
Henry  Farmer  and  lives  in  banner  City. 
Her  children  were  Mrs.  Adelia  McClure, 
deceased;  Mrs.  Pearl  Wilson;  and  Henry. 
14)  Harriet  is  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Baker,  of 
Holyrood,  Kansas,  and  they  have  three 
children,  Bert,  Katie  and  Georgia.  (5) 
Sally  is  the  wife  of  William  Swiney,  of 
Kingman,  Kansas.  (6)  Jennie  married 
M.  B.  Xeal.  of  Farmer  City.  Illinois,  and 
to  them  were  born  two  children:  Rolla  B. 
and  Gladys  <i..  both  living.  <7>  Lucy 
Ann.  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  a 
half  years.  (8)  Ella  married  tirst  J.  1". 
Rollings,  ''i  Bellflower,  and  they  had  one 
child.  Grace.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Rol- 
lings she  married  Balm  Leady,  of  St.  Louis, 
am!  the_\'  have  one  child.  Roscoe.  (9)  Za- 
doc  married  Jennie  Romine,  of  Farmer 
City.  Illinois,  and  they  have  four  children, 
Kern.  Fay.  I  I    Abra- 

ham I...  a  resident  of  Holyrood,  Kansas, 
married  Ida  Gilmore  and  they  have  three 
children.  Opal,  l'earl  and  Ruby. 

On  tiie  19th  of  March.  [850,  Mr.  Weed- 
man,  in  company  with  four  brother-, 
started  across  the  plains  for  California  with 
teams  and  wagons,  and  arrived  in  Hang- 
town  on  the  4th  of  July.     After  spending 

le  time  in  the  gold  fields  he  went  to  San 
Francisco,  where  he  took  pas  a  sail- 

ing-vessel, and  by  water  proceeded  down  the 

-t  to  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  The  ves- 
sel encountered  some  severe  -tonus  and  was 
delayed  forty-six  days.  After  crossing  the 
isthumus  he  went  down  through  the  Gulf 
"i  Mexico  and  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illi- 
nois rivers  to  Pekin,  this  state,  arriving 
home  just  thirteen  month-  to  a  day  from 
the  time  he  left  it.  He  then  turned  his  at- 
tention  to   farming  and   stock-raising,   and 


356 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


so  successful  was  he  iii  his  business  affairs 
that  he  accumulated  several  hundred  acres 
of  land,  becoming  one  of  the  wealthiesl  and 
most  substantial  men  in  his  community.  In 
[888  he  retired  from  active  labor  and  re- 
moved t"  Farmer  City,  where  he  built  a  fine 
residence,  making  it  his  home  until  called 
to  his  tinai  resl  m  (893,  at  the  age  of  si 
nine  years.  In  politics  he  was  an  ardent 
Republican,  and  he  filled  the  office  of  school 
trustee.  Socially  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  religiousl)  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
of  which  lie  was  a  steward.  lie  was  a  man 
of  the  highest  respectability,  and  those  who 
were    ni"st    intimately    .  d    with    him 

speak  in  unqualified  terms  of  his  sterling 
integrity,  his  honor  in  business  and  his 
lideluv  to  ever}  trust  reposed  in  him.  His 
wife  is  also  an  acini'  member  of  the  Metho- 
disi  1  h.  and  is  loved  and  re- 

spected  by  all   who  know    her. 


PETER  K.  \\  ILLSON. 

Peter  K.  Willson,  a  practical  and  enter- 
prising agriculturist  of  Harp  township, 
owns  and  operat  of  the  valuable  and 

highh  proved  farms  of  that  locality,  and  is 
als<>  successfully  engaged    in    stock 
and  the  grain  business    at     Birkbeck.      He 
was  horn  in  Scott  county.  Illinois,  in    [857 
July    _><».   and    is   a    son   of   Samuel   and    1 
cinda   (Kimble)    Willson.  who  are  now  liv- 
ing   in    Clinton.      The    father    was    horn    in 
Lycoming    county,     Pennsylvania,    on    the 
nth   of  October,    1825,   and   was   a    son   of 
Ezra   Willson   and   grandson  of  John   Will- 
son,   both   natives   of    \ew    Jersey,   and   of 
Welsh   extraction.      Ezra    Willson    married 


Nancy  Flatt,  a  native  of  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania and  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Flatt,  who 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  en- 
tering the  service  when  a  hoy  of  sixteen. 
I  he  lather  of  our  subject  is  the  youngest  in 
.1  family  of  ten  children.  lie  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  ai 
the  age  of  nineteen  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  some  time. 
In  1^41)  he  went  overland  to  California  with 
an  ox-team  ind  spent  four  years  on  the  I 'a 
eitic  slope.  (  )n  his  return  east  he  located 
in  Scott  county,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged 
in  blacksmithing  for  two  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Sangamon  county,  where  hi' 
made    his    home    until     [873.       During    that 

year   he  came  to    Harp  township,    DeWitt 

mty,  where  he  engaged  in   farming  and 
stock-raising  until  his  retirement    from  ai 
tne  labor  in  [890,  and  has  since  been  a  resi 
dent  of  Clinton.     In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  in  his  church  relations  is  a  Meih 
odist.      On  the    [si   of   March.    [855,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lucinda  Kim- 
ble,    also     a     native    of    Lycoming    comity, 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Man    1  mi    Kimble,  whi  1  were  horn 

in  the  same  -late.  Her  grandfather,  Pete: 
Kimble,  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  iNu. 
Mr.  and  Mis.   Willson  have  three  children: 

er   K.,  our  subject;   llcnrv    ('.;  and  Jen 
nie. 

It  was  during  the  infancy  of  our  subject 
that     the     family     removed     to     Sangamon 
county,   and    there   he   was   reared   and   edu 
cated,  attending  first  the  public  schools  ami 
later  a  business  college  at  Springfield.     At 

early  age  he  became  thoroughly  familiar 
with  all  the  duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of 
the  agriculturist.  After  coming  to  DeWitt 
county  he  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his 
labors  until  lie  attained  his  majority,  and  re- 
mained home  until  twenty-five  years  of  age 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


357 


On  the  6th  of  September,  188.2,  Mr. 
Willson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Caroline  P.  Walker,  a  native  of  DeVVitt 
county,  and  a  daughter  of  Judge  Robert 
Walker,  of  Harp  township,  who  was  one 
the  id  prominent  citizens  of 

the  county.     He  was  originally  from  Penn- 

.ania.  but  came  to  Illinois  from  Ohio, 
and  after  living  in  Sangamon  county  for  a 
time  took  up  his  residence  in  DeWitt  county, 
where  he  died  in  1897.  He  served  as  coun- 
ty judge  and  :  supervisor  of  Harp 
township  for  a  number  of  terms,  and  was 
very  prominent  in  Republican  circles, 
though  lie  later  became  a  Prohibitionist. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Clinton,  and  commanded  the  re- 
spect  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact  either  in  a  husiin  rial 
way.  His  widow  now  lives  with  a  daugh- 
ter in  Harp  township.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children.  Nine  children  have 
also  been  horn  to  our  subject  and  his  wife, 
hut  one  daughter  died  in  infancy.  Th 
living  are  Charles.  Harry.  May.  Alice. 
Clara.  Mary.  Ruth  and  Nellie. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Willson  com- 
menced farming  on  sections  29  and  30, 
Harp  township,  where  he  lived  for  a  num- 
ber of  year-,  and  then  removed  to  his  fa- 
ther's place,  where  he  built  a  residence  at 
a  cosl  of  four  thousand  dollars.  He  now 
owns  four  hundred  and  eighty  acre-  of  rich 
and  arable  land,  and  his  wife  has  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres,  both  tracts  being  in 
Harp    township.     Mr.    Willson    gives    the 

iter  part  of  attention  to  the  raising  and 
feeding  of  stock,  and  he  usually  keeps  on 
hand  one  hundred  and  fifty  head  of  cattle 
and  fmni  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  four  hun- 
dred hogs.  He  has  a  tine  herd  of  pure-bred 
short  horn-.  In  iS<)<)  Mr.  Willson  built  an 
elevator  at  Birkbeck,  and  has.  since  engaged 


in  the  grain  business  in  connection  with  his 
■  •tlier  business.  He  i-  one  of  the  most  en- 
ergetic and  progressive  men  of  his  com- 
munity, and  generally  carries  forward  to 
successful  completion  whatever  he  under- 
takes. 

Mr.  Willson  is  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Protestant  church  at  Prairie  Center, 
and.  1-  a  stanch  supporter  •>!"  the  Republican 
party  and  its  principles.  He  has  served  as 
school  director  twenty-one  years,  and  has 
also  tilled  the  office  >>\  town  clerk,  hut  would 
never  accept  other  public  positions,  prefer- 
ring to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  his 
extensive  business  interests.  He  i-  a  gen- 
erous, liberal-minded  and  progressive  citi- 
zen, and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


IK  \.\K    ADKISS<  >N. 

Frank  Adkisson,  special  agent  of  the 
Phenix  Insurance  Company  at  Clinton,  is 
one  of  DeWitt  county'-  native  -on-,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Clintonia  township, 
July  10.  1N00.  Hi-  father,  John  Adkisson, 
was  horn  in  Tennessee,  in  [819,  and  about 
[830  came  u >  Illinois.  He  firsl  located  in 
Winchester.  Scotl  county,  hut  in  1S57  came 
t"  Clinton,  DeWitt  county,  and  purchased 
the  property  now  owned  by  Dr.  Warner. 
On  selling  that  place  to  Aaron  Negley,  he 
bought  a  larger  farm,  now  owned  bj  J.  I. 
Sprague,  and  there  lie  made  hi-  home  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  [871.  He 
married  Corrilla  Thomas,  who  was  horn  in 
Kentucky  in  [820,  and  died  in  1SS7.  Their 
children  were  Thomas  Kenton,  a  resident  of 
California:  Mary,  deceased;  twins,  who 
died  in  infancy:  Ellen  and  George,  both  de- 
ceased; Horace,  of  Clinton;  Frank,  our  sub- 


358 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ject ;    William,    deceased;   and   a   daughter, 
-who  died  in  infancy. 

The  early  life  of  Frank  Adkisson  was 
passed  upon  a  farm,  and  he  was  educated  in 
Clinton.  In  i88i  he  became  agent  For  the 
Phenix  [nsurance  Company,  and  so  success- 
ful was  lie  in  this  business  that  he  was  made 
special  agent  in  1890,  his  territory  being 
central  and  northern  Illinois,  though  he 
practically  does  business  all  over  the  state, 
ranking  second  in  1901  among  the  repre- 
sentatives of  that  company  in  Illinois. 

Air.  Adkisson  married  Miss  Anna  Sew- 
ard, of  Hillsboro,  Illinois.  Her  father. 
Clarence  S.  Seward,  was  horn  in  Hillsboro, 
Montgomery  county,  December  25,  1831, 
and  is  a  -  n  of  Israel  A.  Seward  and  grand- 
son of  John  Seward.  The  latter  was  a  na- 
tive of  Albany,  New  York,  and  a  surveyor 
h\  profession.  lie  Spent  his  last  days  in 
Illinois,  and  died  in  Hillsboro,  at  the  age 
eight)  Four  years.     I  lis  children  were  But 

ler.  Israel.  Harrison,  Jane.  Maria  and 
Nancy.  Israel  Seward  was  also  born  in  Al- 
bany, New  York,  and  from  there  went  t" 
Morristown,  New  Jersey.  In  r8 18  he  came 
to  Vandalia,  Illinois,  and  for  some  tune  was 
a  surveyor  in  the  emplo)  of  the  government. 
Subsequently  he  located  in  Hillsboro,  where 
he  died  in  [868,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Margaret  Slayhack.  was  born  in 
Kentucky  in  [799,  and  died  in  [877.  He 
owned  and  operated  different  farms  in  this 
state,  and  participated  in  the  Black  Hawk 
war.  In  his  famil)  were  the  following 
children:  William.  George,  Charles,  Henry, 
Caroline,  Clarence  S.,  James  Frances,  Ed- 
ward, Cornelia  and  Martha.  Clarence  S. 
Seward,  the  father  >>f  Mrs.  Adkisson,  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  and  in  (849  went  over- 
land to  California,  where  he  spent  ten  years 
in  mining  and  other  work.     On  his  return 


to  Illinois,  in  [860,  he  followed  farming 
near  Hillsboro  until  [895,  when  he  removed 
t(  1  Clinton. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in 
religious  belief  is  a  Presbyterian.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Vrooman,  a  daughter  of  Minard 
Vrooman,  of  Fundy,  New  York,  and  to 
them  were  horn  four  children:  Freddit, 
who  died  young;  Anna,  deceased  wile  of 
our  subject;  Agnes,  wife  of  |.  Miller;  and 
Sylvia,  deceased.  Mrs.  Adkisson  died  in 
1 000.  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years,  leav- 
ing 1  'lie  child.    I. call   A. 

Mr.  Adkisson  has  never  taken  any  part 
in  political  affairs,  preferring  to  give  his 
undivided  attention  to  his  business  interests. 

i.ill\-  he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  also  belongs  to  the  blue  lodge, 
chapter  and  commander)  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  having  been  made  a  Knight 
I  emplai  al  I  itchfield,  Illinois,  in  [883, 
being  at  that  time  the  youngest  member  ol 
the  commandery  there.  I  lis  close  applica- 
tion to  business  compels  him  at  times  to 
take  needed  rest,  and  on  these  occasions  he 
indulges  his  love  for  the  rod  and  reel,  spend- 
ing his  vacations  near  the  beautiful  wat 
of  northern  Wisconsin.  As  a  fisherman  he 
has  met  wonderful  success,  and  he  has  a 
fine  specimen  of  muscalonge.  weighing 
twenty  pounds,  which  he  caught  and  has 
mounted  as  a  trophy.  lie  has  a  nice  home 
in  Clinton,  surrounded  by  spacious  grounds, 
having  purchased  the  Philip  Wolfe  prop- 
erty. 


AARON    NAGELY. 

Aaron  Xagely.  one  of  Clinton's  oldest 
and  most  honored  citizens,  was  horn  in 
Clark  county.  Ohio,  on  the  26th  of  March, 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


359 


1817,  and  i-  a  son  "t'  John  and  Elizabeth 

gely,  and  grandson  of 
and  Sarah  1  I 'hares )  Nagely.  The  grand- 
father, who  was  a  fanner  by  occupation, 
is  I*.™  in  Randolph  county,  Virginia,  and 
atx  in  1810  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  he- 
came  a  large  land  owner,  giving  four  of  his 
e  hundred  acres.  The  other  chil- 
dren he  helped  by  giving  them  money.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  died  when  about  seventy 
\e.  Their  children  were  Chris- 

tina, John.   Henry.  I  Eli,  Jacob,   Da- 

vid.. Sampson,  Pa'ilser,  Margaret  and  Xcl>- 
s  maternal  grandpar- 
ents were  William  and  Margaret  I  Dunkle) 
so  lived  to  old  age.  They 
were  natives  of  Pendleton  county.  V 
Virginia,  the  former  of  Irish  descent  r •  1  I 
the  latu  ■  man  origin.     In  their  fam- 

ily were  the  following  children:  William. 
Elizabeth,  Annie.  George,  Margaret,  Mary. 
Reuben  and  Zebedee.  The  father  of  1  >ur 
subject  served  in  the  state  militia  during  the 
war  of  1812,  and  made  farming  and  stock- 
ing his  life  occupation,  owning  and 
crating  three  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Mad- 

hio.     In  the  spring  of   1 v 
he  started  for  California,  and  died  there  the 
e   year,   at   the   i  >ixty-four.      Hi- 

wife  died   at   the  ag  sixty-nine  ye 

They  had  >i\  children,  namely:  Mary.  Icha- 
bod,  Christiana.  Aaron,  William  and  Rotn 
ert. 

Aan.n  Nagley  spent  hi-  early  life  in  hi-; 
native  state,  and  in  1849  came  to  [Hill 
locating  in  Clinton.  His  first  home  here 
was  the  old  court-house  which  is  now  the 
property  of  Mr-.  Lowery.  For  some  time 
he  was  quite  extensively  engaged  in  stock- 
dealing,  and  as  there  were  no  railroads  here 
at  that  time,  he  drove  his  stock  to  market, 
selling  his  hogs  mainly  in  Pekin  and  hi<  cat- 
tle   in    Lancaster,    Pennsylvania     At  that 


time  it  to.  ik  about  three  months  to  make  the 
round  trip.  At  one  time  he  had  one  thou- 
sand hogs  in  one  drove.  From  1852  until 
1857  he  was  engaged  in  merchandising  with 
A.   R.   Phares,  hauling  the  lumber   for  his 

e  from  Indiana  and  erecting  a  building 
where  the  National  Bank  now  stands. 
Later  Mr.  Nagely  turned  his  attention  to 
brick  manufacturing  for  a  short  time,  and 
during  President  Lincoln's  administration 
served  as  postmaster  of  Clinton,  the  office 
then  being  located  on  the  presenl  site  of  Mr. 
Xichlis'  -tore.  On  his  retirement  from 
office  he  resumed  stock-dealing,  to  which  he 
devoted  his  time  and  energies  until  he  laid 
.ires  in  [895,  and  has  <ince 
lived  a  retired  life. 

Mr.  Nagely  married  Miss  Eliza  Adams, 
1  f  Clark  count}-.  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  tiie 
Rev.  Eli  and  Elizabeth  Adams.  She  was 
horn  in  1820  and  died  in  [897.  By  this 
union  were  horn  the  following  children: 
(  1  i  Elizabeth  married  \V.  M.  Phares  and 
they  have  rive  children.  Oscar.  Edgar,  Em- 
ma. Eliza  and  William.  1  _•  t  Cyrus  died 
in  infancy.  1  ,}  >  Mary  Elizabeth  is  the  wife 
of     A.     Johnson,    and    their    children     are 

rles.    Clarkus.    Cadius,    Clay.    Clarence. 

Clara.  Clinton.  Permelia  and  Eason.     They 

lost  one.  Emma.      (41   William  <  I.  i-  a 

lent  of  Denver.  Colorado.  1  ;  1  Aman- 
da Malissa  i-  deceased  Permelia  is 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Bossier,  of  1.,.-  Ai  . 

California,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Eliza  and  Kay.  171  Jennie  i-  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Hull,  of  Clinton.  (8)  DeWitt 
Clinton  is  also  a  resident  of  Clinton.  (9) 
Charlie  married  Miss  Ella  Robins,  of  De- 
Witt,  Illinois,  and  they  have  two  children, 
I  [elen  and  Louise. 

The  Republican  party  finds  in  Mr.  Nag- 
ely a  stanch  supporter  of  its  principles,  and 
he  served  as  enrolling  officer  during  the  war 


360 


THE    niOCR  \PMICAL   RECORD. 


of  the  Rebellion.  For  fourteen  years  he 
filled  the  office  of  township  and  cit)  as 
sessor.  In  [844  he  was  made  a  Mason,  and 
in  [850  helped  organize  the  first  lodge  in 
Clinton,  No.  84,  A..  F.  &  A.  M..  in  which  he 
served  as  the  first  junior  warden.  He  and 
his  wife  were  also  among  the  first  memtx 
of  the  Eastern  Star  chapter.  Since  [854 
lie  has  been  connected  with  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Universalis!  church  for  four 
years.  In  the  interests  of  his  business  he 
traveled  all  over  the  county  on  horseback  in 
early  days,  and  has  probably  traveled  more 
miles  in  thai  way  than  any  man  in  the  coun- 
ty. Although  now  eighty-four  years  of 
age,  he  is  still  active  and  energetic,  and  1 
es  a  wonderful  memory.     He  is  widely 

known   and    universally    respected,    having    a 
large    circle    of     friends  and   acquaintan 
throughout  this  section  of  the  state. 


DENNIS  TURNER. 

Dennis  Turner,  who  is  now    practically 

living  a  retired  life  On  his  farm  in  Rutledge 
township,  has  made  his  home  there  for  al- 
most sixty  veafs.  and  is  one  of  the  most  es- 
teemed citizens  of  that  locality.  lie  was 
born  on  the  24th  of  September,  1829,  in 
Windsor  county.  Vermont,  which  was  also 
the  birthplace  of  his  father.  Perry  Turner. 
Ills  paternal  grandfather  was  drowned  in 
the  Connecticut  river  in  early  life  and  little 
is  known  of  the  family  except  that  his  an- 
cestors settled  in  Xew  England  in  colonial 
days.  Perry  Turner  married  Rhoda  Stod- 
dard, who  was  also  a  native  of  the  <■! 
Mountain  state.  About  1 833  he  removed 
to  Champaign  county.  Ohio,  and  in  [842 
came  to   McLean  county,  Illinois,  and  here 


lived  on  rented  land  for  two  years,  when  he 
moved  to  DeWitt  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  ol  land 
■  in  section  17.  Rutledge  township,  which 
had  been  entered  by  Isaac  Williamson,  and 
about  one-half  of  which  had  been  broken 
and  a  log  house  erected  thereon.  This  farm 
is  -nil  the  home  of  our  subject.  Here  his 
father  died  of  fever  in  [845,  at  the  age  of 
fort)  years,  ami  the  mother  passed  away  in 
1N17,  at  the  age  of  forty-eight.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  I  tennis,  Marshall  \\\,  William 
I'.,  and  .Mary  A  I.,  all  of  whom  died  befi  >re  the 
mother  with  exception  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  Turner,  of  this  review,  succeeded 
to  the  old  homestead,  and  having  entered 
nuie  land  and  purchased  other  tracts,  he 
now  ''vviis  over  live  hundred  acres.  I  le  built 
a  frame  house  upon  his  place,  ami  later  re- 
placed this  by  a  mi »re  a  unmi  idii  »us  am!  better 
residence.  He  also  erected  a  good  set  of 
outbuildings,  has  set  out  fruit  and  shade 
trcis.  and  now  has  one  of  the  best  improved 
farms  in  the  locality.  In  early  days  he  gave 
o  msiderable  attentii  m  t<  ■  the  raising  of  sheep, 
keeping  a  flock  of  about  four  hundred,  bul 
finding  other  enterprises  more  profitable,  he 
discontinued  that  business,  and  for  some 
years  has  made  a  specialty  of  raisin-  a  high 
grade  1  if  cattle  and  hi >gs. 

In  1851  Mr.  Turner  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Martha  J.  Rutledge,  who 
was  born  111  McLean  county  in  [835.  Her 
father  was  William  Jackson  Rutledge,  a 
sketch  ot  whom  appears  on  another  page  of 
this  volume.  Mrs.  Turner  was  a  faithful 
helpmate  to  her  husband  in  aiding  him  finan- 
cially and  in  rearing  their  line  family,  an.' 
she  was  a  devout  Christian,  loved  by  all 
who  knew  her.  She  died  in  1866,  leaving 
live  children,  namely:  Allen  A.,  who  is 
represented  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Charles 
J.,  a  farmer  of   Rutledge  township;   Mary 


DENNIS  TURNER. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RED  >RD. 


363 


J.,  wife  of  J.  \  the  same  township; 

a  farmer  of  Rul  >wn- 

ship;  and  Martha  I).,  wi  \\  .  Bishop, 

whose  sketch  is  foimd  elsewhere  in  this 
ume.     !  second  wife  Mr.  Turner  v. 

I  Miss  Man  a  native  of  Virginia, 

by  whom  he  has  1.  Samuel,  a  farmer 

uiship. 

g  his  majority  Mr.  Turner 

has  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party,  and 

has  ibly  served  as  justice  of  the 

He  has 

lirector,  and  lias  ever  taken  an  active 

part  in  educational  affair-,  the  first  school 

house  of   Rutledge  township  being  erected 

his   farm.     He  has   filled  the  office  of 

township  collector,  and  is  regarded  as  one 

spirited  and  enterprising 

citizens  of  his  community.     For  some  time 

rented  his  land  but  still  1 
its  n.     In  his  relig       i\  iews  h< 

a  Universalist  and  is  a  man  of  integrity  and 
honor,  whose  word  is  sidered  as  ! 
as  his  bond.  Although  he  is  now  quite  well- 
'■>.  Ik-  i-  plain  and  unassuming  in  man- 
ner, and  commands  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  all  who  know  him. 


DEAN  WILLIAMS 

:i  Williams,  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  and  representative  citizens  of 
Waynesville  township,  is  now  fully 

carrying  on  the  « -1«  1  home  farm  of  nearly  two 
hundred  acr  ction  16.     He  was  horn 

in   that    township   on    the   8th   of   October, 

-+.  and  throughout  his  active  business  life 
has  l>een  identified  with  it-  agricultural  in- 
tere-'  - 

His  father.  Moses  <i.  Williams,  was  born 
in  Muskingum  county.  Ohio.  December  30, 


l8l2,  and  of  Samuel  I..  William-. 

one  of  the  ear!  nty  ami 

1   Bureau  county.  Illinois,  where 

•ed  about   i^  On  hi-  removal  to 

tin-  mpanied  -on. 

Mi  h"  afterward  returned  to  Ohio, 

was  married  there  in  1835  to  Miss  Cyn- 
thia McElhiney.      He  then  t •  •< >k  his  l>ri.!. 
Bureau  county.   Illinois,  and  in  ime 

DeWitt  county,  where  -he  died  in  June, 

1  >f  the  -i\  children  horn  of  that 
union  only  two  reached  maturity,  and  both 
of  these  are  now  deceased. 

E  '.in  returning  Id  home  in  Mus- 

kingum county.  Ohio,  Moses  G.  William- 
was  married.  September  10.  1845,  '"  Mi-s 
therine  E.  McElhiney,  also  a  native  of 
that  county  and  a  sister  of  his  first  wife. 
Her  father.  Judge  Matthew  McElhiney,  was 
horn  in  Ohio,  and  became  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Muskingum  county,  where  he  served 
two  or  three  terms  as  county  judge.  By 
trade  he  was  a  wheelwright,  and  followed 
that  occupation  for  many  year-.  He  came 
to  Illinois  and  entered  land  in  DeWitt  coun- 
ty, on  which  Mr.  Williams  settled,  mak- 
ing it  his  home  until  death.  The  father  of 
our  subject  died  here  May  19,  1854,  at  the 
g  of  forty-two  years,  when  in  the  prime 
of  life.  His  widow  then  took  charge  of  the 
farm  and  business,  which  she  managed  with 
marked  skill  and  ability,  at  the  same  time 
uniformly  held. 

she  removed  to  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  "it  section  16,  Waynesville 
township,  where  she  now  resides.     She  • 

timable  lady,  who  is  loved  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  her. 

The  subject  of  this  -ketch  is  the  you 
e-t  in  her  family  of  four  children,  the  others 
beii  th    M.   married 

Wyley  Marvel,  of  Waynesville.  ami  died. 
leaving    eight     children,    who   are   now    all 


364 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


grown.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  William 
Jeffreys,  of  Schuyler  county,  Missouri,  and 
they  have  five  children  living.  Barthena 
married  James  Price  and  died,  leaving  three 
children,  who  are  still  living. 

Since  the  age  of  six  years  I  Kan  Will- 
iams has  resided  upon  the  farm  where  he 
now  lues,  and  since  the  age  of  fourteen  has 
had  charge  <■!  tin'  place,  relieving  his  mother 
oi  the  responsibility  and  care  of  the  same, 
lie  became  self-reliant  at  a  ver\  early  age, 
as  his  father  was  dead,  and  he  is  to  da)  one 
(if  the  mosl  thrifty  and  skillful  farmers  and 
ck  raiser-  <■!  his  community.  The  1  Id 
homestead  is  a  well-improved  place,  the 
buildings  being  neat  and  substantial,  and  the 
entire  surroundings  are  in  perfect  harmony 
therew  ith. 

In  Wapella  township,  this  county,  Sep- 
tember .;.  1879,  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  William  and  Miss  Elizabeth 
Cunningham,  a  daughter  of  Frank  Cun- 
ningham, "tie  nf  the  1 'Id  settlers  and  substan 
tial  nun  of  that  township,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  work.  She  was 
reared  and  educated  in  this  county.  Mi". 
and  Mrs.  Williams  have  three  children: 
Frank  D.,  Nellie  M.  and  Gladys  V. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
fur  Samuel  J.  filden  in  1876,  Mr.  \\  ill— 
iams  has  always  affiliated  with  the  Demo- 
cratic part\.  lie  is  one  of  the  popular  and 
influential  citizens  of  his  community,  and  is 
well  worthy  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is 
unformly  held. 


til  VRLES  K.  ZORGER. 

Among  Clinton's  prominent  and  sue 

tul   citizens   who  have   retired     from     active 
business  js  Charles  K.  Zorger,  who  was  burn 


in  Newbury  township,  York  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, January  1.  1831,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Keister)  Zorger,  also 
natives  of  the  Keystone  state,  llis  paternal 
grandfather  was  Peter  Zorger,  who  died 
young.  The  father,  who  followed  farming 
and  ran  a  still  house,  died  when  about  fort) 
years  of  age,  when  our  subject  was  only  two 
years  and  a  half  old.  The  mother  long  sur- 
vived him.  passing  away  in  [866,  at  the 
of  seventj  eight.  Their  children  were:  Su- 
sanna, wife  of  I!.  Brubacher;  Adam  Henry, 
deceased;  Michael,  a  resident  oi  White  coun- 
ty, ndiana;  Jacob  K.,  of  Clinton,  llinois; 
and  ( 'harles  K.,  1  mr  subje  1 

In  early  life  Charles  K.  Zorger  worked 
at  farming  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  and 
then  went  to  Vork,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
learned  the  plasterer's  trade.  Subsequently 
he  followed  that  occupation  in  \\  1;  1  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  f"f  two  years.  On  the  171I1  of 
April.  [854,  he  landed  in  Clinton,  Illinois. 
and  having  become  master  of  his  trade,  he 
began  business  here  as  a  contractor.  Among 
his  first  work  which  is  still  standing  are  the 
homes  of  Dr.  Edmiston  and  Mrs.  Bishop, 
and  several  Stores  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  square. 

During  the  (Til  war  Mr.  Zorger  enlisted 
in  [862,  in  Company  1'..  One  Hundred  and 
Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  lie  was 
promoted  as  sergeant,  and  was  serving  as 
first  lieutenant  when  discharged,  lie  is  now 
an  In  mi  ired  member  of  the  <  iraml  Army  1  '1  >st 
at  Clinton,  in  which  he  has  held  office. 

For  a  year  and  a  half  after  his  return 
from  the  war.  Mr.  Zorger  worked  at  In- 
trade,  and  then  bought  the  Ray  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres  in  Texas  township,  which  he 
improved  and  operated  for  some  time  and 
which  he  still  owns.  In  connection  with  his 
brother,    facob  K..  he  next  bought  the  Alex. 


THE  BIOGK APHICAL   KFXORD. 


365 


Kelly  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
acres  in  Creek  township;  the  Greei  farm  of 
sixty-five  acres  in   Texas  township;  the  Da- 

\  is  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in 
Clintonia  township.  For  many  years  he  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising,  and  was  one  of  the  larj 
horse  breeders  and  raisers  in  the  county, 
making  a  specialty  of  English  draft  horses. 
There  is  probably  nut  a  better  judge  of 
horses  in  the  a  iunty,  and  in  this  line  of  busi- 
ness  he  met  with  most  excellent  success.  In 
[883  he  practically  retired  from  business  and 
removed  to  Clinton,  purchasing  the  J.  North 
property,  which  lie  improved  and  later  sold, 
it  being  now  used  as  the  Presbyterian  par- 
sonage. Buying  the  G.  W.  Gideon  property, 
he  replaced  the  old  house  bj  a  line  modern 
residence.  Mr.  Zorger  still  retains  poss 
sion  of  his  farms,  which  he  rents.  In  addi- 
tion t"  this  property  he  owns  in  partnership 
with  George  W.  Woy  the  block  <>n  the  west 
corner  of  East  Main  and  South  Monroe 
streets,  which  is  used  fur  store  purposes. 

Mr.  Zorger  has  been  married  three  times. 
his  first  wife  being  Miss  Rachel  Strominger, 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  Strominger,  of  York 
county.  Pennsylvania,  and  to  them  were  born 
five  children,  hut  only  two  are  now  living: 
Lincoln,  an  engineer,  "f  Clinton,  who  mar- 
ried Anna  Smallwood  and  has  one  child. 
Louis;  and  Ella,  who  resiles  at  home  Mr. 
Zorger  next  married  Mrs.  Martha  it  1 
Wilmore.  Hi-  third  wife  was  .\|j,,  Hulda 
Johnson,  a  daughter  at  Eason  Johnson,  one 
of  the  oldest  citizens  of  Clinton.  Her  father 
was  hc,rn  near  Providence,  Rhode  Island. 
August  13.  [814,  a  son  of  Joseph  ami  I.y- 
dia  (Cook)  Johnson,  who  were  natives  of 
the  same  state  ami  from  there  removed  to 
Ohio,  where  his  mother  died.  His  father. 
who  was  a  large  land  owner  in  Ohio,  spent 
his  last  days  in  Clinton.   Illinois,  where  he 


died  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  \ears.  Eason 
Johnson  grew  to  manhood  in  Ohio,  and  on 
the  17th  of  December,  1835,  married  Mis- 
Alice  Calender,  who  was  also  born  in  Ohio, 
December  2.5,  1816.  They  are  now  the  old- 
est married  couple  in  Clinton,  and  are  highly 
esteemed  by  all  who  know  them.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Nancy,  Amos,  lluldah.  Ira.  Alice. 
Joseph  !■:.,  Allura.  Lovina  and  Emma. 

Politically  Mr.  Zorger  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  fraternally  he  affil- 
iates with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Encampment  and  Rebekahs.  He 
is  the  oldest  Odd  Fellow  in  Clinton  and  i- 
past  -rand  of  his  lodge.  A  man  of  keen 
perception,  of  unbounded  enterprise,  his  suc- 

5  in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  effi 
and   he  deserves  prominent    mention  am.  .li- 
the leading  and  representative  citizens  1  if  I  )e- 
VVitt  county. 


STEPHEN  Ix.  CARTER. 

It  has  been  said  that  only  those  lives  are 
worthy  of  record  that  have  been  potential 
factors  in  the  public  progress  in  promoting 
the  general  welfare  or  advancing  the  educa- 
tional or  moral  interests  of  the  community. 
Mr.  Carter  was  ever  faithful  to  his  duties 
of  citizenship,  taking  a  very  active  and  prom- 
inent part  in  public  affairs,  and  during  his 

intry's  hour  of  trial   fought   bravely   for 
the  cause  of  freedom  and  union. 

He    was    horn    in    Smithfield,    Jefferson 

inty,  Ohio,  January  7.  [843,  and  was  a 
son  of  William  E.  am!  Ruthana  (Kinsej  1 
Carter,  who  were  also  natives  of  that  county. 
His  paternal  grandparents  were  Joshua  and 
Sarah  1  Evans)  Carter,  natives  of  Maryland 
ami  Pennsylvania,  respectively.  His  mother 
died  December  31.  1849,  and  was  laid  ton 
in    the   Smithfield   cemetery.      She   has    four 


366 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


children,  two  sons,  both  now  deceased;  and 
two  daughters*  Mrs.  John  I  >.  Rogers,  of 
Clinton,  Illinois;  and  Mrs.  Charles  Kerner, 
of  [ndianapolis,  Indiana.  For  bis  second 
wife  the  father  married  Miss  Anna  Kinsey 
Jordan,  who  was  also  b >rn  in  Jefferson  coun- 
ty, (  >hio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Kinsey)  Jordan,  the  formet 
native  of  Maryland,  the  latter  of  North  I 
olina.  William  E.  Carter  was  a  cabinet 
maker  by  trade  and  followed  that  occupation 
in  Ohio.  As  a  local  politician  he  filled  sev- 
eral in  his  native  county,  including 
that  of  justice  of  the  peace  In  [855  he 
came  west,  and  after  spending  aboul  a  year 
in  Davenport,  Iowa,  located  in  Bloomington, 
Illinois,  where  the  following  two  years  v 
passed.  In  [858  he  came  to  Clinton,  and  for 
some  time  was  in  the  emplo)  of  the  Illinois 
(  entral  and  Wabash  Railroad  Companies. 
lie  is  buried  in  Springfield,  Illinois.  In  pol 
itics  he  was  a  Whit;.  His  wile  still  survives 
him  and  makes  her  home  <  >n  North  Quinc) 
street.  Clinton.  By  his  second  marriage  he 
had  two  children,  of  whom  one  is  still  liv- 
ing, Edwin,  a  resident  of  Decatur,  Illinois. 

After  his   father  left   Ohio,   Stephen   K. 

ter  went  to  live  with  his  grandparents, 
and  remained  with  them  until  the  winter  of 
[858,  when  he  came  t"  Clinton,  where  his 
lather  had  just  located.  Here  he  attended 
school  until  the  Civil  war  broke  out.  Laying 
aside  his  l ks,  he  enlisted  in  [86l,  ill  Com- 
pany 1'"..  Twentieth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, and  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  received  a 
gunshot  wound  in  the  left  leg.  He  was  con- 
fined in  a  hospital  for  some  time,  and  not  re- 
covering from  his  wound  was  finally  dis- 
charged, lie  returned  home  and  for  many 
years  was  compelled  to  walk  with  crutches. 
This  wound  troubled  him  throughout  life, 
anil  at   times  was  exceedingly  painful. 

After  his  return  from  the  war.  Mr.  Car- 


ter attended  the  Illinois  State  Normal  at 
Normal  for  two  years,  wo/king  his  way 
dirough  college  by  taking  care  of  horses  and 
doing  chores  for  the  professor  with  whom 
he  hoarded.  After  his  graduation  he  was 
elected  county  superintendent  of  schools  in 
DeWitt  county,  and  while  filling  that  office 
devoted  his  leisure  time  to  the  study  of  law. 

ig  admitted  to  the  har  in  1X70.  Two 
years  later  he  was  elected  state's  attorney, 
and  subsequently  was  selected  to  till  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  James  A.  Wilson  as  coun- 
ty treasurer,  lie  also  served  as  county  and 
city  clerk  for  one  term  each.  In  politics  he 
was  a  stanch  Republican,  and  his  career  in 
office  indicated  the  confidence  reposed  in 
him  by  his  fellow   cil 

( >n  the  9th  of  April,  [867,  Mr.  Carter 
was  taiited  in  marriage  with  Miss  America 
R.  Madden,  and  to  them  were  born  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  1  1  1  Grace,  the  oldest,  is  de- 
ceased. 1  _•  1  Wilbur  M..  who  is  now  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  ami  insurance  business  in 
Clinton,  married  Leila  Vauleu.  and  they 
havi  Id.  Marian  Josephine.     (3)  Ste- 

phen Kinsey,  a  farmer  of  liar])  township, 
married  Julia  McAboy,  ami  they  have  two 
children.  Floyd  McAboj  and  Maude  Louise. 
Ira  I...  a  resident  of  Clinton,  married 
Daisy  Egan  and  they  have  one  child,  Stephen 
Edwin.  151  William  J.  married  Clara  Cor- 
bett  and  lues  in  Clinton,  id)  llattie  Belle 
is  deceased. 

Dr.  X.  II.  Madden,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Carter,  was  horn  in  Kentucky.  December  1  _\ 
[816,  and  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  and 
Ruth  (Hollingsworth)  Madden,  both  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  The  Dr.  Thomas 
Madden  died  in  Vermillion  county,  Illinois, 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  his  wife  at  lin- 
age of  seventy-two.  Mrs.  Carter's  father 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Kentucky,  and 
when  about  sixteen  years  of  age  commenced 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


367 


the  study  of  medicine,  later  attending  Rush 
Medical  College,  Chicago,  where  he  was 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  I  >.  He 
was  married  March  id.  [842,  to  Miss  Aman- 
da Carter,  by  whom  he  had  two  children: 

:  and  America  R.,  now   Mrs    1 

ter.  The  wife  and  mother  died  October  7. 
1X44.  when  about  twenty  years  of  age  Hie 
Doctor  was  again  married,  October  1.  [848, 
his  second  union  being  with  Mi-s  Angeline 
Downey,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  dauj 
ter  of  Darby  and  Mary  (  Burgess)  Downey. 
Her  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  iSu. 
and  her  grandfather  fought  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  At  the  time  of  his  second  mar- 
riage Dr.  Madden  was  living  in  Danville, 
Vermillion  county,  Illinois,  and  from  thi 
dme  to  Clinton,  DeVVitt  county,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1856.  Here  he  built  up  a  very  la 
practice,  covering  a  radius  of  twenty  miles 
an>nnd  Clinton.  On  hi-  removal  to  this 
place  he   sold   nearly   all   of  his   household 

ids,  and  the  family  had  ti  1  eat  .  iff  1  if  bi  >xes 
until  some  furniture  could  be  made,  as  there 
was  111 1  furniture  store  in  the  small  hamlet 
at  that  time.      Dr.   Madden  successfully  en- 

:ed  in  tlie  practice  of  medicine  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  April  4. 
1876.  He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  ad- 
joining the  city  on  the  northeast,  which  he 
laid  out  in  town  lots,  it  being  now  known  as 
Madden's  addition.  His  political  support 
was  given  the  Democracy,  and  the  cause  of 
temperance  found  in  him  an  earnest  advo- 
cate. He  served  as  alderman  of  Clinton,  ami 
at  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war  presided  at 
the  first  meeting  for  volunteers  in  tin-  city. 
His  health  did  not  permit  hi-  entering  the 
ice.  but  lie  gave  liberally  of  his  means 
ami  time  in  aiding  the  soldiers  ami  their 
widows  and  orphans  and  would  never  take 
any  compensation  for  such  service,  lie  was 
an  active  member  of  the  National,  State  and 


Count)    Medical    S  and    w 

treasurer  of  the  DeWitl  Count}  Medical  So- 
ciety while  he  lay  on  his  deathbed.  I 
iously  he  wa-  an  earnest  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  as  1-  also  his 
widow,  whi.  -till  resides  in  Clinton.  Their 
children  were:  Mrs.  Laura  1 ".  McPherson, 
Tin  una-.  Franklin,  Downey,  Lockland  and 
Mrs.  Mary  Ruth  Johnston. 

I"  the  city  of  Clinton    Mr.   Carter  was 
I  loyal  friend  ami  one  of  her  foremost 
citizen-.      1  le  wa-  a  111:111  1  if  the  time-.  1 
minded,  public-spirited  and  pn  His 

influence  was  great   ami   always   fur    \ 
His  duties  were  performed  with  thi 
care,  and  throughout  life  his  personal  honor 
and  integrity  were  without  blemish. 


GE<  IRGE  WETZELL. 

Among  the  well-known  ami  respected 
citizens  of  Farmer  City,  Illinois, 
Wetzell,  the  efficient  and  enterprising  edi- 
tor and  proprietor  of  the  Farmer  City  Sun, 
having  occupied  this  position  since  October 
1.   1899,  succeeding  Devore  &   Lawrence. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Wetzell  occurred  near 
Abingdon,  Virginia,  October  9,  [857,  and 
he  i-  a  -mi  of  Jefferson  Wetzel,  who  was 
born  in  Wythe  county,  Virginia,  )uu^-  30, 
1832.  The  W/etzel  family  traces  it-  an- 
cestry far  hack  t.i  one  John  Wetzel,  who 
came  t.>  America  either  from  Germany  or 
Switzerland,  and  wa-  the  first  settler  in 
what  i-  now  the  city  of  Wheeling,  West 
Virginia.  He  wa-  a  fanner  and  wa-  killed 
by  the  Indian-,  his  -mi  Lewi-  avenging  his 
father-  death  by  slaying  the  murderer.  The 
children  of  John  were  as  follows:  Martin. 
Lewis.    Jacob,    John,    I  -an     ami 

Christina. 


368 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


George  Wetzel,  who  was  the  greal 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  removed 
to  Maryland  and  little  is  known  of  him 
in  the  family,  except  thai  he  left  a  son, 
Peter.  Peter  Wetzel  was  a  farmer  in  south- 
western Virginia  and  operated  a  mill  in 
Wythe  county.  His  children  were  Michael, 
Elizabeth,  George,  John,  Peter  and  Jessie. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  George 
Wetzel,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
removed  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  in 
[852,  coming  by  team  to  Farmer  City.  By 
trade  he  was  a  cooper,  and  also  engaged 
in  farming  in  connection  with  work  at  his 
coopering.  The  grandmother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  Margaret,  a  daughter  of  Michael 
Commany,  who  was  born  in  Virginia.  The 
family  born  to  these  grandparents  included 
these  children:  Henry,  Isaac,  Si 
.Martin.    Annie.    Catherine.    Rebecca,      Mar- 

et,  [efferson,  Ambrose,  George,  David, 
and  Michael.  During  the  war  of  [812 
Grandfather  Wetzel  started  to  join  the 
army,   but    peace    was   declared  he 

reached  the  seat  of  war.  In  politics  he  was 
formerly  a  Whig,  hut  later  became  a  Re- 
publican, while  the  religious  connection  of 
the  family  was  with  the  Lutheran  church. 

[efferson  Wet/el.  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject,  was  educated  in  the  public  and 

»aged  in  farming.  In  [862  he  enlisted 
in  Company  1.  One  Hundred  and  Seventh 
Illinois  Drum  Corps,  and  later  organized  a 
brass  band.  \\  hen  a  young  man  he  learned 
the  carpenter  trade  and  followed  that  in 
connection  with  farming,  llis  marri; 
was  to  Miss  Catherine  Christ,  who  was  horn 
in  Virginia,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Amanda  Minnick)  Christ.  The  children 
of  this  marriage  were  as  follows:  William 
A.,  who  married  Ella  Cummings,  lives  in 
Salt  Lake  City:    David  C.   was  a  minister 


in  the  Christian  church,  hut  is  now  de- 
ceased, his  death  occurring  in  San  Fran- 
cisco: Benjamin  F. ;  George  \V.,  of  this 
sketch:  Anna  Belle,  married  C.  F.  Holmes, 
of  I'iatt  county;  Laura  M.  married  A.  ( i. 
Albright;  Vinnie  R.  married  Harry  R. 
Bates,  of  Seattle.  Washington;  Nettie  F. 
is  deceased;  Delia  Maud  is  also  deceased; 
and   Pearl  married  L.  S.  Webb. 

Mr.  Wetzel]  has  been  senior  vice-com- 
mander of  the  ( i.  A.  R.  post  and  has  filled 
with  efficienc)  several  political  offices,  nota- 
bly that  of  tax  collector.  Formerly  he  was 
a  Whig,  hut  is  now  an  ardent  and  active 
Republican,  and  has  done  some  excellent 
reportorial  work  on  the  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois, newspapers.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  an  elder  in  the  Christian  church,  and 
lias  been  long  connected  with  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  has 
held  high  office. 

It  was  in  [859  that  George  Wetzell, 
our  subject,  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Farmer  City  and  as  early  as  his  fourteenth 
■  began  a  career  which  has  been  one 
of  considerable  prominence.  Under  John 
S.  1  harper,  who  was  one  of  the  earliest  pub- 
lishers in  this  city,  he  served  an  appren- 
ticeship, graduating  into  a  lirst-class  printer, 
lied  not  only  in  the  mechanical  part  of 
the  business,  hut  comprehending  with  ability 
and  intelligence  to  other  branches  of  the 
newspaper  work.  In  1SN1  he  went  to 
'i  and  there  became  the  foreman 
,.f  tlu-  Bloomington  Daily  Leader,  remain- 
ing for  a  period  of  four  years,  going  from 
there  to  (iieenview.  Manard  county,  to  es- 
tablish  the  Drcenvicw  Mail,  which  for  four 
years  was  one  of  the  brightest  little  jour- 
nals of  that  part  of  the  county.  Returning 
to  Bloomington  he  became  associated  with 
the  Bloomington   Pantagraph  and  remained 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


369 


in  that  city   for  eleven  years,  leaving  that 

l-known  journal  to  purchase  his  pres- 
ent newspaper  in  this  city. 

Mr.  Wetzell  was  married  to  Miss  Julia. 
the  accomplished  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Sarah  Pratt,  of  Bloomington,  and  their 
three  children  are:  Herbert  VV.,  Frances 
Gail  and  Gertrude. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Wetzell  is  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  Politically  he  is 
independent,  and  at  the  present  time  h< 

a  member  of  the  Farmer  City 
school  board.  lie  i-  recognized  as  a 
man  of  ability  and  has  increased  the 
pat]  of    his    paper    in   a    remarkable 

!jree  since  taking  charge.  Liberal-minded 
and  careful,  it  has  been  the  aim  of  Mr.  Wet- 
zell to  furnish  the  news  to  the  residents  of 

iter   City   in   agreeable    form,    to   mold 

public  sentiment  in  the  direction  of  progress 

and  improvement,  to  advance  the  inter 

of  worthy  enterprises  in  their  midst  and  to 

them  a  paper  worthy  of  their  support. 


WILLIAM    H.    HARTSOCK. 

Among  the  successful  farmers  of  Creek 
township.  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  is  Will- 
iam II.  Hartsock,  whi  -  on  section  [6. 
He  was  born  in  Greene  county.  Ohio.  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1859.  and  i-  a  sou  1  je  and 
Emily  (James)  Hartsock,  both  of  whom 
natives  of  <  Ihio.  The  parents  of  George 
Hartsock  were  natives  of  Virginia,  whence 
they  removed  to  Ohio  and  there  lived  and 
died.  The  father  of  our  subject  followed 
farming  in  <  >hio,  where  he  was  educated  and 
where  he  married  Emily  James,  making  that 
state  his  home  until  1853,  when,  fired  with 
the    spirit    of    emigration,    he    removed    to 


Texas  township,  DeWitt  county.  Illinois, 
where  he  had  purchased  land  prior  to  com- 
ing to  the  Prairie  state.  There  was  but  a 
little  log  cabin  on  the  land,  but  the  brave 
pioneer  worked  ahead,  improved  his  land 
and  dwelling  house,  and  in  time  prospered 
until  he  had  four  hundred  and  forty  acre-  of 
improved  land.     (  )n   December  27,   [899,  he 

died  and  was  buried  in  W llawn  cemetery, 

Clinton.  His  widow  is  still  living  in  Clin- 
ton. Illinois. 

Mr.  and  Mrs,  I  re  rge  Hartsock  were  the 
parent-  of  six  children,  all  living,  namely: 
Emerson,  who  i-  engaged  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness  and  also  farm-  to  some  extent  in  Creek 
township:  William  II..  our  subject:  Charles 
M..  who  resides  in  Texas  township  on  the 
home  place:  E.  May.  who  is  making  her 
home  with  her  mother;  Ralph,  who 
in  Clinton  with  his  mother. 

Mr.  Hartsock  attended  the  schools 
Texas  township  and  worked  upon  his  fath- 
er's farm  until  he  was  twenty-one.  when  he 
and  his  brother.  James,  undertook  the  man- 
agement of  the  old  homestead.  This  part- 
nership continued  for  three  years,  when  our 
subject  was  married  and  ren  tion 

16,  Creek'  township,  where  he  owns  and 
operates  one  hundred  and  forty  ;-.  rich 

farm  land  which  he  devote-  to  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising.  The  farm  is  kept  in 
excellent  condition  and  the  house,  barn  and 
outbuildings  are  well  cared    \ 

On  December  25,   1883,  our  subject  was 
married  to  Miss  Emma  Ziegler,  a  native 
DeWitt    county,   and   a   daughter   of    Henry 
Ziegler.  one  of  the  early  settlers.      He 
born  in  Germany  but  was  brought  to  Amer- 
ica  when  a   baby  and  has  always   f 
farming  with  the  exception  of  a   lew    \> 
Spent  in  a  plow  factory  when  a  young  man. 
Mrs.  Hartsock   .  of  nine  children,  -ix 

of    whom   are   still    living,    namely:      Mary, 


37° 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


who  married  Henry  Weber  and  they  reside 
in  Iowa;  Henry,  who  resides  in  Clinton; 
Mrs.  Hartsock;  Rose,  who  married  Samuel 
McFail,  and  they  reside  in  New  Jersej  :  Ja- 
cob, who  resides  in  Iowa,  and  Arthur,  who 
resides  in  Iowa.  The  following  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartsock, 
namely:  Edna,  Winnie,  Gussie  and  Bert, 
ail  four  in  school;  and  Roscoe  and  (  Ima. 

Mr.  Hartsock  is  a  member  of  Gilmore 
I  odge,  X".  455.  1\.  I'.,  ami  is  "ne  <>f  the 
most  active  workers  in  tl  nization.     In 

pi  ilitics  he  is  a  1  Jemocrat  and  has  sen  ed  most 
acceptably  as  collector  and  has  also  been 
commissioner  of  the  township  but  ha-  never 

ired  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  at- 
tention to  tlie  affairs  of  his  home  and  family, 
lie  i-  a  man  of  high  character  and  Sterling 
integrity,  and  enjoy-  universal  esteem  in  the 
community  in  which  he  resides. 


SAMUEL    II.    M  \K  I  IX. 

Few  of  Waynesville's  citizens  are  more 
prominent  or  more  widely  known  than 
Samuel  II-  Martin,  who  has  been  cashier  of 
the  Waynesville  Bank  for  the  past  seven 
years.  He  was  horn  in  Logan  county,  this 
state,   November  _•<).   1862,  and  of 

James  S.  Martin,  who  i-  a  leading  farmer  of 
that  comity.  Hi-  paternal  grandfather, 
James  1'.  Martin,  was  a  native  of  Ireland. 
but  during  his  infancy  was  brought  to  the 
United  States  by  his  parents,  the  family  l.>- 
cating  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  grev 
manhood.  Later  he  spent  some  years  in 
Ohio,  and  then  came  to  Illinois,  making  a 
permanent  location  in  h  ounty,  where 

he  was  numbered  among  the  pioneers. 

Jame-  S.  Martin,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  horn  in  Ohio,  in  [837,  but  was 
reared  in  Logan  comity.  Illinois,  and  there 
married   Miss  Caroline   Hoblit,  a  native  of 


the  county  and  a  daughter  of  Squire  Samuel 
Hoblit,  who  was  another  of  its  early  settler-. 
Mr.  Martin  became  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
that  county,  and  a  mtinued  t<  1  engage  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  111  1  SS  1 .  Ili-  wife  survived 
him  a  few  years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
six  children,  three  -on-  and  three  daughters, 
of  whom  Samuel  II.  is  the  eldest.  The 
other-  are:  Ellen  M.,  wife  of  George  W. 
Carlock,   of    Evanston,   Illinois;  Charles   !•'.., 

;■  business  man  of  Klw 1,   Indiana:  Mary, 

who  died  about  [895,  and  the  w  ife  of  I  I  airy 
1  Quisenberry,  Jr..  a  resident  of  Logan 
county;  Clinton  I )..  a  business  man  of  Kan- 

1  it\.  Missouri;  and  Melhc.  who  1-  living 
with  her  sister  in  Evansti  >n. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  passed  upon  the  old  home  farm  in  Lo- 
gan  county,  and  his  primary  education  \ 
received  in  the  public  schools  of  that  local- 
ity. Later  he  attended  Lincoln  University 
at  Lincoln  and  the  State  Normal  School  a! 
Normal,  Illinois,  and  then  took  a  commer 
cial  course  at    Bryanl   iV   Stratton   Business 

lege  in  Chicago.    After  leaving  school  he 

epted  a  pi >-i t i< ma  tor  in  the  First 

National  Bank  at  Lincoln,  and  later  was 
promoted  to  assistant  bookkeeper,  remain- 
ing with  that  institution  until  September, 
[894,  when  he  w.as  elected  cashier  of  the 
Waynesville  Lank,  and  bj  able  management 
has  seen  it  grow  strong  and  able  to  meet 
the  demands  of  a  p  ity  and  rich 

farm  immunity.      In    this   capacity   he 

lias  since  sen  ed.  1  [e  pi  issesses  superior  busi- 
ness ability  and  stands  high  in  commercial 
circles.  I  lis  attention  is  not  wholly  confined 
to  the  hanking  business,  for  he  i-  interested 
in  a  number  of  different  enterprises.  He 
own-  one-sixth  of  the  stock  of  the  Mt.  Nebo 
Anthracite  Coal  Company  at  Russellville, 
Arkansas,  where  an  anthracite  coal  mine  is 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


373 


now  in  successful  operation,  it  being  the 
only  one  known  in  the  United  States  out- 
side  "i"  Pennsylvania.  The  company  ship 
their  coal  throughout  the  west.  Mr.  Martin 
is  also  the  owner  of  a  well  improved  and 
valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eight 
acres  in  Bamett  township,  DeWitt  county. 

(  )n  the  [8th  of  <  >ctober,  1887,  in  Bloom- 
ington,  Indiana,  Mr.  Martin  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Florence  Payne,  who  is 
a  native  of  thai  state,  as  was  also  her  par- 
ent,-. William  L.  and  Catherine  Payne.  Sin- 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Bloomingti 
and  attended  the  Indiana  State  University. 
By  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of 
three  children:  Fay  E.,  James  P.  and 
Philip  S. 

Religiously  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Martin  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Waynesville,  and  fraternally  he  affiliates 
with  Waynesville  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ; 
the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  of  the  same  place: 
Keokuk  Tribe,  I.  O.  R.  M.,  of  Lincoln. 
Since  attaining  hi-  majority  he  ha-  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
cast  hi-  first  presidential  vote  for  James  G. 
Blaine  in  [884,  but  he  ha-  never  cared  for 
political  hom  irs.  1  le  ha-  served  1  >n  the  t<  >\\  n 
board  and  al9o  the  school  board,  and  is  pre- 
eminently public-spirited  and  progressive, 
taking  a  commendable  interest  in  all  enter- 
prises which  he  believes  will  advance  the 
welfare  of  hi-  town  and  county.  His  pleas- 
.  genial  manner  makes  him  many  friends 
and   he  is  held   in   high   regard  by   all   who 

know  him. 

— ■»» » '• — 

PROFESSOR   KMMukY  B.  BENTLEY. 

Professor  Emmory  B.  Bentley,  who  has 
Keen  superintendent  of  the  Clinton  schools 
for  the  past   three  year-,   was  born  in   Wesl 

17 


Middelsex,  Pennsylvania,  Januarj  27,  1865, 

and  i-  a  son  of  William  II.  and  Margaret 
1  Bailev  1  Bentley,  who  were  farming  people. 
Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
and  began  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
Subsequently  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
district  schools,  and  in  this  way  earned  the 
money  t<>  finish  hi-  education,  a-  many  of 
our  ablest  and  most  distinguished  men  have 
done.  In  [885  he  entered  Mt.  Union  Col- 
e  of  Ohio,  alternating  his  attendance 
there  by  teaching  until  he  was  graduated  in 
1  So  1  . 

The   following  year    Professor    Bentley 

was  principal  of  the  schools  at  Makanda, 
Illinois;  was  principal  of  the  high  school  at 
Murphysboro  the  same  length  of  time,  and 
later  wa-  principal  of  the  schools  at  1  )on- 
gola  one  year,  and  Anna  for  four  years. 
This  was  a  gradual  promotion,  being  given 
larger  schools  each  time  and  better  salaries. 
In  [898  he  came  to  Clinton  a-  superintend- 
ent of  the  c it)  schools,  1  '"ich  position  he  has 
e  most  efficient!)  tilled.  During  this  time 
the  schools  have  made  wonderful  progn 
the  enrollment  ha-  been  increased  from  nine 
hundred  to  eleven  hundred  and  twenty-two. 
<  >n  his  arrival  here  the  high  school  had  but 
forty-four  pupil-,  while  to-day  it  has  one 
hundred  and  thirty-eight.  This  has  been 
mainly  due  to  the  untiring  labor-  of  Profes- 
tley,  who  ha-  exerted  all  his  influ- 
ence to  build  up  the  schools  and  pronn 
their  welfare.  The  increase  in  scholarship 
will  eventually  raise  the  literary  standing 
of  the  city  and  he  of  great  benefit  to  coming 
generations.  The  Professor  ha-  not  only 
stimulated  a  desire  in  hi-  pupils  for  the  more 
advanced  studies  but  ha-  also  done  much  for 
their  amusement,  establishing  athletic  and 
oratorical  department-,  in  which  he  has  in- 
troduced foot  hall  and  other  pastimes.  In 
contests    with    other    scnools    the    Clinton 


374 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


schools  have  gained  marked  distinction,  and 
to  day  they  rank  second  to  none.  The  high 
soli,  m]  was  built  in  [867,  and  the  Lincoln 
school  in  iS<)7.    The  present  teachers  are 

follows:     Jennie  M.  G 1.  principal  of  the 

high    school    and    teacher   of   mathematics; 
\11na    Taggart,    first    assistant    and    Latin 
teacher;  Helen  Bryden,  second  assistant  and 
English   teacher;   Edna   Peltz  and   Lida   B. 
Mix  in  the  eighth  grade;  Trophy  \\  right  in 
the  seventh;  Gertrude  Emerson  in  the  sixth 
mti  seventh;  (Catherine  <  (liver  in  the  sixth; 
Grace  McHugh,  Anna  McPherson  and  Fred- 
die Porter  in  the  fifth;  Ida  Strain  and   I 
tha  Miller  in  the  fourth;  Clara  P.rener,  Min- 
Bn  iwn  and  Bell  Gideon  in  the  third :  May 
<  1  inn.  1         L01  Lett  and  Bessie  Sutton  in  the 
ond;  and  Minnie  Bradfield,  Nettie  Berry- 
man  and    \dila    I  Innter  in  the  fit 

Professor  Bentley  married  Miss  Delia 
Chase,  daughter  of  Charles  Chase,  of  Jones- 
boro,  Illinois,  and  they  have  two  children: 
Beulah  B.  and  I  toward  1 1.  Socially  the  Pro- 
fessor is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias fraternity,  lie  is  a  man  of  many  ster- 
ling qualities,  whose  success  in  life  i-  due 
entirelj  to  his  own  unaided  efforts,  and  the 
city  1  if  Clint  m  owes  mi  •  ogress  in 

the  past  three  years  to  his  untiring 


(,!•(  >RGE   D.  GANI  >. 

George  D.  Gano,  one  of  the  prosperous 
farmer-  of  Creek  township,  resides  upon 
section  14.  and  has  been  a  property  owner 
of  DeWitt  county  for  many  year-.  IK 
born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  May  C>. 
and  was  the  son  of  George  and  Jane 
(Steele)  Gano,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Virginia.  The  lather  died  when  our 
subject  was  eighteen  month-  of  age.     Dur- 


ing his  life  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  black- 
smith. 

George  I  >.  is  the  only  survivor  in  a  fam- 
ily of  six  children.  lie  remained  with  his 
mother  until  he  was  five  years  of  age,  when 
he  was  taken  by  Mr.  I'yle.  of  Clarke  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  with  whom  he  remained  until  his 
benefactor  died  when  George  was  Fourteen 
years  old.  Since  then  he  has  depended  upon 
his  own  exertion-.  The  only  education  the 
ho\  obtained  was  in  the  district  schools 
and  he  had  but  Few  of  the  advantages  of- 
d  by  these.  \fter  the  death  of  Mr. 
Pyle  he  worked  for  an  uncle  for  twelve 
months  for  thirty  dollars  and  then  to  work 
for  a  cousin  at  five  dollars  a  month,  remain- 
ing with  this  relative  nearly  a  year.  \itcr 
working  until  he  was  twenty-seven  at  va- 
rious lines  of  business,  our  subject  wen! 
chopping  wood  for  a  railroad  for  four- 
11  dollars  a  month.  After  finishing  that 
labor  he  commenced    farming  upon   rented 

i  in  I  'nil  in  0  lint) .  (  Hiio,  but  la 
moved  hack  to  Clarke  county .  where  he  re- 
sided until  1867,  when  he  came  to  Creek 
town-hip,  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  acres  of  unimpro 
land.  From  time  to  tune  he  has  added  to 
this  property  and  now  has  a  large  farm 
consisting  of  two  hundred  acre-  of  land, 
while  at  one  time  he  owned  four  hundred 
and  seventy-five  acre-.  Upon  this  excellent 
farm  lie  carries  on  general  farming  and 
make-  a  specialty  of  grain  raising,  lie  has 
put  many  thousand  feet  of  tile  on  hi-  prop- 
erty and  has  redeemed  part  of  it  from  the 
-wamp.  making  the  land  one  of  the  he-; 
farms  in  DeWitt  county.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican  and  prior  to  the  formation  oi 
that  party  wa-  a  Whig,  lie  ha-  never  ta- 
ken any  prominent  part  in  party  matter-. 
preferring  to  give  his  attention  to  his  own 
affairs. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ir  subject  mar- 

•un- 
ty.  i  r  of  Abijah  Ward,  ■ 

ro    Mr.   and    Mr-. 
n   born   the    following   chil- 
-      ill   married    D.    X.    Merrick. 
ship,   and    have   six   children — 
Emanu<  Jess       Libbie,    Lloyd, 

rie,  and   Maude.      Margaret   is  the  wife 
-     I  '.   Merrill,  a  brother  of  her 
-  •and.   and   they   reside   in   Creek   town- 
ship; Samuel  is  a  resident  of  Keokuk  coun- 
ty,  Iowa,  and  married  Mellie   B  and 
they  had  one  child,  which  is  now  de 
Frank,  a  resident  of  Creek  township,  this 
inty,  married  Sarah  Mansfield  and  they 
had   four  children,  namely. — Welby,   In  in. 
Roy  and  Bert,  deceased.     William. 

iship,    married     Bina     Edwa 
I    they    had  r     children,     namely. — 

Harr\ .  ina.  and  an  in- 

fant de  id,  living  with  our  sub- 

ject, marrie  a   and  they  had  a 

child  lx>rn  to  them. — May  Marie,  and  Mrs. 

ed   when  the  little  one 
but  an  infant. 

Mr  I  in  the  c 

munity  where  he  has  made  his  home  for  - 
many    years    and    d  the     prosperity 

which  has  attended  his  en 

n  efforts,  integ- 
ritv  and  thrift. 


CHARLES  SWIGART. 

E.  Charles    S    igart,  mayor  of  Farmer 
;.    [Hinoi  lx.rn    in    DeWitt   town- 

ship,  this  county.    March    14.    1859,   and   is 
-  m  of  Jacob  Swigart.     He  was  educated 
in  the  common  and  l>egan  his  busi- 

ness career  as  a  farmer,  purchasing  a  farm 


from  Thomas  Bryant,  of  Blue  Ridge  town- 
ship,   Pratt    county,     and     ii       -  Anna 
township,  DeWitt  county,  consisting 
hundred  and  eight} 

erty  lie  made  many  improvements  anil  con- 
duct general    farming   and   stock-ra 

3  until  1893,  when  he  rented  his 
farm  and  removed  to  Farmer  City,  where 
he   purchased   the    William    Allen    property. 
E     prominent  did  he  become  that  he  was 
lected  as  alderman,  and  after  serving  I 
years  in  191 

mayor  of   Farmer  City,   which   high   office 
he  tills   with  distinction.      In  politics  hi 
a  Republican  and  is  a  leader  of  his  party  in 
litj*. 
Mr.    -      .    rt    married    Clara    Arboyart, 
.rhoyart.  one  of  the 
wealthy  men   of    Farmer   City.      One  child 
n   born   to   Mr.   and    Mr  irt, 

na  ]..  who  died  when  but  fifteen  months 
of  age.  '  '—•  subject  i>  a  member  of  the 
K.  of  P.  and  is  deservedly  popular. 


MRS.  FRANKLIN  VANCE. 

the  best  known  and  most  highly 
respected  la  Clinton,  Illinois,  is  Mrs. 

Franklin   Vance,   whose  maiden   name   was 

becca  Parkes.  She  was  horn  in  Madis 
county.  Ohio,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Sol- 
onion  and  Rebecca  Parkes,  probably  na- 
tives of  Virginia.  Her  husband.  Franklin 
Wince,  was  born  in  Pendleton  county.  W 
Virgini;  -  mber  16,  1837,  and  was  a 
j  •  and  1  larrii  rof)  \  ance. 

When  but  seventeen  years  of  age  he  came 
ge  township,  DeWitt  county.  Il- 
linois, with  his  parents  and  they  settled  on 
fifty-four  acres,  which  they  greatly  im- 
proved.    The  children  born  to  Jesse  Vance 


376 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  wife  were:  Franklin;  Sylvanus;  Den- 
isa;  Pleasant;  Dunn;  Rexread;  Catherine; 
Susan;  Robert;  Julia;  [asbelia;  Belia  and 
Adelia. 

After  his  marriage  Franklin  Vance  set 
lied  upon  a  nice  farm  which  he  placed  in 
a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  the  raising  of  high- 
bred short-horn  cattle  and  draught  horses 
for  the  market,  becoming  very  successful. 
Ih-  death  occurred  on  March  17.  1895,  and 
his  loss  was  greatly  lamented. 

Five  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mis.  Vance,  namely:  An  infant  son.  Mae. 
Eva,  Dais)  \.  and  William  F.,  and  the  four 
children  who  grew  t<>  maturity  proved  to  be 
great   comforts  to  their  parents. 

Mr.  Vance  was  supervisor  for  seven 
years,  having  been  elected  on  the  Demo 
cratic  ticket,  and  was  also  township  trustee 
for  several  years,  always  serving  his  con- 
stituents with  faithfulness  and  upholding  the 
principles  of  his  party.  Socially  he  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  was  great!)  respected  in  the  commun- 
ity in  which  he  resided. 


\l.  VNSON   I".  PARKER 
1  I  »eceas( 

Mans,  01  I'.  Parker,  deceased,  one  of  the 
prominent  early  settlers  of  DeWitt  county, 
Illinois,  was  horn  in  Union  county.  Ohio, 
and  when  a  hoy  moved  with  his  parents  to 
DeWitt  county,  where  he  Heed  until  his 
death,  which  took  place  at  his  home  four 
miles  southwest  of  Clinton,  \pnl  8,  [887, 
at   th,  fortyeight  years,   five  months 

and  twenty-nine  days. 

.Mr.  Parker  was  a  son  of  John  and 
Clarinda    Parker,  who  resided    in    DeWitt 


county  for  a  great  many  years  and  both 
died  here.  The  father  was  a  farmer  of  Har- 
nett township  and  at  their  pleasant  home 
their  deaths  occurred.  Eight  children  were 
horn  to  them,  hut  only  two  are  now    living. 

Mr.  Parker  was  a  supporter  of  the 
Christian  church  and  he  was  school  direc- 
tor ol  fexas  township  for  some  years,  be- 
ing a  Democrat  in  politics.  lie  is  buried 
in  Woodlawn  cemeterj  of  Clintonia  town 
ship,  lie  was  an  industrious,  upright  man.  a 
good  citizen,  kind  and  devoted  to  his  chil- 
dren, and  a  loving  husband,  and  he  is  not 
only  missed  by  his  immediate  family,  bul 
hv    a   large  circle  1  if    friends. 

On  December  [9,  [867,  he  married  Miss 
Maggie  Mills,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  a 
daughter  of  William  \.  and  Artimecia 
(.Curl)  Mills.  Mr.  Mills  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia  and   his   wife   in    Kentucky,      lie   was 

inner  ami  followed  that  occupation  dur- 
ing his  active  life  in  Kentucky.  lie  came 
to   Illinois  with  his   family  in    [860  and 

d   in  Clintonia  township.   DeWitt   county, 
where  he  resumed  his  ch  Ihng,  carry- 

ing on   general    farming  and   stock-raising 

to   some   extent.       lie   died   when   about    fifty 

yeai  me  four  years  after  coming 

to  Illinois.  Mr.  Mills  affiliated  with  the 
Whig  party  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church.  His  wife  survived  him 
many  years  she  died. in  Clintonia  town- 
ship at  tin'  age  of  seventy  two  years.    They 

hail  eight  children  and  seven  of  them  are 
still  living  and  residing  in  this  county, 
namely:  Catherine.  who  married  Eli 
Brown,  a  retired  farmer  of  Clinton;  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Mr.  Parker;  Polly,  who  is  un- 
married: Nathan,  who  died  at  the  age  ol 
twenty-two  years;  Zachariah.  who  resides 
in  Texas  township  and  is  a  farmer;  Lucetta, 
who  is  unmarried  and  resides  in  Clintonia  r 
|ohn.   who  C  a   farmer  and  resides  in  Clin- 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


377 


tonia  township;  Harriet,  who  is  the  wife 
of  [saiah  Samuel,  a  farmer  of  Clintonia 
township;  and  James,  \\h"  is  a  farmer  and 
i  Clintonia  township. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parker  were  born 
four  children,   of   whom   tv  -till   liv- 

ing, namely:    Fran'  in  operating  the 

homestead   farm,  which  cons      -         ninety- 
four  acres  of  land  and  he  has  it  in  excellent 
condition.     He  i-  a  member  >>t"  the  Christian 
church.      Tossie  married   Dickerson    W 
and  they  reside  on  the  home  place  with  Mrs. 

Parker  and  Mrs.  W Is,  being  engaged  in 

farming  with  Frank.  Mr.  Wood  was  lx.rn 
in  Texas  township,  where  he  has  always 
resided.  His  parents,  John  and  Sus 
(Norris)  Wood,  are  -till  living  in  that 
township,  his  father  being  a  farmer.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickerson  Wood  three 
children  have  been  born,  namely:  Lloyd, 
horn  on  December  1.  1894;  Bruce  C.  horn 
Aug  n:    ami    Marguerite,  horn  on 

February   jo.    1901.      At   the   present   time 
Mr.  Wo, ..I  is  collector  of  the  township.    He 
is   a  member  i<i  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd   Fellows  and  lie  and  his   wife  be' 
to  the  Christian  church. 


URIAH   ELIHU  HUNT. 

Among  the  leading  farmers  of  Nixon 
township  is  recognized  Uriah  Elihu  Hunt. 
He  was  born  in  Creek  township,  Jasper 
county,    Illinois.   June    28      (849,   and    is 

William  and  Margaret  (Timmons) 
Hunt.  He  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and 
she  of  Tennessee  <  >ur  subject's  paternal 
grandfather,  Stephen  Hunt,  was  a  native 
-■I  Virginia  and  was  a  pioneer  of  ('reek 
township.  Jasper  county.   Illinois,  where  he 


improved  a  half  section  of  laud  on  what  is 
known  as  Hunt's  branch,  this  place  being 
named  after  him.  The  postofhee  at  Hunt 
City  i*  al-o  named  for  the  family.  His 
wife,  whose  name  was  Elizabeth,  bore  him 

en  children,  namely:  William,  who  be- 
came our  subject's  father:  Sarah,  who  be- 
came  Mrs.  William  Henson ;  Joseph ;  Steph- 
en: Uriah;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Levi 
Bonham;  and  Mary,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Alex  White.  Both  grandparents  lived 
and  died  in  Jasper  county,  he  reaching  the 

d   old    age   of   ninety-three  The 

maternal  father  was  William  Timmons, 
formerly  of  Ohio,  a  pioneer  and  prominent 
farmer  of  Edgar  county.  Illin 

William  Hunt,  the  father  of  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  intn  his  review, 
was  reared  and  married  in  Ohio,  and  with 
his  parents  they  all  came  to  Illinois  in  1837, 
locating  in  Jasper  county.  He  drove  a  one- 
horse  wagon,  with  his  wife,  son  and  daugh- 
ter, and  his  father  drove  three  horses  with 
his  family.  William  Hunt  took  up  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  he 
improved  and  at  the  same  time  worked  at 
the  carpenter's  trade,  of  which  he  has  a 
g  d  knowledge.  Here  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days,  dying  in  [852  at  the 
age  of  thirty-four  years.  He  was  the  fa- 
ther of  ten  children,  of  whom  eight  grew 
to  maturity,  as  follows:  Francis,  Sarah 
married  Norman  Matheney,  Nathan,  John, 
Mary  became  Mr-.  Louis  Dew  William. 
Uriah  E.,  our  subject:  ami  James.  All 
are  now  deceased  except  L'riah.  ami  Nathan. 

L'riah  Hunt  was  reared  on  the  "Id 
homestead  in  Jasper  county,  where  he  re- 
ceived as  good  an  education  as  the  public 
schools  at  that  time  afforded.  At  the  ; 
of  seventeen  years  he  was  employed  a-  a 
farm    hand    in    Cole    count  v.    where    he    re- 


3/8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mained  two  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  rented  land  in  the  same  county  and  tilled 
the  soil  for  his  own  interests.  Here  he  re- 
mained until  [875,  when  lie  purchased 
eight)  acres  of  land  in  Creek  township,  Ma- 
son county,  continuing  there  for  seven 
years,  lie  then  disposed  "t'  that  property 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  sections  32  and  33  in  Nixon  township, 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

'in  December  24,  [868,  Mr.  Hunt  took 
for  a  helpmate  Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of 
Henrj  Beem,  of  Cole,  Illinois,  hut  former- 
ly from  <  >hio.  This  union  was  blessed  with 
twelve  children,  namely:  Henry  A.;  Liset- 
tie.  deceased;  Eva,  now  Mrs.  William  Ba- 
ker; Emma  married  Gibson  Monroe;  Dor- 
an;  Charles;  Mamie  became  wife  of  Charles 
\dams;  Roberl  <  '. :  \da  :  Lizzie;  William; 
and  Lester.  While  only  fifty-two  years 
age,  Mr.  limit  ha  en  grandchildren. 

Religiouslj  Mr.  limit  and  family  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Weldon  Lodge, 
No.  746,  V  F.  &  A.  M..  Mozarl  Lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Modern  Woodmen, 
1787,  Protection  League,  \To.  235.  Po- 
litically he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  has  held  office  of  supervis*  r,  col- 
lector and  assessor  of  Nixon  township,  He 
ha-  al\\a\>  given  his  support  to  tli-  >><.•  m< 
ures  which  he  believed  to  prove  of  public 
hem 


M  i^RVEY  GRIFFITH. 

Among  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Harp 
township  is  Harvey  Griffith,  of  section  t6, 
who  was  born  on  (  Ictober  22,  [853,  and  is  a 
sun  of  Bayard  and  Leah  (Deffenbauh) 
Griffith.  The  father  was  born  in  Ohio, 
about  [819,  and  was  educated  in  Ross  coun- 


ty, that  state.  Upon  coming  to  Illinois  he 
first  settled  in  Mason  county,  and  entered 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  prairie 
land.  On  this  he  huilt  a  cabin  and  broke  the 
land  with  very  primitive  appliances.  At  the 
time  oi  his  death  he  owned  about  two  thou- 
sand acres  in  Harp  township,  DeWitt  coun- 
ty, three  hundred  acres  in  Shelby  county, 
Illinois,  and  one  thousand  acres  in  Kansas 
I  lis  wife  died  in  [858,  and  the  father  later 
married  Miss  Savilla  Reed.  lie  died  in 
1892.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  the  fol 
lowing  children:  Levi,  a  farmer  of  Chase 
COUllty,  Kansas;  Wesley,  an  extensive  farm- 
er nf  St.  Clair  county,  Missouri;  Newton, 
who  is  a  farmer  of  Chase  county,  Kansas. 
and  owns  twenty-five  hundred  acres;  Daniel 

and  Uaac,  dec-eased:  CdVnelillS,  a  farmer  oi 
Nebraska;  our  subject;  and  Amanda,  who 
married  C.  C.  Wrighl  and  they  reside  in 
Clinton.  By  his  second  marriage  the  fathei 
had  six  children  and  five  of  them  are  still 
living.  I  le  was  .1  I  lenn  icrat,  hut  ne\  er 
aspired   to  ofl 

Harvey  Griffith  was  educated  in  the 
trie!  schools  and  when  he  was  seventeen 
he  went  west  1. 1  Minnesota  and  Kansas, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  twent) 
live.  At  this  time  he  returned  home  and 
married  Ida  Bodkin,  who  was  born  in  Lo- 
gan county,  Illinois,  and  was  the  daughter 
of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Walter)  Bod- 
kin, both  of  whom  were  native  of  Ohio 
and  are  now   dead. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Griffith  v 
hack  to  Minnesota  and  there  remained  for 
eight  years  engaged  in  farming,  lie  then 
returned  to  this  county  and  now  owns  in 
addition  t.i  the  one  hundred  acres  he  re- 
ceived from  his  father's  estate,  twenty  acres 
he  added  to  it.  This  farm  he  devotes  to 
grain  raising  and  he  has  been  very  success- 
ful.     In    politics    he    is    a    stanch    Democrat 


THE    BI<  (GRAPHICAL   REC(  >RD. 


179 


and  is  a  man  held  in  high  esteem  by  his 
neighbors.  To  himself  and  wife  have  been 
1  m  .rn  three  children,  two  of  whom  aru  now 
living,  as  follows:  Jacob,  who  died  when 
eight  years  "i"  age;  and  <  lertrude  and  Frank, 
who  arc  at  home. 


EDWARD  DANISON. 

Among    the    well-known    representative 

business  men  of  Lane,  Illinois,  Mr.  Edward 

nison,  of  the  firm  of  Danison  &    llart- 

:k,  grain  and  lumber  dealers,  is  worthy 

of  special  mention  not  only  on  account  of 

-  business  enterprise,  but  also  because 
his  many  excellent  traits  of  character.  He 
was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  No- 
vember 7.  [854,  and  was  a  son  of  Isaac 
and  Barbara  [Bossinger)  Danison.  the 
former  a  native  of  Maryland  and  the  latter 
of  Pennsylvania.  The  father  moved  from 
his  native  state  to  Ohio  with  his  parents 
when  yet  a  bo)  and  settled  in  Perry  county, 
where  he  married,  hnt  later  went  to  Frank- 
lin county,  the  same  state.  When  our  sub- 
ject was  eleven  years  of  age  the  family 
came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Creek  town- 
ship, DeWitt  county,  where  the  father  pur- 
chased land  and  engaged  in  farming  for 
a  number  of  year-.  He  died  in  188]  at  the 
nty-eight  and  was  buried  in  Rose 
cemetery.  Creek  township.  His  widow  is 
living  "ii  the  farm  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
six.  Of  the  mx  children  born  to  them. 
four  are  now  living,  as  follows:  Eli,  who 
live*  at  home  with  his  mother  farming  the 
old  homestead;  Mary,  widow  of  Amps 
linegarden  and  a  resident  of  Br-anW4 
township;  Michael,  who  is  living  in  Idaho 
Springs,  Colorado,  where  he  is  mining;  and 
Edward,  our  subject. 


The  early  education  of  our  subject  was 
received  in  Ohio.  He  came  to  Illinois  with 
hi>  parents,  remaining  upon  the  home  farm 
until  he  reached  the  aye  of  twenty-one.  when 
he  began  business  life  for  himself.  After 
his  marriage,  winch  occurred  when  he  \ 
twenty-five,  he  rented  a  farm  in  Dou 
las  comity.  Illinois,  for  three  years  and 
then  returned  to  he  Witt  county,  where 
he  purchased  land  in  Creek  township,  three 
and  one  half  miles  southeast  of  the  town  of 
Cane.  This  farm  he  operated  for  four 
years,  giving  the  greater  portion  of  his  at- 
tention •  sing  for  the  market  and 
making  quite  a  -  f  this  undertaking. 
In  1894  he  came  to  Lane  and  purchased 
elevator,  which  he  conducted  together  with 
Tillman   Lane  for  two  years.    This  partner- 

1  was  then  dissolved  and  Mr.  Danison 
embarked  in  the  hardware  business  and  con- 
tinued in  this  line  for  about  a  year.  In  n;oo 
Mr.  Danison  formed  a  partnership  with  Em- 
erson Hartsock,  under  the  firm  style  of  Dan- 
ison &  Hartsock.  They  have  erected  a  line 
elevator  which  has  a  capacity  of  thirty  thou- 
sand bushels  of  grain,  and  conduct  a  nour- 
ishing grain,  lumber  and  coal  busine 
which  has  already  assumed  large  propor- 
tions. By  adopting  and  sustaining  a  uni- 
form method  of  upright  dealing,  the  mem- 
bers of  this  firm  have  established  themsel 
firmly  in  the  commercial  life  of  Lane  and 
built  for  themselves  a  g 1  financial  stand- 
ing among  the  soli<l  business  men  of  the  vil- 
lage and  surrounding  country. 

Mr.  Danison  was  married  on  Xovember 
25>   l,s;7.s-  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Lane,  a  native 

DeWitt  county,  and  the  daughter  of 
Jerry  Lane,  who  was  one  of  the  earl)  set- 
tlers ot  this  county  and  is  now  residing 
in  Lane.  Three  children  were  horn  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Danison.  namely:  Eli  <  Mis.  who 
died    at    the   aye   of   three   years;    La    May, 


3  So 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  Edward 
William,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Danison  are  very 
active  members  of  the  Christian  church,  in 
which  they  arc  highly  respected  and  to 
whose  support  the}  are  very  liberal  contrib- 
utors. Mr.  Danison  is  a  member  ol  Gil- 
man  Lodge,  No.  455.  K.  of  1'..  and  is  also 
a  member  of  Lane  Camp,  X".  1782,  M 
em  Wpodmen  of  America.  In  politics  lie 
is  a  strong  Republican  ami  cast  hi-  first 
vote  for  I  'residenl  I  fayes,  bul  has  ne 
sought  or  held  office,  feeling  that  his  pri- 
vate affairs  were  more  than  sufficient  to 
occupy  his  time. 


W.  C.  WILLI  VMS 


More  than  sixty-two  years  have  passed 
since  this  gentleman  arrived  in  DeWitt 
county,  and  he  is  justly  numbered  among 
her  honored  pioneers  and  leading  citizens. 
During  all  of  this  time  he  ha-  made  his 
In  inn-  in  Harp  township  and  ha-  been  prom- 
inently identified  with  hi  iltural  inter- 
ests, lie  was  born  near  Covington,  Kenton 
county,  Kentucky,  October  23,  1823,  and  is 
a  -.in  of  Presley  and  Rebecca  (Bohannan) 
Williams,  both  native-  of  Virginia.  The 
William-  family  came  originalh  from  W 
and  was  founded  in  America  in  early  colon- 
ial days.  Our  subject's  grandfather,  John 
William-,  took  part  in  the  early  Indian  wars 
and  also  in  the  Revolution,  and  after  the  lat- 
ter struggle  removed  with  his  family  to  k 
tucky,  the  father  of  our  subject  being  at  that 
time  a  mere  lad.  Presley  William-  grew  to 
manhood  in  that  -tate  and  there  followed 
farming  until  called  to  his  final  rest  at  the 
age  of  forty-eight  years.  Hi-  widow  subse- 
quently came  to  Illinois  with  our  subject  in 


[839.  In  the  family  were  ten  children,  hut 
only  three  are  now  living,  namely:  -Mr-. 
Lizzie  I'..  Harrold,  a  widow  living  in  De- 
Witt  county;  Sarah,  a  resident  of  Jackson- 
ville, Illinois;  and  W.  C,  of  this  review. 

Mr.  Williams  acquired  a  limited  educa- 
tion in  the  subscription  schools  of  Ken- 
tuck),  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  came  with 
the  family  to  Illinois,  hi-  home  having  since 
been  in  DeWitt  county,  lie  lived  with  his 
mother  in  what  is  now  Harp  township  until 
he  wa-  married.  On  hi-  arrival  here  there 
were  but  few  families  in  the  town-hip.  and 
these  made  their  home  in  the  timber,  SO  that 
for  many  years  one  could  ride  or  drive  over 
the  prairie-  in  any  direction  without  passing 

a  single  cabin.     Hunting  was  also  g 1  for 

many  year-,  ami  Mr.  Williams  has  often 
-ecu  forty  or  fifty  deer  in  a  herd.  I  le  would 
break  prairie  with  four  or  six  yoke  of  oxen 
and  a  twentv  two  inch  plow,  it  being  impos- 
sible to  use  horses  for  that  purpose  a-  they 
could  not  stand  the  hard  work.  Mr.  Will- 
iam- \  i-iied  ( ihicagi  1  in  [842  and  again  in  the 
spring  of  [901,  witnessing  the  remarkable 
changes  that  had  been  made  in  that  time,  the 
place  being  l>nt  a  -mall  town  when  he  first 
went    there. 

1  >n  the  5th  of  <  (ctober,  [843,  Mr.  Will- 
iams married  Mi--  I.ucimla  Harrold.  who 
was  horn  in  Virginia,  March  [8,  [822,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Eli  Harrold.  one  of  the 
earl}  -eider-  of  DeWitt  county.  Six  chil- 
en  blessed  this  union,  namely:  1  1  )  Eli 
Presley,  born  Augusl  [9,  [844,  is  now  a 
residenl  of  Kansas.  He  married  Stella 
Fletcher  and  they  have  two  children.  Elmer 
and  Charlie.  1 -' )  Martha  Ann.  horn  June 
[9,  [846,  i-  the  wife  of  George  Lemon,  of 
Kansas,  ami  they  have  one  child,  <  >ra.  (3) 
Rebecca  Frances  married  Philetis  Wakefield, 
and  .lied  at  the  age  of  thirty  five  years,  leav- 
ing three  children,  Ira,  Bertie  and  Lulu.    (4) 


W.   C.   WILLIAMS. 


MRS.   W.  C.   WILLIAMS. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Emma  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Fisher,  of  Chi- 
•id  they  have  one  child,  Nettie, 
ira  married  M.  C.  Enos,  and  died,  leaving 
children,  Henry.  Mattie,  Freddie,  Delia. 
Bessie  and  Sarah.     (6)  Luella  is  the  wife  of 
Walter   Nixon,  of  Chicago,   and   they   have 
two  children.  Charles  and  Luella.     Afte 
happy    married    life    of   almost    fifty-eight 
years,  the  wife  of  "tir  subject  passed  away. 
March  15.  1  «><>i .  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
DeWitt  cemetery.     She  was  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church  and 
a  n  lable  lady. 

two  years   after  his  marriage   Mr. 
Williams  remained  with  his  mother  on  the 
home   farm   and   then   purchased   one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Harp  town- 
ship near  his  present  home,  only  forty  a. 
which  had  been  broken  and  a  log  house 
1,  fourteen  by  sixteen  feet,  stood 
thereon.     This  place  was  his  home  for  many 
rs  and  is  still  in  \  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Williams  met  with  marked  success  in 
his  farming  operations,  and  as  time  passed 
added  to  his  landed  until  he  had 

eight  hundred  acres,  but  has  since  given  a 
part  of  this  to  his  children,  still  retaining 
about  five  hundred  acres.      He  made  a  spe- 
cialty of  the  raising  and  feeding  of  stock  for 
market,  which  he  found  a  profitable  source 
income,  and   for  year-   was  the  leading 
k-dealer  of  his  locality,  hut  for  the  p 
years  he  has  practically  lived  a  retired 
life.      Always    a    hard-working,    ambitious 
man.  his  -  in  life  is  but  the  result 

his  own  industry,  perseverance  and  good 
management.  Thoroughly  reliable  in  all 
things,  his  word  in  business  transactions  is 
considered  ;:     g  as  his  bond,  and  he 

justly  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  and 
representative  citizens  of  the  county,  as  well 

ne  of  its  honored  pioneers.     In  politi 
he   was   originally   a   Whig,   but   is   now   a 


stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  is  an  earnest  member  of  the  Methodist 
Protestant  church. 


W.  W.  JOHNSTON. 

One  of  the  early  and   highly   respected 

citizens  of  DeWitt  county  residing  at  the 
village  of  Kenney  is  W.  W.  Johnston,  who 
was  born  in  Madison  county.  <  >hio,  on  June 
t3,  1*47.  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1852  with 
parents,  John  and  Mary  i  McClem- 
ans)  Johnston.  The  father  was  also  a 
native  of  Madison  county.  Ohio,  and  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  When  about  forty- 
eight   years   of  age  he  came  to    Illinois  and 

tied  in  Wilson  township.  DeWitt  county, 
where  he  rented  a  farm  and  cultivated  it 
until  the  spring  of  [867,  when  he  moved 
with  his  family  to  Tunbridge  township  and 
engaged  in  farming  on  sections  (,.  15  and 
10.  Here  he  resided  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  on  the  home  farm  in  [865.  He 
never  aspired  to  public  office  and  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  a  very  public- 
spirited  man.  His  widow  survived  him  un- 
til 1898,  when  she  died  in  Kenney  at  the 
home  of  our  subject.  She  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  church  and  has  been  since 
childhood.  She  is  buried  at  Kenney.  Thi 
parents  had  five  children,  two  of  whom  died 
in     infancy.     The    living    are    as   folio 

IC  .who  makes  his  home  with  our  sub- 
ject, having  retired  from  active  life,  and 
held  some  of  the  township  offices,  among 
which  was  that  of  constable;  William,  our 
subject:  Nancy  Margaret,  who  married 
George  E.  Mitchell,  a  minister  of  the  Chi 
tian  church  of  Olney,  Richland  county.  Illi- 
nois. The  deceased  children  were  I  at 
and  Mary. 


3S6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


William  \V.  Johnston,  our  subject,  re- 
mained "ii  the  home  farm  until  he  attained 
maturity,  associated  with  his  Father  in  farm- 
ing, and  continued  to  manage  the  farm  a 
few  years  after  his  father's  death,  llis 
earl)  education  was  obtained  in  the  common 
sch' miK  of  the  neighborhood  and  of  Tun- 
bridge.  In  [868  he  left  the  home  farm, 
which  was  situated  on  part  of  the  prfeent 

of  the  town  of  Kenney,  which  hi 
to  survey  and  laj  out.  \ftcr  leaving  the 
farm  Mr.  Johnston  became  a  clerk  in  a 
large  mercantile  establishment  in  Kenney 
and  in  1876  lie  engaged  in  business  for  him- 
self in  partnership  with  Robert  Orr  under 
the  firm  style  of  Orr  &  Johnson,  ami  they 
conducted  a  general  store.  This  partner- 
ship :  for  twenty-two  years  without 
change.  In  [898  Messrs.  Orr  and  John- 
ston disposed  of  their  business  and  for  two 
years  Mr.  Johnston  engaged  in  a  gem 
collection  and  real  estate  lntsiness  and 
justice  of  the  peace,  which  office  he  still 
holds.  1 1<  ted  a  blacksmith  shop  on 
the  site  of  his  old  store  building  in  [899, 
hut  lie  does  not  give  his  personal  attention 
to  this  business,  aldiough  he  l;i\cs  it  a  gen- 
eral oversight.  \t  the  present  time  he  is 
one  of  the  aldermen  of  the  village,  lie  was 
one  of  the  tirst  members  of  the  board  ol 
trustees  of  the  village  atnl  has  been  holding 
that  office  almost  continuously  since,  and 
has  been  president  of  the  town  hoard  for  the 
past  two  years,  lie  has  held  every  official 
p. -in.  m  in  the  township  with  the  exception 

supervisor  and  many  of  them  for  more 
that  one  term.  Mr.  Johnston  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Henderson 
Lodge,  No.  8202;  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  Camp  No.  4.20;  Court  of  Honor; 
and  the  Farmers'  Federation,  lie  has  been 
cretar)  of  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Kenney 
since  its   organization.      He   has   also   held 


office  in  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
since  the  organization  of  the  camp  at  Ken- 
ne\ .  Mr.  Johnsti  in  is  als<  1  a  a  insistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church,  which  his  fam- 
ily also  attend. 

In  1N74  Mr.  Johnston  was  married  in 
Springfield,  Illinois,  to  A.ddie  B.  Turley, 
who  was  a  native  of  Sangamon  count)  and 
a  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  B.  1  Ken 
ney)  Turley.  Mr.  Turley  was  a  native  of 
nd  n  ming  to  1 1 1  in-  >is  at  an  early 
day,  the  greater  part  of  his  life  was  spent 
in  Sangamon  county,  lie  moved  to  Ken 
ney.  where  he  died  about  [866,  after  a  few 
years'  residence.  By  occupation  he  was  a 
farmer.  The  mother  of  Mis.  Johnston  is 
still  living  and  resides  with  our  subject 
part  of  tiie  time  and  the  remainder  of  her 
time  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter  in 

■•anion  o  unty.  The  uncle  of  Mrs.  John- 
Kenney,  resided  at  Kenney  for 
a  greal  many  years  and  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers.  lie  helped  to  la)  out  the 
town  and  it  was  named  after  him,  although 
he  lived  hut  a  sh.n  Mine  after  that  honor 
was  ci  inferred  upon  him. 

Mr.  and  J\li's.  Johnston  w  ere  \><  irn  ten 
children,  all  of  whom  ate  still  living,  name- 
ly: Sylvia  Max,  now  the  wife  of  W.  L. 
Watson,  cif  Macon  count),  four  miles  south 
of  Kenney.  and  has  one  child,  Clifford; 
Lusa  Myrtle,  who  reside^  at  home:  William 
II..  who  resides  at  home  and  is  engaged 
with  a   railroad:    Robert    Melvin,   who  is   at 

lie  and  is  a  hlacksnlith  by  trade,  hav- 
ing charge  of  his  father's  shop:  "In  Imo, 
who  is  at  In  une  ;  Edna  K.,  in  &hi  ml :  Gro 

and    Ki\  Tom.   twins:    Lolo.   who 

is  at  home:  Raymond  T..  w  ho  i>  at  home. 

When  Mr.  Johnston  first  came  to  Tun- 
bridge  township,  DeWitt  count)'  was  nearly 
all  wild  land,  lie  has  seen  the  county 
changed    from    its    wild    state   into   the    rich 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   REO  >RD. 


farm  land  it  i>  today  and  has  been  one  of 
the  men  who  have  helped  make  it  what  it 
i>.     He  has  always  taken  a  great  d< 
interest  in  the  improvements  of  the  ■ 

specially  in  educational  matters,  and  he 
eon  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
at    man.  and    vva-   clerk   of   the 

when  the  >ch< •«  1  building  erect- 

ed.    He  considers  the  sch  this  town- 

ship sufficiently  thorough  to  give  hi>  ehil- 
ilrcn   a    g  2  nunon    <ch< « ,1 

training.    He  has  always  been  a  pn 
man.  public-spirited,  ami  is  held  in  the  high- 
m  1>\  all  his  fellow  citizens. 


Witt  county,  and  the  children  lx>rn  of  this 
union  are  as  follow  ecil 

Allen  and   Pearl.     In  politics  Mr.  Rutlei 

a  Democrat  and  is  now  serving  as  road 
commissioner.     Although  still  a  young  man 

has  demonstrated  his  ability  as  a  farmer 
and  his  influence  among  the  people  of  the 
township  i-  giving  him   an  e 

sition  in  the  community  and  making  for 
l.im  many  friends. 


CHARLES  GLENDIXXING,   Y.   S. 


WILLIAM  J    <  KSOX  RUTLEDGE. 

Among  the  prosperous  farmer-  i  f  Rut- 
township,  DeWitt  county,   Illinois,  is 
William  Jackson   Rutledge.  who  owns  and 

operate-  a  line  farm  and  takes  an  active  in- 
in  the  affairs  of  the  locality  in  which 
he   resid 

•■  subject  was  horn  on  the  old  home- 
stead on  -  7,  that. township,  in 
and  here  mal  lli-  education 
was  received  in  the  schools  of  the  district 
during  the  summer  months  1' 
ither  upon  the  farm.  When  he  had 
attained  his  majority  he  began  farmii  . 
himself  upon  forty  acre-  of  land,  to  which 
he  has  added  cue  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
All  tl  Jaced  under  a  tine  state  of 
cultivation  andjpuilt  the  necessary  barn  and 
I  comfortable  house. 
At  one  time  hi>  farm  consisted  of  two  hun- 
dred acres,  of  which  his  father  purchased 
one  hundred  and  he  one  hundred  acre-,  but 
lie  ha-  di-po-ed  of  part  of  this. 

Mr.  Rutledge  was  married  to  Lucy  Par- 
\in.  a  daughter  of  George  Parvin,  of  De- 


Among  the  popular  and  prosperous  men 
of  Clinton,  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  one  that 
deserves  special  mention  i-  Char'  -  i. 
Glendinning,  Y.  S.,  who  was  horn  in  Glas- 
-  otland,  on  April  23,  1863.  Hi-  par- 
ents moved  to  Canada  in  [864,  having 
-ailed  from  Glasgow.  The  father  was  a 
weaver  by  trade  and  followed  that  occupa- 
tion  all   his   life,   although   he  also   fanned 

some  extent  in  the  County  of  Peal,  <  >n- 
tario,   Canada.      The  mother  died   in    iv 
at  the  iv  year-.     (  >ur  subject 

was  one  of  a  family  of  five  .n'irls  and  three 
boys  and  he  has  a  brother  who  i-  also  a 
veterinary  surgeon. 

Dr.  Glendinning  was  educated  first  in 
the  common  sch  Canada  and  at  the 

of  twenty-three  he  entered  <  mtario  Vet- 
erinary College  at  Toronto,  and  there  he 
remained    for   two  year-,   taking    the     full 

rse.  In  1889  he  was  graduated  from 
the  institution  and  came  direct  to  Clinton, 
Illinois,  where  he  opened  an  office  and  has 
since  practiced  his  profession,  lli-  client- 
have  so  increased  that  he  now  has  11 
than  he  can  attend  to  and  is  sent  for  from 
all  parts  of  the   four  neighboring  counties 

•  m  December  25,  1891,  he  married  Miss 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Florence  Newton,  who  is  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois, and  whose  parents  are  now  both  de- 
ceased. Dr.  Glendinning  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  the  Mutual 
Protection  League,  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America  and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  but  does  not 
take  an  active  part  in  party  affairs.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the 
ist  church,  in  which  he  is  a  steward 
and  treasurer  of  the  Sunday  school, 
Mrs.  Glendinning  is  a  teacher  of  the  Sun- 
day school  and  vice-president  of  the 
Epworth  I  eague.  They  are  both  very 
worth)  people  and  highly  esteemed  in  the 
imunity   where   they    reside. 


J  \.\li:s  II.  WHITEHEAD. 

James  II.  Whitehead,  who  is  the  proud 
possessor  of  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
Texas  township,  and  is  himself  one  ot  the 
most  scientific  and  thorough  prosecutors 
of  agricultural  enterprises  iii  the  state, 
native  of  Illinois,  and  was  horn  in 
Montgomerj  county.  August  20,  1850.  1 1  i- 
parent-  are  John  Q.  and  Leah-(Light- 
ner  1  Whitehead,  the  fi  >rmer  a  nativ  e  of  But- 
ler  county.  Ohio,  and  an  engineer  by  trade. 
The  elder  Whitehead  is  a  man  of  pr<  >n<  iunced 
characti  and  is  now  living  in  ret 

ment  on  a  small  fruit  farm  in  Tunbrii 
township,  lie  came  to  Illinois  in  (849,  and 
after  remaining  for  a  year  returned  to  the 
vicinity  of  Hamilton.  Ohio,  where  he  was 
an  engineer  for  nearly  eight  years.  He  sub- 
equently  for  a  time  lived  in  Indiana,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1S07.  settled  in  Woodford 
countv.  near  Roanoke.  Illinois,  and  1 
in  farming  for  some  years.  Eventually, 
however,  he  settled  in  Tunbridge  township. 


DeWitl  county,  where  he  now  lives,  and 
where,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  he  is 
hale  and  hearty,  and  able  to  take  his 
place  among  the  active  citizens  oi  the 
place.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  in  religion  is  a  hard  shell  Baptist.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  [863  in 
Compan)  1.  <  >ue  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
third  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  participating  in 
s,  Hue  of  the  impi  n'tant  battles.  I  le  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Vrmy  of  the  Republic.  The 
mother  of  Mr.  Whitehead  died  at  the  home 
in  Norristown,  Indiana,  when  he  was  eight 
years  ol  age,  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery 
of  that  place.  'The  lather  later  married  Ma- 
tilda Phillips,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  the 
mother  of  six  children.  Of  the  first  union 
there  were  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
livini 

Mr.  Whitehead  acquired  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  DeWitt  county.  Illi- 
nois, and  shortly  after  the  death  of  his 
mother  he  began   to   worl<  on   the    farms  in 

the  neighborh 1,  and  was  thus  very  early 

impressed  with  the  serifcus  and  responsible 
side  of  life.  By  1886  he  was  enabled  to  pur- 
chase the  present  home  place,  which  he  has 
improved  and  transformed  into  a  model  and 
remunerative  property.  .\t  first  the  family 
lived  in  a  small  frame  house,  hut  in  (899  he 
erected  the  substantial  and  comfortable  rural 
house,  and  has  also  put  up  splendid  barns, 
and  convenient  general  buildings.  He  is 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing, and  has  a  line  orchard  which  yii 
abundantly.  His  land  comprises  one  hun- 
dred and  twent  res  of  land  on  section 
j j.  besides  live  acres  of  timber,  and  he  also 
rents  and  farms  two  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  on  section  27.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  has  held  the  office  of  road 
commissioner  anil   school  director.      Frater- 


JAMES   H.  WHITEHEAD. 


MRS.  J.    H.   WHITEHEAD. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL    REG  >RD. 


nally  he  is  connected  with  the  Independent 

Order  of  <  ><I<1  Fellows,   Maroa   Lodge  No. 

3H 

January  i,  1879,  Mr.  Whitehead  married 
Maggie  Williams,  a  native  of  Macon  county, 
Illinois,    daughter   of    Andrew    and    Susan 
(  Funk  1  Williams,  the  former  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania.   Andrew  Williams  came  to  Illinois 
at  a  verj  earl)  day,  and  engaged  in  farming 
for  many  years  in  Mad  mi  county,  win 
died  on  June  j~.  1901,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years.      To   Mr.   and   Mrs.    Whitehead 
have    been    born    the    following    children: 
Myrtle:    Edward,    who   is    deceased; 
Lewis;  Sylvia;  Leonard;  James;  and  l 
The  children  were  all  horn  in  DeWitt  county 
and  all  were  educated  in  the  district  schools 
of  the  township. 


SAMUEL  J.   CASH. 

nuel  J.  Cash,  postmaster  at  Rowell, 
Texas  township,  DeWitt  county.  Illinois, 
who  is  also  conducting  a  general  store  and 
is  the  operator  for  the  Western  Union  Tele- 
ph  Company  at  that  place,  was  horn  in 
Clairsville,  Belmont  county.  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 8,  [857,  and  is  the  sou  of  Samuel  J. 
and  Elizabeth  M.  (Adams)  Cash.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  was  a  hatter 
by  trade,  which  occupation  he  followed  un- 
til he  removed  to  Illinois  in  [849.  Here  In- 
located  in  Tazewell  county  and  engaged  in 
farming-  until  1863.  At  that  time  he  en- 
listed and  served  during  the  remainder  of 
theli  Civil  war.  participating  in  the  march 
to  the  sea  under  Sherman.  His  health  was 
greatly  impaired  by  the  hardships  he  en- 
dured and  he  died  six  months  after  leaving 
the  service.  The  family  having  moved  to 
Metamora,  Woodford  county.  Illinois,  dur- 
ing his  absence,  he  died  at  this  place.    The 


mother,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Ohio, 
died  about  ten  years  ago  al  Gridli  .  Mc- 
Lean county.  Illinois.  She  and  her  hus- 
band had  eighl  children,  seven  of  whom 
now  living  and  our  subject  was  the  fifth  in 
order  of  birth. 

Samuel  J.   Cash,  Jr..   remained  at   home 
until   he  attained   the  age  of   twenty-three, 
when  he  learned  to  be  a  telegraph  operator, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Vandal ia  Com- 
pany at   Farrington,  Illinois.       \\<.-t\-  he  re- 
mained   for   one  year   and   then    was   tra 
ferred  to  Kenney,  in  DeWitt  county,  wl 
he   worked    for   two   years.      His    next    re 
moval   was  to   Rowell,  where  he  has  since 
resided   and    is   still    station   agenl    for   the 
Vandalia   Company   at   this  point   and  also 
agent  for  the  Adams  Express  Company.    In 
his  several  capacities   Mr.  Cash  gives  entire 
satisfaction   and    is    highly    respected    in    the 
community.       He  is  a  member    of  Kenney 

tamp.     No.    4_'''.      Modern     W linen     of 

America.      In   politics   he   is   a    Republican, 
but  has  never  held  office. 

<  >n  January  _'4.  [886,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Addie  D.  Armstrong,  who  was 
born  in  Tunbridge  township.  DeWitt  coun- 
ty, and  is  a  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Mary 
(Burkett)  Armstrong.       Hiram  Armstn 

■  a  fanner  of  thai  township,  where  he 
lived  until  a  few  years  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  about  five  years  ago  al  New- 
man, Douglas  county,  Illinois,  and  his  wife 
died  about  two  years  earlier.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cash  five  children  have  bees  born  and 
four  of  them  are  still  living.  They  were  as 
follows:  Leah  and  Eva,  both  at  home:  B 
tie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years; 
William  and  Cordon.  All  of  the  living 
children  are  receiving  excellent  educations 
in  the  public  schools  and  all  of  them  were 
horn  at   Rowell,    Texas  township,  where  Mr. 

Cash  has  resided  since  his  marriage. 


396 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ARCHIBALD  T.    McKINNEY. 

One  of  the  early  settlers  and  highl)  re 
spected  citizens  of  DeWitt  county,  Illinois, 
is  Archibald  T.  McKinney,  who  owns  and 
occupies  two  hundred  acres  of  rich  farm 
land  on  section  22,  Texas  township,  lie 
is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  May  24,  [837, 
and  moved  from  there  October  14.  1847, 
with  his  parents  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois, 
they  settling  in  Clintonia  township,  where 
the)  remained  ten  yea 

Our  subject   is  a  son  of   Archibald  T. 

;  Polly  (Givens)  .McKinney.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  cam< 
Indiana  at  an  early  day  and  located  in 
Pi  sey  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
until  moving  i"  Illinois.  After  coming  t'> 
this  state  he  continued  farming  and  at  the 
i  his  ten  years'  residence  in  Clintonia 
township  he  removed  t"  Texas  township, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  1  'it  section  -'.^. 
Here  he  lived  until  hi--  death,  which 
curred  in  July.   [873,  when  he  was  seventy 

years  of  age.  I  lis  wife  passed  awav  when 
Our  subject  was  only  three  years  of  age 
and  is  buried  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Indiana.  Both 
the  parents  were  devout  members  of  the 
hard-shell  Baptist  church.  Oftheir  eighl 
children,  our  subject  is  the  only  one  now 
living  and  he  was  next  t.>  the  youngset  in 
order  of  birth. 

Archibald  T.  McKinney  remained  at  the 
home  place  until  he  was  twenty-one  )  1 
of  age,  and  then  engaged  in  farming  for 
himself  in  Texas  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased five  acres  of  land,  which  he  still 
owns.  IK-  added  to  this  piece  of  land,  but 
rents  the  property  which  he  farms  and  has 
heed  upon  it  for  over  twenty-two  u'aix. 
lie  has  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising,  the  latter  being  his  principal 
business  for  many  years.    Our  subject  raises 


high  bred  cattle,  horses  and  hogs.  For  the 
past  twenty  years  he  has  been  road  commis- 
sioner and  is  holding  that  office  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  In  politics  be  is  a  Democrat  and 
is  verj   acini.-  in  the  working  of  the  party. 

On  January  22,  1857,  he  was  married 
to  Amanda  ('ox.  She  is  a  native  of  De- 
Witt  county  and  a  daughter  of  George  and 
Mary  1\.  (Fruit)  Cox.  -Mr.  Cox  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  as  was  his  wife.  They 
came  to  Illinois  about  [829  and  located  in 
Texas  township,  DeWitt  count)  (then  Ma- 
con county).  They  purchased  a  home  just 
south  of  Mr.  Melxiuuey's  present  home. 
The  father  died  on  this  farm  at  the  age  of 
Port)  eight  and  his  widow  survived  him 
and  died  about  four  years  ago.  During  her 
girlhood  days  Mrs.  McKinney  lived  with 
her  maternal  grandparents,  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  (Thompson)  Fruit,  who  came  to 
Illinois  at  a  very  earl)  day  and  located  in 
Tunbridge  township,  where  they  resided  un- 
til their  death,  the  grandfather  dying  at  the 
age  1  if  eight  and  his  wife  at  about 

seventy-five,      lie  was  a    farmer  all   his 
and    was   quite   successful.      From   the   time 
she    was    two   years    of    age    until    her    mar 
riage   Mis    McKinne)    made  her  home   with 
those  excellent    people   and    was    very   much 
attached  ti  1  them. 

Her  paternal   grandparents,    David   and 

Polly  (McGee)  Cox,  came  from  Kentucky 

to  Illinois  about    [820  and  located  in  'Texas 

township,    where  both   died   at   an   advanced 

During   his   active   life    Mr.    Cox    was 

farmer. 

'The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.    Xb 

Kinney   were  as    follows:     George  T.,   who 

resides   mi    the    home   place:   John    T..    who 

also  resides  on  the  home  place  and  has  the 

resides    in    Clinton.    Illinois,     and     married 

misfortune  of  being  blind:  Charles  \\\.  who 

Emma  Lauereaux;   Flora,  who  is  the  wife 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RED  )RD. 


Martin    Williams,    a    retired    fanner    of 
Clinton,  Illinois;  Seymour,   who  resides  in 
Creek  township,  DeWitt  count)-,  and  mar- 
tidy,  a    daughter    of    John 
idy,  late  of  Texas  township;  Laura,  who 
the  wife  of  M.   B.  Jenkins,  a  tanner  of 
Texas   township;   Enoch,   who  died   at   the 
of  eleven  months:  Birdie,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  nine  months;  James,  who  resides 
in   Decatur.   Illinois,  and  married  Gertrude 
den.   who   is   a   native   of   Texas   town- 
ship;  Robert,   who  married   Emma   Blasin- 
game  am  •  in    Texas  township. 

All    of   the   children    were   horn    in    De- 
Witt    county    and    all    except    Laura    and 
h  were  born  in    Texas  township. 
When  McKinney    first    came    to    Texas 
township  it  was  nearly  all  wild  land  and  he 
n   it   developed    from    its    primitive 
state  to  one  of  the  richest  farming  districts 
in  the  state.     In  fact  he  and  his  father  were 
among  the  men  who  helped  make  DeWitt 
county  what  it  is  today. 


i     LGE  D.  RUDAVILLE. 

Among  the  prominent  and  highly  es- 
teemed residents  of  DeWitt  county,  during 
his   busy   and   useful   life,    was  je    D. 

ille.  who  was  horn  in  Logan  county. 
Ohio,    on    April    20.    1852,    and    v 
of   Winfield   and   Lydia     (Sutton)     Ruda- 
ville,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of 

lia.  and  the  latter  1 .1'  <  >hi. ..     1  I 
Rudaville   was   reared   on   the    farm    where 
his    father    died    and    where    the    mother    is 
still  living,      lie  was  the  third  in  order  of 
birth  in  their  family  of  eight  children. 

Mr.  Rudaville  acquired  his  education 
in  the  common  schoools  of  Logan  county. 


Ohio,  and   lived   there  until  coming   to    | 
Witt    county.    Illinois,    in    [873.       For    one 
year  after  coming  to  this  state  he  lived  with 
an    uncle    and    then    rented    land    and    v 
to    farming,   deciding  to  make    this 

e  his  home.  In  [882  he  bought  sixty 
acres  of  land,  all  of  which  was  heavily  tim- 
bered, later  bought  forty  acres  more  and 
still  later  sixty  acres  At  the  time  of  his 
marriage  he  and  wife  w<  1  a  tract  of 

ty  acres  adjoining  the  forty,  hut  it.  I 
was  unimproved,  twenty  of  which  was  cov- 
ered with  timber.  They  lived  in  a  small  house 
here  until  their  elegant  resilience  was  fin- 
ished in  1896.  .Much  of  his  success  Mr. 
Rudaville  attributed  to  the  ready  am!  cheer- 
ful assistance  given  him  by  his  most  esti- 
mable  wife. 

On  April  1.  1875,  Mr.  Rudaville  mar- 
ried Miss  Emily  Torbett,  who  v\a^  a  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  P.  and  Susanna  (Fenner) 
Torbett.  'The  father  was  a  native  of  Dela- 
ware, the  mother  of  Ohio,  hut  Mrs.  Ruda- 
ville was  born  in  this  county.  'The  chil- 
dren of  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Torbett  numbered 
twelve,  as  follows:  William,  a  resident 
Jacksonville:  Lucy  J.,  who  married  Ge 
R.  Sutton:  Sarah  Elizabeth,  deceased:  Em- 
ily, the  widow  of  Mr.  Rudaville:  Elmira, 
who  married  A.  Lincoln  I.eman.  an  under- 
taker of  Clinton:  Charles  R..  deceased; 
Rhoda,  who  married  Calvin  Talbert  and 
lives  in  Kansas;  Kl'tie.  who  married  a 
Mr.  Hinchley  and  lives  in  Clinton: 
F.,  a  resident  of  Harp  township;  John,  de- 
ceased; Alice  and  Ora,  twins.  'The  father 
and  mother  reside  at  Clinton,  in  a  pleasant 
home  on  East   Main  street. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rudaville  had  a  family 
of  two  children. — Asa  ]..  who  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Dixon  Business  .  where 
lie   took   a    full   course  after  going   through 


398 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Clinton  high  school,  and  is  a  very 
bright  young  man;  and  Oro.  The  death 
of  Mr.  Rudaville  occurred  March  iS,  [898, 
and  he  lies  at  rest  in  VVoodlawn  cemetery. 
He  was  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the 
Democratic  part)  and  served  most  efficient- 
1)  as  road  commissioner  for  a  long  period. 
Hi-  religious  connection  was  with  the  Chris 
tian  church  at  VVapella,  while  his  son,  the 
efficient  manager  of  the  farm,  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  church.  In  the  Masonic 
order  Mr.  Rudaville  was  well  and  favorably 
known,  lie  was  a  man  of  superior  order 
of  mind,  public-spirited  and  progressive  and 
did  his  part  toward  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment  of  the   natural    resources   of    DeWitt 

ci  iunty. 

— ♦ « » — 

(    \IT  MX   I.  \\  .   RE  \I»N 


On  November  4.  1847,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  \Kie  Morris,  a  daughter  of  Jack 
and  Mary  Morns,  and  eight  children  were 
born  of  this  union,  namely:  Luanda,  who 
married  John  Watson ;  John,  who  married 
Clara  Ried,  is  an  attorney;  Robert  C,  who 
married  Finette  Melton;  James  M.:  Ros- 
ella.  deceased;  Wesley  M..  who  is  an  at- 
torney and  married  May  Miller  and  after 
her  death  married  Lizzie  Fetter;  Mary,  de 

sed;  (  harles  \\  ..  who  is  single  and  a 
tanner. 

Captain  Read)  is  an  earnest  member  of 
the  Christian  church,  as  is  Ins  wife  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  both  arc  very  worth) 
and  good  people  and  highl)  respected  by 
a  large  circle  of  friends  lie  1-  also  an  ac- 
tive member  of  the  Grand  Arm)  of  the  Re 
public  and  takes  a  great  interest  in  all  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  the  pi  1st. 


ptain  J.  W.  Ready  has  been  a  1 
dent  of  this  locality  -nice  [866,  when  he 
came  to  DeWitl  county,  Illinois,  settling 
in  Rutledge  township,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  on  sixt)  acre-  which  he  pur- 
chased. Later  he  bought  the  adjoining  one 
hundred  acres  and  now  owns  one  hundred 
and  ninety  acres,  on  which  his  oldest 
resides.  All  of  this  propert)  is  highly  im- 
proved and  contains  a  requisite  number  ol 
buildings. 

Our  subject  was  horn  in  Virginia  in 
[846,  near  Hagerstown,  and  after  several 
removals  came  to  Illinois.  In  iNoj  1 
listed  in  Company  C.  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantrv.  being  made  captain  of  that  company. 
After  a  Ion-  and  faithful  service,  during 
which  he  participated  in  many  of  the  im- 
portant battles  of  the  Civil  war.  he  was 
honorably  discharged  on  account  oi  dis- 
ability in  i8<>4.  and  returned  to  his  peace- 
ful occupations. 


ISA  \c  ELLINGTON. 

1  here  i-  particular  satisfaction  in  rev< 
ing    to  the  life  history   of  the  honored   and 
venerable  gentleman  whose  name  introdi 
this  review  .  since  his  mind  hears  the  impi  1 
of  the  historical  annals  of  the  state  of   Illi- 
nois   from   early   pioneer  days.      Smce    [828 
he  has  made  his  home  in  this  section  oi 
stale,    and    has    been   a   resident    of    DeWitt 
county  for  over  half  a  century,      lie  is  now 
living    on    section     [6,    Barnett    township, 
where  he  has  an  excellent  farm  of  four  hun- 
dred and  eight)  a. 

Mr.   Ellington  was  born  on  the  6th  of 
April,    ioj_>.  in   Madison  county,  Ohio,  and 

coi  ies  1  if  l; 1  old  Revolutionary  stock.   I  lis 

paternal  grandfather,  John  Ellington,  aided 
the  colonies  in  their  struggle  for  independ- 
ence, ami  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Ken- 


ISAAC   ELLINGTON. 


i;:t&${&*:M?n$;i»>!&:*; 


^■"■v* 

mm 

-v  1 

I 

v 

w 

^ 

. 

1^ 

.                                1 

MRS.   ISAAC   ELLINGTON. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECOK1'. 


403 


tucky.  ( >ur  subject's  father,  David  Elling- 
ton, was  lwrn  in  that  state,  and  at  an  earl) 
day  removed  with  his  father  to  ( >hio,  where 
ew  to  manhood  and  married  Miss  I'ath- 
erine  Huffman,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Her  la- 
ther. Esquire  Huffman,  was  soldier 
of  the  Revolutionary  war.  For  some  years 
after  his  marriage  David  Ellington  was  en- 
I  in  farming  in  the  Buckeye  state,  and 
in  1828  came  to  Illinois  by  wagon.  He  took 
nj)  a  claim  in  McLean  county,  where  he  im- 
proved a  small  farm,  but  later  removed  to 
what  is  now  VVaynesville  township,  DeWitt 
county,  and  bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres,  "ii  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  I  le  'lied  in  [886,  and  his  wife  died 
later,  both  being  laid  to  rot  in  the  VVaynes- 
ville cemetery. 

Isaac  Ellington,  of  this  review,  was 
principally  reared  in  McLean  county,  ami 
well  remembers  when  Bloomington  con- 
tained but  three  houses,  and  one  of  these 
was  a  blacksmith  shop.  In  those  early  days 
when  this  region  was  all  wild  and  unim- 
ed  the  family  were  forced  to  endure 
many  hardships  and  privations  such  as  are 
incident  to  pioneer  life.  Our  subject  as- 
his  father  in  the  arduous  task  of  open- 
ing up  a  new  farm,  and  with  his  breaking 
team  has  turned  many  an  acre  of  virgin  -oil. 

In  184''  Mr.  Ellington  was  married  in 
VVaynesville  to  Miss  Lucy  Ann  Nichols, 
who  was  horn  in  Muskingum  county.  Ohio, 
March  12,  1830.  Her  father.  M.  P.  Nich- 
ols, was  Itorn  in  England  in  lNu.  and  when 
a  child  came  to  the  new  world,  locating  in 
Ohio,  where  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  McCon- 
naha,  a  native  of  Muskingum  county.  In 
1838  they  came  to  DeWitt  County,  Illinois, 
and  settled  in  Wapella  township,  where  Mr-. 
Nichols  died.  July  18,  [839,  and  her  hus- 
band the  day  following.  Their  remain-  were 
interred   in   Wapella  cemetery.      In   the   fall 

18 


after  the  death  of  her  parents.  Mrs.  I'll: 
ton  returned  to  Ohio  with  an  aunt  and  there 
spent  the  winter.  The  following  Spring  she 
and  a  younger  sister  again  came  to  Illinois 
with  a  family,  hut  had  to  walk  the  entire 
distance  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  miles, 
sleeping  on  the  ground  at  night.  She  then 
made  her  home  with  David  Ellington  until 
her  marriage.  Her  early  life  was  full  of 
hard-hip-,  hut  she  always  made  the  most  of 
her  advantages,  ami  by  her  industry  and 
economy  materially  assisted  her  husband  in 
getting  a  -tart  in  life.  They  began  their  do- 
me-tic life  in  a  small  house  on  the  farm 
where  he  still  resides,  hut  at  that  time  they 
had  no  near  neighbors  and  were  often  very 
lonely.  For  fifty-five  years  they  traveled 
life's  journey  together,  sharing  ii-  joy-  and 
sorrows,  its  adversity  and  prosperity,  and 
— -ire  only  parted  when  death  claimed  Mrs. 
Ellmgton,  September  '>,  1901.  She  left 
man_\  friends  as  well  as  her  immediate  fam- 
ily to  mourn  her  lo--. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Ellington  re- 
mained tin  the  home  farm  with  his  father 
until  1850,  when  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
y>\  wild  prairie  land  where  he  now  resides, 
and  commenced  the  improvement  of  his 
farm,  which  he  has  increased  until  it  now 
contains  four  hundred  ami  eighty  acre-,  and 
i-  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  His 
home  is  a  large  neat  residence,  and  every- 
thing about  the  place  is  in  perfect  harmony 
therewith.  Besides  his  valuable  property  he 
owns  two  piece-  of  timber  land  of  fifty-six 
acres.     Hi-  life  ha-  been  one  of  industry  and 

illness,  and  due  success  ha-  not  been  de- 
nied him.  The  Democratic  party  has  always 
found  in  him  a  stanch  supporter  of  it-  prin- 
ciples, hut  he  has  never  cared  for  office,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  his  farming  interests. 

Mr.  Ellington  has  two  children  :     Cyrus, 


404 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  only  son,  helps  to  carry  on  the  home 
farm,  and  like  his  father,  votes  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket.  Martha  is  now  the  wife  of 
Jefferson  Sprague,  who  also  lives  with  our 
subject,  and  they  have  five  children,  name- 
ly: Carter.  Harry,  Ralph.  Frank  and  Carl. 
The  family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the  com- 
munity where  they  reside. 


AL(  )\/(  »  D.  M<  HENRY. 

Alonzo  1  >.  Mel  lenry.  one  of  the  suhstan- 
tial  business  men  of  Clinton.  Illinois,  was 
horn  .hi  November  15.  [834,  in  Muskin- 
gum county,  < 'hi",  and  is  a  son  of  Alex- 
ander and  Mary  Unth  1  Mel  lenry  I  Alt 
ander,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
the  latter  of  Ohio.  The  great-grandfather 
came  from  the  north  of  Ireland  and  he  was 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  Bodi  he  and  grand- 
fatli  r  subject  were  brave  soldiers  oi 

the  Revolution.  Alexander  Mel  lenry.  the 
father,  w  a--  a  harness  maker  by  trade.  In 
[837  he  moved  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Peoria 
count),  and  thence  came  to  Clinton,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1857.  The  mother  died  in  [840. 
Six  children  were  born  to  these  parents,  three 
of  whom  are  now  living,  namely:  Buretta, 
who  live-  in  California  and  married  John 
Smith  :  B.  P., who  re-ides  in  Clinton;  Alt  mzo 
1)..  our  subject,  who  was  the  third  in  order 
of  birth. 

Alonzo  D.  Mel  lenry  was  educated  in  the 
im  .11  schools  nf  the  district  in  the  winter 
and  wmked  upon  the  farm  in  the  summer. 
When  he  was  about  fifteen  he  lost  his 
mother,  and  lie  then  learned  the  trade  of 
wagon  maker.  During  the  excitement  over 
discoveries  of  gold  in  the  west.  Mr.  McHenry 
made  a  trip  t<i  Tike's  Peak  and  although  he 


did  not  gain  much  else,  he  returned  rich  in 
experience,  in  the  fall  of  [859,  and  during 
the  succeeding  winter  gladly  worked  at 
whatever  he  found  to  do. 

In  August,  [861,  he  enlisted  at  Clinton 
in  Company  F,  Forty-first  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry  under  Captain  I  >.  F.  Brown. 
I  le  participated  in  a  number  of  engagements, 
including  the  battle  of  Shiloh  and  was  at 
Vicksburg  until  after  the  siege  was  ended. 
I  le  was  with  Sherman  in  his  campaigns,  and 
at  Jackson.  Mississippi,  he  had  the  misfor- 
tune tn  lose  hi>  left  leg  just  below  the  knee. 
Lying  wounded  upon  the  field  of  battle  he 
was  taken  prisoner  and  the  only  care  lie  re- 
ceived was  from  his  comrades  in  affliction. 
I  lad  his  wound  not  been  neg  shame- 

fully his  leg  would  probably  nol  have  had  to 
he  amputated.  On  Januarj  (.,  [864,  he  was 
sent  t"  Jefferson  barracks  and  thence  he  made 
hi-  way  hack  to  Clinton  t"  resume  his  life 
struggle,  having  given  of  his  best  to  his 
0  uintrv. 

In  the  fall  of  1864  he  was  elected  sheriff 
and  after  two  year-  he  was  made  deputy 
sheriff  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  services 
in  the  latter  capacity  he  wa-  again  elected 
sheriff.  In  [870  he  associated  himself  with 
the   firm   of   Wolf    &     Mel  lenry.   hardware 

■its.  but  after  irs  he  was  in  business 

for  himself  for  one  year.  Hi-  next  busi- 
ness  venture  was  with  a  furniture  house  and 
continued   in   that    line   until    [882,   when  he 

1  his  interest  and  speculated  in  mules, 
(lour,  grain  and  other  commodities,  being 
quite  successful.  Later  he  embarked  in  the 
hardware  business  w  ith  a  Mr.  Wolf,  but  after 
a  year  the  latter  withdrew  and  I.  X.  Barton 
entered  the  firm  under  the  style  of  Mel  lenry 
&  Barton.  This  continued  until  January, 
iS.|_>.  when  Mr.  McHenry  sold  his  interest 
and  retired. 

Although  not  actively  engaged  in  busi- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


405 


ness  life,  Mr.  McHenry  is  largelj  interested 
in  some  very  productive  coal  mines  and  is 
vice-president  of  the  old  electric  light  and 
heal  company.  For  a  number  of  times  he 
served  as  mayor  of  the  city,  having  been 
elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  and  has 
been  an  alderman  for  a  great  many  year-. 
Hi-  devotion  to  his  party  is  well  known  and 
he  is  recognized  as  a  leader  in  local  affairs. 
Always  taking  a  deep  interest  in  school  mat- 
ters, he  has  long  been  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  and  for  two  years  served  as  it-  presi- 
dent. 

On  January  ;.  [865,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Meline  Miller,  at  Pekin,  Illinois,  and 
she  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Ellen  Miller. 
John  Miller  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  his 
wife  of  Indiana.  Five  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McHenry.  namely:  Ida,  who 
lives  at  home;  Grace,   who  married   D.   D. 

e,  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  and  they  have 
one  child.  Alonzo  Dean:  Winifred,  who 
married  Dr.  S.  1..  Thorp,  of  Kansas,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Vita  and  Alonzo  V. ; 
Mary  J.,  who  married  Julius  G.  Royce,  in 
the  grocery  business  at  Clifton,  and  they 
have  one  child.  Mefcialu;  Arthur  M.  The 
beloved  mother  died  on  March  _>7.  [880,  and 
is  interred  in  Woodlawn  cemetery,  having 
been  about  thirty-seven  years  of  age  at  the 
time  <>i'  her  death. 

dally  Mr.  McHenry  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  DeWitt  Lodge,  No. 
84,  and  Goodrich  Chapter,  No.  59,  of  which 
he  has  been  high  priest  for  the  past  ten  year-. 
lie  ha-  al-o  held  minor  offices  in  the  lodge. 
Mr.  McHenry  i-  al-o  an  active  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  has 
held  the  position  of  assistant  commander  in 
the  Clifton  Post.  lie  possesses  the  ran' 
combination  of  keen  business  sagacity  with 
open-hearted,    open-handed    generosity    and 


and  he  is  universally  respected  .and  beloved 
for    his    public    spirit    and    his    high    moral 

icter. 

— +—+ — 

HUGH   DAVENPORT. 

<  >ne  of  the  prosperous  farmer-  of  ('reek 
township.  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  is  Hugh 
Davenport,  who  was  born  in  Texas  town- 
ship, DeWitt  county.  October  27,  [844,  and 
i-  a  son  of  l-aiah  and  Nancy  (Shiplej  1 
Davenport,  who  were  born  in  Kentucky,  of 
Irish  de-cent,  and  were  married  in  DeWitt 
county.  Illinois.  When  l-aiah  was  four- 
teen years  of  age,  in  [826,  his  father, 
George  Davenport,  came  with  his  wife  and 
family  to  this  portion  of  the  state  in  an  ox- 
cart and  settled  upon  ten  acre-  of  land  west 
of  Springfield  where  he  built  a  log  house. 
The  family  born  to  George  Davenport  and 
In-  wife  was  as  follows:  Betsy,  Polly, 
Katie.  Isaiah,  Nancy  and  Hugh. 

The  father  of  our  subject  wa-  educated 
in  the  district  schools  ami  worked  upon  the 
farm  of  his  father.  After  attaining  to 
manhood  he  came  to  DeWitt  county  with 
his  brother  Hugh  and  settled  in  Clintonia 
township,  where  he  entered  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  wild  prairie  land  and 
erected  the  first  house  in  what  is  now  Clin- 
ton,  as  that  city  is  located  upon  this  farm. 
After   living   tin  about    ten   years   he 

sold  the  property  and  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Texas 
township,  of  which  he  cultivated  eighty 
and  left  forty  for  timber.  The  house  he 
built  upon  this  land  in  iXjn  is  -till  thought 
to  be  standing.  In  1851  he  sold  lus  prop- 
erty there  and  bought  eight)  acres  in  Creek 
town-hip.  which  our  subject  now  owns. 
A   small   portion  of  this   was  broken   and   a 


406 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


small  cabin,  fourteen  by  sixteen  feet,  was 
erected  upon  the  property.  This  house  Mr. 
Davenport  improved  and  afterward  rebuilt, 
and  he  put  the  farm  in  excellent  condition. 
Here  he  resided  until  l88l,  when  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  and 
sold  the  eighty  acre-.  Later  he  sold  thai 
property  and  purchased  eight)  acres 
mile  south  on  sections  to  and  11.  (.'reek 
township,  where  he  died  the  27th  of  Octo 
ber,  (886. 

By  his  first  marriage  Isaiah  Davenport 
had  fourteen  children,  of  whom  our  subject 
is  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth.  Five  ol 
these  fourteen  children  are  now  living, 
namely:  Lucinda,  who  married  Joseph 
Hanson  and  lives  in  Creek  township;  Jerry, 
who  i>  a  retired  farmer  at  Weldon,  Nixon 
township;  Alsiena,  who  married  Asa  * 
nfer  and  lives  in  Kansas;  Hugh,  our  sub 
jeel  ;  and  William,  who  lives  in  Kansas.  The 
mother  died  in  [853,  when  aboul  thirty-live 
years  of  age,  and  was  buried  in  Texas  town- 
ship. The  father  later  married  Miss  Jane 
Bennett,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  to  this 
union  were  horn  five  children,  who  are  liv- 
ing, namely:  Gabriel  1'...  who  lives  in  Kan- 
sas; Green  I...  who  lives  in  Franklin  coun- 
ty, Illinois;  Laura,  who  married  Monroe 
Bell  and  lives  in  Lane:  Nancy,  who  mar- 
ried \V.  Sutton  and  resides  in  Macon  coun- 
ty. Illinois:  and  Goldman,  who  lives  in 
Iowa.  The  second  wife  died  in  1878,  when 
aboul  fifty-five,  and  was  buried  in  Texas 
township.  Isaiah  Davenport  and  both  wives 
were  earnest  members  of  the  Baptist  church 
and  he  was  a  very  religious  man.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Democrat  and  held  many  of 
the  local  offices,  including  that  of  justice  oi 
the  peace   f(  r  many  years. 

Hugh  Davenport  received  a  very  limited, 
education  in  the  district  school  held  in  a  log 
cabin  with  slab  benches  and  -teased  paper 


windows.  lie  also  attended  a  subscription 
school,  but  as  his  father's  family  was  a 
large  one  the  children  were  obliged  to  take 
turns,  for  he  could  not  afford  to  send  them 
all  at  once.  Before  he  was  seventeen  our 
subject,  fired  with  the  spirit  of  patriotism, 
enlisted  on  August  1.  [861,  for  three  years 
at  Clinton  in  Compan)  F,  Forty-first  llli- 
is  Volunteer  Infantry,  Captain  David 
Brown  in  Command.  .Mr.  Davenport  was 
in  the  battles  of  Forts  Henrj  and  Donelson, 
Shiloh,  Carthage,  Tallahassee,  forty  days' 
siege  "i  Vicksburg,  and  Jackson,  Mississip 
pi  and  participated  in  part  of  the  celebrated 
inarch  to  the  sea.  lie  was  mustered  out  at 
Springfield,  Illinois.  He  never  received  a 
wound   or   was  captured. 

When  he  returned  home  he  commenced 
farming  in  Creek  township.  In  1S70  he 
purchased  forty  acres  of  land,  to  which  he 
added  eighty  acres  more,  and  then  sold  that 
farm  and  purchased  an  eighty-acre  tract.  <  >u 
this  property  he  erected  a  large  and  com- 
fortable house  and  necessar)  outbuildings, 
planted  shade  and  fruit  trees,  and  now  has 
one  of  the  most  pleasant  homes  in  the  coun- 
ty. The  farm  is  devoted  to  -rain  ami  stock- 
in-  and  Mr.  Davenport  is  very  sure. 
ink 

On  October  _'_•.  1865,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  A.  Hull,  a  native  of  Sanga 
mon  county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of 
lames  and  Kate  (Davenport)  Hull.  Mr. 
Hull  was  born  in  Scotland  and  came  to  this 
country  at  an  early  day.  Mrs.  Hull  was 
from  Kentucky.  To  them  live  children 
were  born,  all  of  whom  are  still  living, 
namely:  Andrew,  who  lives  at  Clinton; 
lames,  who  is  in  Mason  county;  Hugh,  who 
lives  in  the  state  of  Texas;  Elizabeth,  who 
married  William  Davenport,  of  Kansas; 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  our  subject.  Seven  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davenport, 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


407 


namely:  James,  woh  died  in  childhood; 
Katie,  who  married  Nelson  Luttell,  a  native 
of  Illinois,  and  they  have  six  children, — 
James,  Dorvin,  Guy,  Raymond,  Grace  and 
■Nellie,  I;   David,  who  died  young; 

Ollie;   Allien;   Cora;   and     VVinfield,     who 
died  in  childhood. 

Mr.  Davenport  and  family  are  members 
of  the  Christian  church,  in  which  he  was 
and  elder,  but  resigned.  In  polities  he  is  a 
Democrat  and  served  for  a  number  of  years 
commissioner  of  highways.  Socially  he 
is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Knights  of 
Pythias  of  Lane,  and  is  as  popular  in  that 
I  inization  as  he  is  highly  repsected 
throughout  the  neighborhood  in  which  he 
resides. 


RODNEY  P.  HILL. 


Rodney  P.  Hill,  who  descends  from  an 
old  English  family  and  is  one  of  the  influ- 
ential men  of  Clinton.  Illinois,  was  horn 
on  April  20,  1834,  in  Henry  county.  Ken- 
tucky, and  is  a  son  of  I  ieorge  L.  and  Louisa 
V.  (Hickman)  Hill.  The  father  was  a 
native  of  Virginia  and  the  mother  of  Ken- 
tucky. The  maternal  grandfather,  Hick- 
man, participated  in  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution. 

orge  Hill  went  to  Kentucky  when  a 
small  hoy  with  his  mother,  his  father  hav- 
ing died  when  he  was  in  infancy,  and  he  re- 
ceived his  education  in  Kentucky,  where  he 
remained  until  1837,  October  14th.  when 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  purchased  six 
hundred  ami  forty  acres  of  land  in  Texas 
township,  DeWitt  county,  paying  five  dol- 
lars an  acre  for  it.  Very  little  of  the  land 
had  been  broken  and  there  was  hut  a  small 
lo^r  Cabin  with  dirt  floor  on  the  property. 
Realizing  how  rough  and  difficult  life  would 
he  in  such  wilds.  George  went  to  work  and 


1  had  a  nice  house  put  up  that  had   four 

:ns  down  stairs  and  two  in  the  loft,  and 
also    erected    a    log    Stable.       He    hauled    the 

n  to  Chicago  with  ox  teams,  taking 
10  last  three  weeks  and 
bringing  hack  provisions  and  necessities 
1  for  a  year.  He  also  dealt  exten- 
sively in  salt,  selling  it  to  his  neighbors  at 
ninety  cents  per  bushel,  and  also  shelled 
his  corn  and  that  of  his  neighbors.  His 
method  of  doing  this  was  original.  He 
placed  the  ears  of  corn  through  a  hole  in 
the  wagon  box  and  forced  them  through 
by  hand.  By  hard  work  lie  was  enabled  to 
place  the  greater  portion  of  his  land  under 
cultivation  and  lived  to  see  green  fields 
where  he  had   found  tracts  of  timber. 

In  polities  Georg  Hill  was  an  old-line 
Whig  and  later  a  Republican.  Roth  he  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
church  and  always  took  an  active  part  in 
all  its  work.  For  several  years  services 
were  held  in  his  house  and  he  was  a  deacon 
in  that  body.  The  influence  of  his  noble, 
Christian  life  was  widely  felt  throughout 
the  community,  for  he  was  a  man  who  lived 
his  religion  in  his  life,  and  on  account  of 
his  integrity  his  word  was  always  consid- 
1  as  his  bond.  This  honorable 
and  honored  man  lived  to  the  advanced 
of  ninety  years,  dying  in  1887,  and  his  wife 
died  the  previous  year,  when  about  eighty- 
six  years,  and  both  are  interred  in  \Y. 
lawn   cemetery  at   Clinton.     The  part    t! 

took   in   the   settlement   of  this 
portion  of  the  state  was  minent  one. 

liny  were  anion--  the  first  settlers  and  they 
not  only  endured  the  privations,  but  aided 
others  to  bearoip  under  their  load  and  many 
a  weary  life  was  brightened  by  the  efforts 
of  Deacon   Hill  and  his  most  excellent  wife. 

Rodney    1'.    Hill,   our   subject,   came   to 
DeWitl  county  with  his  parents  when  hut 


4o8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RED  >RD. 


three  years  old,  making  the  trip  overland 
in  a  wagon,  although  his  mother  rode  on 
horse  hack  all  the  way,  with  the-  youngesl 
boy  in  her  arms,  and  during  that  long  jour- 
ney but  one  night  was  spent  in  shelter. 
Rodney  was  educated  in  the  log  school 
house  of  tin.-  neighborhood,  with  its  rude 
benches  and  many  inconveniences,  and 
worked  upon  the  farm  during  the  summer 
months.  This  school  was  a  subscription 
^uu'  and  the  children  had  to  take  turns 
in  attending,  as  the  expense  was  too  great 
to  admit  of  their  gi  ling  all  at  once.  After  he 
reached  the  aye  of  eighteen  the  school  ad- 
vantages "f  our  subject  ceased  and  since 
then  he  has  been  obliged  t"  teach  himself. 
Until  his  marriage  Mr.  Ilill  remained 
at  home,  but   when  he  was  twen  .  "ii 

April  ,}.  [858,  he  married  Miss  Ellen  Reese, 
wlii  1  was  1 1«  irn  in  Wales  in  [829.  1  ler  parents, 
Morgan  and  Esther  Reese,  came  to  Amer- 
ica, landing  in  Xew  York  City,  and  settled 
in  Whitesboro,  Xew  York.  In  1855  Miss 
Kee^e  came  to  Clinton  to  visit  her 
hri  >tlier.  who  was  the  pastor  of  the 
I'.aptist  church  of  that  city,  and  in 
this  way  she  bcame  acquainted  with 
Mr.  Ilill.  and  they  were  married  as  above 
stated.  They  began  their  married  life  upon 
land  given  by  Mr.  Hill's  father  out  of  his 
original  -rant,  consisting  of  one  hundred 
acres,  part  of  which  was  timber.  At 
time  of  the  father's  death  our  subject  pur- 
chased fifty-seven  acres  more.  When  he 
first  obtained  his  land  there  was  no  house 
upon  the  property,  hut  he  built  a  frame 
structure.  Later  he  moved  this  one  quarter 
i<\  a  mile  further  north  and  in  [899  he  re- 
built his  residence  and  today  lias  a  pleasant 
story  and  a  half  house,  thirty  by  forty  feet 
in  dimensions,  surrounded  by  tine  shade 
trees.  There  is  an  excellent  barn  and  orch- 
ard on  the  farm  and  all  the  land  is  well  cul- 


tivated   and    devoted    to   general     farming, 
sti  'ck  and  grain-raising. 

Mie  wife  of  our  subject  died  on  April 
17,  [899,  and,  was  interred  in  Woodlawn 
cemetery  in  Clinton,  Illinois.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hill  were  born  fi  ur  children,  one  girl 
and  three  boys,  namely:  Esther  Ann.  who 
nber  23,  i<)<«>.  aged  FortA  eighl 
years,  and.  was  interred  in  Woodlawn  ceme- 
tery, Clinton;  Joseph,  now  deceased,  who 
married  Ellen  Swam,  who  keeps  house  for 
our  subject  and  has  one  child,  Nellie;  Will- 
iam M..  who  married  Amelia  (oats  and  re 
-ides  in  Nebraska,  where  he  operates  a  line 
far  mof  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and 
he  has  three  children.  Neva,  Ethel  and  Jes 
sie;  and  Frederick  C,  who  married  Miss 
Mabel  llulett  and  who  is  an  attorney-at- 
law  of  Clinton. 

After  'he  death  of  his  wife  Mr.  Hill 
moved  to  Clinton  and  purchased  a  tine  house 
and  -rounds  011  West  Van  Buren  street, 
where  he  makes  his  home.  lie  now  rents 
'■is  farm  and  lives  a  somewhat  retired  life. 
In  politics  he  is  a  strong  Republican  ami  has 
served  a.s  school  trustee  one  term  and  school 
director  for  twentv  years.  In  religion  he 
is  a  most  earnest  member  of  ami  deacon  in 
in  the  Baptist  church  and  in  this  denomina- 
tion Mrs.  Hill  also  held  membership.  Mr. 
Hill  is  a  man  who  finds  his  greatest 
joyment  in  the  companionship  of  his   fam- 

and  friends,  and  having  devoted  so 
many  years  of  his  life  to  hard  work,  he  can 
now  rest  upon  the  results  of  his  labors,  feel- 
ing well  content  with  himself  in  that  he  was 
able  to  bring  s, ,  much  out  of  little. 


TIlo.M  \S  SPENCER. 

The  agricultural  interests  of  Illinois  are 
well  represented  all  over  the  state  hut  per- 
haps nowhere  better  than  in  DeWitl  county. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


409 


where  there  arc  gathered  together  in  each 
township  men  of  substance  and  experi< 
who  understand  farming  in  all  it-  branches 
and  who  are  ever)  day  putting  to  practical 
test  the  knowledge  gained  during  year-  of 
hard  work.  Among  the  representative  farm- 
one  of  the  most  prominent  is  Thomas 
Spencer,  of  Texas  township  .\h"  was  born 
here,  February  9,  1858,  and  educated  in  the 
district  SChi 

He  1-  a  s,  ,n  of  Littleberry  and  Lucinda 
(Blair)  Spencer.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky  and  came  to  DeWitt  county, 
Illinois,  when  he  was  only  three  years  of 
His  parents  settled  in  DeWitt  county 
and  engaged  in  farming  in  Clintonia  town- 
ship. They  died  here,  the  grandfather  at 
the  age  of  seventy-nine,  while  the  grand- 
niotlier  was  ninety-six  at  the  time  of  her 
death.  The  lather  of  our  subject  was  one 
of  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  grew  t" 
maturity  and  four  are  now  living,  two  "i" 
whom  reside  in  DeWitt  county.  These  liv- 
ing are  as  follows:  Levi,  who  lives  in  the 
southern  part  of  Texas  township  and  is  the 
youngest  of  the  family:  John,  who  lives  in 
Clintnoia  township,  and  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing: James  D.,  who  live-  in  Indian  Terri- 
tory: Mildred,  who  married  Henry  Webb 
and  they  reside  in  Wayne  county. 

Littleberry  Spencer,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  engaged  in  general  farming  ami 
stock-raising  and  in  the  ea  ly  part  of  his 
business  career  worked  at  brick  making  in 
Texas  township.  His  farm  was  on  section 
10.  Texas  township,  and  .although  a  small 
one  was  well  cultivated.  In  politic-  he  ' 
a  -tanch  Republican,  and  he  was  also  a  de- 
vout member  of  the  christian  church.  His 
death  took  place  at  his  home  in  Texas  town- 
ship, January  1.  1900,  and  he  is  buried  at 
Woodlawn  cemetery.  He  was  a  public-spir- 
ited  man  and  earnestly  advocated  all   im- 


provements   tending    towards    the    adv.i 
ment  of  the  township.  Hi- widow  survive 
eighty-one  year-  of  age,  and  resides  in  Tun- 
bridge    town-hip.        Their    children     w< 
Thomas,  our  subject;  Alexander,  deceased; 
Allien,  who  resides  in    1  vnship  on  a 

farm  on  section  10.  and  he  married  M.  Anna 
McElroy,  and  they  have  six  children;  Frank, 
who  resides  in  Clinton  and  is  married  and 
has  a  family. 

The  father.  Littleberry  Spencer,  enlisted 
in  [862,  in  company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  nfantry,  and 
served  three  years,  participating  in  many 
of  the  important  battles  of  the  Civil  war  and 
proving  himself  a  brave  soldier  and  a  de- 
voted L'nion  man. 

Thomas  Spencer,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  remained  on  the  homestead  farm  un- 
til he  was  twenty-four,  when  he  left  home 
and  engaged  in  business  for  himself  by  rent- 
ing the  property  he  now  owns.  The  farm 
is  an  excellent  one.  in  good  condition,  with 
comfortable  buildings  and  nice  house,  sur- 
rounded with  shade  trees.  The  field-  are 
well  cultivated  and  the  orchard  in  first  rate 
C<  inditii  111. 

Mr.  Spencer  was  married.  January  3, 
[879,  to  Mis-  Isabelle  Baker,  a  daughter  of 
Laws,  ,n  and  Mary  Baker,  both  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  The  following  family  has 
been  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spencer:  Fred; 
Francis  M.:  Orville;  rnestine;  Elmer;  Syl- 
via :  Annie:  Hugh  :  Erick  :  Carl ;  Nellie:  Elsie 
and  four  children  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Spencer  i-  a  progressive  farmer  and 
public-spirited  citizen  and  his  many  excel- 
lent traits  of  character  have  won  for  him  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends, 
while  his  estimable  wife  is  equally  popular 
among  her  friends.  At  their  pleasant  home 
they  dispense  a  generous  hospitality  and  they 
are  enjoying  life  surrounded  by  their  family 


4io 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  interesting  children  in  whose  bright  faces 
and  energetic  actions  can  be  read  the  bright 
futures  be fiire  tll( 

Levi  Spencer,  a  brother  of  Littleberry 
Spencer,  was  born  in  Clintonia  township, 
l  (ctober  27,  [846,  and  has  lived  in  DeWitl 
county  all  his  life  engaged  in  farming,  lie 
resides  in  Texas  t<  iwnship  1  m  seel  ii  m  8,  where 
he  owns  twenty  acres  of  land,  which  is  well 
cultivated  and  yields  a  good  return  for  Ins 
efforts.  In  politics  he  1-  a  standi  Repub- 
lican bul  has  never  soughl  01  accepted  office, 
preferring  to  devote  ins  attention  to  his  own 
affairs.  The  entire  Spencer  family  is  In, 
respected  throughout  DeWitt  count)  whi 
its  representatives  have  lived  so  long. 


A.  K.  MILLER. 

Since  the  spring  of  1830  V  K.  Miller 
has  been  a  resident  of  DeWitt  county  and 
lias  therefore  been  an  eye  witness  oi  the  en- 
tile development  of  the  county,  lie  has 
seen  its  wild  lands  transformed  into  beau- 
tiful In  unes  and  farina;  towns  and  cities 
spring  up.  and  all  of  the  interests  and  evi- 
dences 1  if  an  advanced  civilization  intro- 
duced. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Grayson  county, 
Kentucky,  February  21,  1822,  and  is  a  son 
(.f  John  and  Nancy  (Music)  Miller,  the 
former  a  native  of  Viriginia,  the  latter  of 
Tennessee.  The  Miller  family  is  of  tier- 
man  origin,  and  was  founded  in  Virginia 
in  early  colonial  days.  Some  of  its  repre- 
sentatives took  part  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  and  a  maternal  uncle  of  our  subjeel 
was  at  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  during 
the  war  of  [812,  arriving  at  the  close  of  the 
engagement.     When  aboul  sixteen  years  of 


age  John  Miller  removed  with  bis  parents 
in  Kentucky,  and  later  purchased  a  farm 
in  that  state,  which  lie  operated  until  our 
subjeel  was  six  years  of  age  and  then  came 
t"  Illinois.  He  at  first  located  in  Macon 
county,  mi  the  present  site  of  the  fair 
grounds  at  Decatur,  the  locality  then 
formed  a  part  of  Sangamon  county.  \  iter 
residing  there  two  seasons  he  came  in  De- 
Witt  county  in  the  spring  of  [830,  and  took 
up  his  residence  in  what  is  now  Tunbridge 
township,  where  he  purchased  a  farm.  Sub- 
sequentl)  he  resided  in  t  reek  township,  and 
later  spent  a  short  time  in  Clinti  mia  t. iwn- 
ship. after  which  he  returned  to  (.'reek  town- 
ship and  purchased  a  farm,  which  he  made 
I  is  home  fi'i"  many  years.  Both  he  and  his 
wile  were  sixty-seven  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  their  deaths.  They  were  the  par- 
ents   of    sixteen    children,    of    whom    twelve 

died  years  of  maturity,  and  six  are  still 
living,  namely:  Matthew,  a  residenl  of 
Joplin,  Missouri;  A.  K.,  our  subjeel  :  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Jacob  Zorger  of  Weldon,  llli- 
iH 'is;  John,  a  resident  of  Rutledge  town- 
ship, this  county;  Sarah,  wife  of  Allen  I  lar- 
rold,  of  Indian  Territorj  ;  and  Martha,  wife 
of  John  Shinkle,  of  Springfield,   Illinois. 

Mr.  Miller,  of  this  review,  was  only  able 
tn  attend  seli,.,,i  aboul  three  months  during 
boyhood,  and  this  was  in  a  primitive  log 
school  In 'Use,  with,  its  puncheon  floor 
greased  paper  windows  and  huge  lire  place. 
lie  learned  t,  1  read  b)    studying  the  speeches 

d  debates  of  Lincoln  and  Douglas,  and 
alsn  the  Bible  and  Xew  Testament,  and  his 
education  has  been  mainly  acquired  by  read- 
ing and  observation.  When  a  small  boy  he 
began  hoeing  corn  and  cotton,  and  in  this 
way  gained  a  practical  knowledge  of 
farming,  which  he  made  his  life  work.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen  he  commenced  watching 
the  best    farmers  and  by  copying  the  meth- 


A.   K.    MILLER. 


MRS.   A.    K.    MILLER. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


4>5 


ods  which  they  followed  soon  becami 
thorough  ami  successful  agriculturist.  At 
this  time  he  also  assisted  in  work  on  the  first 
railroad  attempted  in  Illinois,  from  Pekin 
to  Bloomington,  but  which  was  abandoned 
before  completion.  For  many  years  he 
broke  prairie  with  oxen,  using  four  yoke 
as  1  rses  could  not  stand  the  hard 
work.  On  leaving  home  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-two Mr.  Miller  pre-empted  one  hundred 
and  titty-six  acres  <>i  land  on  section  3, 
Creek  township,  which  he  entered  with  a 
land  warrant  at  Danville,  paying  one  dollar 
per  acre.  Although  it  was  so  cheap,  he  had 
a  hard  time  just  then  to  raise  the  required 
amount.  His  place  was  entirely  unim- 
proved when  it  came  into  his  posesssion, 
and  the  first  building  he  erected  thereon 
was  a  hewed  log  cabin  of  one  room,  sixteen 
feet    square,   into   which   he   and   his   bride 

moved. 

On  the  14th  of  March.  1S44.  Mr.  Miller 
married  Mis-  Rebecca  Jane  Welch,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Welch,  who  was  a  minister  of  the  Christian, 
or  what  was  then  known  as  the  New  Right 
Church,  and  who  preached  for  many  years 
without  compensation.  At  the  time  of  his 
marriage.  Mr.  Miller  had  hut  one  dollar 
and  twelve  cents  in  cash,  and  this  he  paid 
for  the  marriage  license,  the  minister  per- 
forming the  ceremony  for  nothing.  Work- 
ing on  a  farm  until  after  harvest,  he  found 
himself  the  r  of  ten  dollars.     Going 

to  Decatur  he  invested  a  portion  of  it  in  a 
calico  dress  for  his  wife  and  with  the  bal- 
ance purchased  household  furniture.  Mrs. 
Miller  proved  a  true  helpmate  to  her  hus- 
band,  and  their  married  life,  which  cov- 
ered fifty-five  years,  was  an  ideal  one. 
Unto  them  were  lxirn  twelve  children,  six 
of  whom  are  now  living,  namely:  Thomas, 
the  present   supervisor  of  Creek   township, 


who  married  Margaret  Glenn,  and  is  a 
minister  of  the  Christian  church;  Nancy, 
home  with  her  father;  Hmeline.  wife 
ot  Allan  Spainhour,  of  Creek  township; 
Mary,  wife  of  William  Brown,  of  Piatt 
county.  Illinois;  Edward,  who  married 
I.illie  Hoge  and  lives  in  (reek  town- 
ship, they  have  one  child.  Percy;  and  Eli- 
jah 1'..  who  married  Mary  Cowless  and  has 
two  children.  A.  K.,  Jr..  and  Martha  Re- 
becca. He  lives  on  a  farm  with  his  father. 
The  wife  and  mother,  who  was  an  earliest 
and  consistent  christian  and  a  most  estima- 
ble woman,  passed  away  May  _•<>.  1899, 
leaving  many  friends  as  well  as  her  imme- 
diate family  to  mourn  her  loss.  She  was 
laid  to  rest  in  Lisenby  cemetery.  Creek  town- 
ship. 

(  >n  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  Mr. 
Miller  thought  forty  acres  would  he  as  much 
land  as  he  would  require,  hut  as  time  passed 
he  kept  adding  to  his  landed  posesssions  un- 
til now  he  has  eighteen  hundred  acre- 
valuable  farm  land  in  Re  Witt  count  v.  Illi- 
nois, and  at  Storm  Cake.  Buena  Vista 
county.  Iowa.  He  has  always  given  con- 
siderable attention  to  stock  raising  and 
found  that  business  quite  profitable.  At  the 
time  of  his  marriage  he  was  in  limited  cir- 
cumstances, and  as  times  were  hard  he  took 
took  up  coopering,  which  he  soon  mastered, 
and  by  following  that  trade  added  not  a  lit- 
tle to  his  income.  His  wife,  also  aided  him  by 
making  brooms  and  in  this  way  they  were  al- 
ways able  to  meet  the  payments  on  their  land 

when   due   and    secure   a   g 1   start    in    life. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Miller  was  one  of  the 

1  active  and  successful  farmers  and  si. 
raisers   of   the  county,    but    is   now    living  a 
retired  life  on  his  farm  on  section  _•  1 .  Creek 
township,    enjoying    the    fruits     of     former 
toil. 

Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 


4i6 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tian  church,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Grange  as  long  as  it  was  in  existence.  In 
politics  he  is  a  strong  Jeffersonian  Demo- 
crat, but  would  never  accept  office,  save  that 
of  school  director  and  road  commissioner. 
lie  can  relate  many  incidents  of  pioneer 
days,  which  if  written  would  make  a  large 
and  interesting  volume,  lie  well  remem- 
bers when  the  family  removed  from  Ken- 
tucky t"  Illinois.  They  started  with  their 
bedding  on  pack  horses  and  the  little  chil- 
dren "ii  top  of  the  load,  but  after  traveling 
this  way  for  a  few  days  the)  stopped  at  a 
cousin's  house  and  bought  a  wagon,  in 
which  the  women  and  most  of  the  children 
of  the  party  rode,  though  our  subject  walked 
beside  the  wagon  most  of  the  waj  and  dn 
the  cows.  The  journey  was  a  long  and  tire- 
some one,  consuming  many  days,  and  the 
family  all  contracted  sore  eves  in  trying  to 
gaze  far  over  the  trackless  prairie-.  In  those 
days  the  earl)  settlers  were  far  more  hos- 
pitable than  the  people  of  the  present  time, 
and  at  their  humble  homes  a  stranger  never 
sought  shelter  in  vain,  and  the  members 
the  household  would  do  all  they  could  for 
him.  When  the  Miller  family  arrived  in  this 
county  they  found  only  a  few  wigwams  scat- 
tered along  the  creek,  the  Indian-  being  far 
more  numerous  than  the  white  settlers.  The 
land  was  just  a-  nature  left  it.  and  all  kind- 
of  wild  game  was  plentiful,  including 
prairie  chicken-,  turkeys,  deer  and  wild 
hogs!  At  that  time  malaria  and  ague  W( 
quite  prevalent,  ami  a-  there  were  no  phy- 
sicians for  mile-  around  the  people  did  their 
own  doctoring  with  herbs.  Being  unable 
to  get  their  grain  ground,  Mr.  Miller  pound- 
ed it  in  a  mortar  to  make  meal  for  his  fa- 
ther's large  family  during  one  winter.  He 
look  a  very  active  part  in  the  early  develop- 
ment  and  upbuilding  of  this  comity,  and  is 


deserving  of  prominent  mention  among  its 
honored  pioneers  and  representative  citi- 
zens. 

■ ■+-— 

THOMAS  A.  CURL. 

Thomas  A.  Curl,  who  for  the  past  thirty 
years  has  been  a  valued  contributor  to  the 
Chicago  and  Burlington  papers,  was  horn 
in  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  August  26, 
[848,  and  1-  a  -on  of  Jeremiah  and  l.nciiula 
(Summers)  Curl,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tive- of  Ohio  and  were  married  in  [840. 
I"he  father,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  in  1S55 
came  to  I  )e  Witt  comity.  Illinois,  and  pur- 
chased forty  acre-  of  wild,  unbroken  land, 
which  he  placed  under  cultivation  and  en 
ed  a  house  and  bam  thereon.  \fler  consid 
erably  enhancing  the  value  of  the  land,  he 

1  n  and  removed  to  Creek  township, 
where  he  rented  property.  In  1862  he  in 
listed  at  Clinton  in  Compan)  I).  One  Hun- 
dred and  Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, a-  a  private,  and  was  mutered  in  in 
Kentucky.  I  lis  term  of  enlistment  was  for 
three  year-,  bill  he  was  discharged  at  Louis 
\  ilk-  in  [863  on  account  of  disability,  and 
then  returned  home  and  purchased  a  -mall 
farm  in  Harp  township  where  he  -pent  the 
remainder  of  hi-  day-,  dying  in  [873  at  the 
age  of  sixt)  one.  Ill-  widow  survived  him 
until  1893  when  she.  ton,  pa— ed  away,  aged 
sevent)  five,  and  both  werre  interred  at  De 
Witt.  In  politics  the  father  was  a  Republi- 
1,  hut  he  would  never  accept  town-hip  of- 
fice- although  he  was  president  of  the  Union 
League  of  the  count)  for  a  number  of  years. 
Both  he  and  hi-  good  wife  were  consistent 
members  of  the  New  Light  Church  in  which 
they  were  active  workers.  To  them  were 
horn  eight  children,  four  of  whom  died  in 
infancy   and   the   remainder   are  still    living, 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


4'7 


namely:  Sarah  married  John  Miller,  a  farm- 
Wilson  township;  John,  :i  merchant 
of  De  Witt,  enlisted  in  the  Second  Mini >i- 

Jit  Artillery  under  Capt.  Powell,  July  _\ 
1864,  and  being  taken  prisoner  was  confined 
in  Andersonville  for  -ix  months.  This 
impaired  liis  health  that  he  never  full)  recov- 
ered but  died  after  hi<  return  In  Mile,  and 
li is  widow  now  resides  in  Clinton;  Thomas 
A.,  "tir  subject,  is  the  next  in  the  family: 
Jeremiah   married    .  S  nalley   and   they 

live  in  Clinton,  where  he  i-  engaged  in  the 
cantile  business. 

■  subject  was  educated  in  tin 
Of  Waynesville  and  the  schools  of 
Harp  and  Creek  townships,  until  he  was 
twenty-cue.  attending  school  in  the  winter 
and  working  upon  the  farm  in  the  summer. 
In  1869  he  began  teaching  in  the  district 
sch. «'ls  and   was   thus  engaged   for   fifteen 

About  1883  he  purchased  forty  a< 
of   land  on    which   he  erected   a   house   and 
later  added  forty  acres  to  the  property.    The 
farm  is  now  in  a  tine  state  of  cultivation  and 
his  home  is  a  I  tted  with  all 

modern  conveniences.  Upon  this  farm  he 
carrii  -  general  farming  ami  has  become 
very  successful.  Many  year-  ago  hi-,  atten- 
tion was  turned  to  literature  and  he  began 
writing  for  the  different  papers.  His 
sketches,  which  are  of  a  comic  nature,  were 
accepted  and  he  now  greatly  augments  his 
income  by  the  children  of  hij  pen.  Living 
the  heart  of  nature  upon  his  farm. 
he  gains  idea-  and  gathers  his  inspirations 
from  nature  itself  so  that  his  writing-  have 
a  flavor  of  the  early  sunrise,  the  dewy  mead- 
ving  kine.  the  waving  field-  of 

In,  the  twittering  birds  and  the  sweet 
-cent  of  the  clover  full  blown,  about  them. 
Reading  hi-  articles  one  i-  transplanted  from 
the  dingy  office,  the  crowded  tenement  and 
the  noise-racking  cities  to  the  country   >till 


fresh   a-    when    it   came    from   the   Creal 
hand.      Not   only  are  hi-  article-   pertail 
to  the  fruitful  months  delightful,  for  lie  can 
read  .hidden  meanings  in  the  snow-covered 

und,  can  hear  music  in  the  sound  of  the 
vehicle  or  sturdy   pedestrian  on   the   -now, 

'earn  a  lesson  from  the  patience  of  the 
cattle  huddeld  together  on  the  warm  side 
of  a  -tack.  Through  the  blinding  snow  his 
clear  mind    \  seize  the  lessons 

humanity,  and  while  studying  na- 
ture so  closely  Mr.  Curl  learns  to  place  a 
true  estimate  upon  mankind.  Judging  the 
race  by  nature,  he  can  place  a  broader  ga 
upon  his  opinions  and  tone  down  his  criti- 
cisms with  the  leaven  of  charity.  So  in- 
stinct   are   his   articles    with    tin  he 

111s  from  his  broads  fields  and  country 
life,  that  they  will  always  meet  with  a  warm 
welcome  from  those  confined  in  our  larg 
cities,  a-  well  as  the  favored  one-  who  can 
test  the  trueness  of  his  impre.--i.iii-  by  their 
own  experience-. 

In  1880  Mr.  Curl  was  married  to  Miss 
Lucy  E.  Tyler,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  1  Shults  1  Tyler.  Four  children  have 
been  born  of  this  marriage,  namely:  Claude. 
Warner.  Charles  ami  Mary,  all  at  home. 
E  ■  ally  Mr.  Curl  is  a  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Lodge  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
has  held  various  offices  of  this  order,  in- 
cluding those  of  junior  and  senior  deacon. 
Politically  he  i-  a  Republican,  and  has  been 
clerk  of  the  election  and  justice  of  the  peace 
for  a  number  of  years  and  held  minor  1 
in  connection  with  the  government. 


HENRY  C.   RYBi  >LT. 

Henry   C.    Rybolt,  one  of  the  earl) 
tier-    and    highly    respected   citizen-    of    De- 
Witt  county,   Illinois,  now    residing  in  the 


4i8 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


village  of  Kenney,  is  a  native  of  <  )hio,  born 
in  Clermont  county,  November  17.  [825, 
and  resided  in  the  place  of  his  birth  until 
he  was  twenty-eighl  years  of  age.  He  is  a 
son  of  Ji  >hn  and  ( !atherine  Rybolt.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  one  of  the  south- 
ern states  and  rami.-  to  Ohio  when  aboul 
nine  years  of  age.  lie  was  a  fanner  all 
his  active  life  and  lived  and  died  in  (  lei 
mont  county,  Ohio,  his  death  occurring 
October  3,   1 S 5 7 .  when  he  was  about  sixty 

rs  old.  The  mother  died  when  our  sub- 
ject was  only  one  year  old,  so  he  was  de- 
prived of  her  love  and  care  when  he  mosl 
needed  it. 

Like  the  majority  of  farmer  boys,  Mr. 
Rybolt  attended  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  county  in  the  winter  and  worked 
upon  his  father's  farm  in  the  summer.  The 
educational  advantages  were  very  hum 
and  the  structure  in  which  the  school  was 
held  was  made  of  logs.  Remaining  with 
his  father  until  his  death,  our  subject  then 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Tunbridge 
township,  DeVVitt  county,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  heme,  becoming  thoroughly 
identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the  com- 
munity. 

lie  first  purchased  one  hundred  and 
ty  acres  of  prairie  land  on  section   17.  which 

-  the  first  land  he  ever  owned  and  was 
accordinglj  highly  prized,  lie  broke  the 
land  and  erected  a  large  brick  house  on  it 
and  put  up  other  buildings,  all  of  which 
were  somewhat  of  a  luxury  in  th'-c  days 
of  hardships  and  log  houses.  In  this  pie; 
ant  home  he  resided  until  October,  [891, 
when  he  leased  the  remainder  of  the  farm 
and  retired  to  some  twenty-one  acres,  where 
he  lives  surrounded  by  the  comforts  of  lite. 
From  time  to  time  he  added  to  his  original 
farm  until  he  is  now  one  of  the  largest 
property   owners   in   the  county,      lie   01 


over  thirty-seven  hundred  acres  in  DeWitt 
and  Macon  counties  and  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  Calhoun  county,  Iowa.  On 
these  farms  are  substantial  dwellings  and 
buildings,  numbering  fifteen  in  all.  The 
six  hundred  and  forty  acres  111  Iowa  is  a 
cattle  ranch. 

Our  subject  started  out  in  life  a  poor 
11  with  nothing  to  assist  him  but  a  pair 
of  willing  hands  and  the  determination  to 
win  for  himself  a  position  in  life  worth)  of 
his  ambitions.  That  he  has  succeeded  his 
present  prosperity  amply- demonstrates,  for 
nine   years   he   has   lived    retired    from   active 

labor  in  the  pleasant  town  of  Kenney,  where 
he  built  a  hands,  .me  and  substantial  house. 
l)u  his  pr,.pert\  he  tried  no  new  or  specu- 
lative methods  of  becoming  wealth),  but 
carried  on  general  farming^and  stock  rais- 
ing, using  his  own  common  sense  and 
thorough  knowledge  of  all  the  details  of 
farm  life  in  directing  the  management  of 
affairs.  In  addition  to  his  farm  property 
.Mr.    Ryboldt  also  possesses  some   valuable 

real  estate  and   111    [898  he  erected  the  Opera 

house  of  Kenney,  which  is  a  very  tine  build- 
ing, comprising  three  stores,  ami  is  consid- 
1  one  ..f  the  best   business  structures  in 

the  t.  .'.ill. 

Mr.  Rybolt  was  married  Mardh  28, 
1850,  to  Miss  Mary  Hester  Shaw.  She 
was  born  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Casiah 
(  Smith  1  Shaw,  both  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rybolt  were  born 
six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Thi 
.had  are  Charles  and  Henry,  both  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  The  living  are  as  follows: 
Amos  married  Annie  Reiser,  who  died  two 
years  ago  last  spring,  and  he  operates  the 
old  homestead  farm  on  section  27,  Tun- 
bridge township;  John  married  Annie  Todd 
anil   resides  on  one  of  his  father's   farms  in 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


419' 


Austin  township,  Macon  county;  Robert  re- 
side ction  27,  Tuntbridge  township, 

where  he  farms  tun  hundred  and  forty  a 

his   father's  land,  and  he  married  Alice 
Jump;  Martha  married  Robert  Monroe, 
suction    n\    Tunbridge   township,    DeWitt 
inty,  where  he  farms  five  hundred  a 

■  his  father. 
When    Mr.    Rybolt    first     came     to    this 
inty  it  was  all  wild  prairie  land.     Xow  it 
•  if  the  richest  farm- 
§  districts  in  Illinois.     This  great  chai 
has  ben  brought  about  by  the  industry  and 
lie  spirit  of  the  men  who  had  the  cour- 
age to  brave  the  perils  and  discomforts  of 
the   wilderness   and   push    forward   the   ad- 
vance of  civilization.   Their  own  reward 
bee:  but   it   is  well  deserved,    for  it 

»h  the  droughts  of  summer  and 
the  discoun  rms  of  winter  that  they 

toiled.     Beside  the  clear  stream  sprang  up 
towns  and  cities,   and  churches 
an<!  -    were   erected   by    these     same 

earnest,    hard-work-  ring    men. 

wh  Jed   that   those  who  came  after 

them    could     enjoy    the    advantages    never 
n  them.     All  that  Illinois  is  now  or  will 
bee  ''.gely  ('■  pioneer  settlers 

and   among   them    none    deserves     greater 
praise  than  does  Henry  C.  Rybolt. 


MALCOLM  SWAN. 


the  highly  esteemed  retired  citi- 
zen- inton,  Illinois,  who  for  many 
\ears  was  one  of  the  successful  agricultur- 
DeWitt  county,  is  Malcolm  Swan. 
who  was  born  in  Scotland  on  June  9,  1834, 
and  was  f  Malcolm  and  Ann  Swan. 
of  Argyleshire,  Scotland,  where  the  mother 
died.    In  1866  the  father  came  to  the  United 


States    and    settled    in    Michigan,    where   he 
died  at  the  home  of  one  of  his  sons. 

Malcolm  Swan,  the  subject  of  this  I 
raphy,  was  the  first  of  his  family  to  come 
to  America,  sailing  from   Liverpool  on  the 

mer  City  of  Washington,  and  after  a 
trip  of  fourteen  days,  reaching  New  Work 
city.  From  there  he  went  to  Toronto,  Can- 
ada, but  six  months  later  removed  to  Michi- 
gan, where  he  remained  for  the  following- 
two  years,  working  in  a  lumber  camp. 
From   this   northern   camp   Mr.    Swan  came 

:!linois   and   remained    for  a    short    time 
near  Aurora,  but  later  secured  employment 
at   cord   wood   chopping  along  the    Miss 
sippi  river. 

In  the  spring  of  i860  our  subject  came 

Waynesville,    DeWitt     county,     Illin 
where    he   went    to    work,   his    \ 
twelve    dollars    and    fifty    cents    ]>er   month, 
and  there  he  continued  for  about  six  years. 
Mr.   Swan   was   frugal  and   industrious  and 

n  benight  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in  Creek 
township,  which  he  later  increa-ed  to  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres.  At  the  time 
purchase  this  was  all  wild  prairie,  but 
perseverance  and  industry  has  put  it  under 
a  tine  state  of  cultivation,  and  his  improve- 
ments in  the  way  of  house,  barns  and  fenc- 

compare  most  favorably  with  the  farms 
of  much  older  residents  of  the  county. 

In  1S72  our  subject  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Margaret  Sprague,  who 
a  native  of  Ohio,  and  to  this  union  six  chil- 
dren  have  been   born:      Charles,   deceased: 
Anna,  who  married  Archibald  Edwards, 
Creek  township,  and  have  one  child.   Mar- 

t:  and  Ruth:  Mary:  Jane;  and  Katie; 
In  politics  Mr.  Swan  has  always  been  in 
sympathy  with  the  Democratic  party,  but 
he  has  never  sought  office. 

In  180.0  our  subject  rented  his  tine  farm 
and  decided  to  spend  the  rest  of  his  life  in 


420 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  enjoyment  of  what  his  industry  has 
earned.  With  this  end  in  view  he  purchased 
of  the  most  comfortable  homes  in  Clin- 
ton, located  on  West  South  street,  and  to- 
day is  one  of  the  highly  esteemed  citizens 
of  this  pleasant  little  city. 


CRIAll   BLUE. 


Uriah  Blue,  deceased,  was  oik-  of  the 
highly  respected  citizens  of    I  >e\Vitt   county 

ided  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  Te 
township.      Mr.    Blue    was    horn    in    Hamp- 
shire  county,    Virginia,    August    pi.    1850, 
and   when  three  years  of  age  cam: 

-  with  his  parents.  Uriah  and  Jemima 
1  Welton)  lllne.  Both  were  nativi  -  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  after  comnig  to  Illinois,  about 
[853,  they  located  in  Texas  township, 
wh<  ngaged   in    farming   for 

main  years  and  where  he  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age.  His  widow  survived,  him  some 
year-  and   died   in    1S7  1 . 

Uriah   Blue,   1  ur   subject,   remained 

the  home  place  until  he  attained  his  major- 
ity, at  which  time  he  married,  and  then  he 
purchased  a  home  of  his  own.  to  which  he 
added  from  time  to  time  until  at  the  time 
of  his  death  he  owned  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acr  -    od   farm  land,  all  of  which 

was  under  cultivation.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Democrat,  and  at  the  time  of  his  demise 
was  serving  a-  justice  of  the  peace,  which 
office  he  had  held  for  many  year-, 
ciallv  he  was  a  member  of  the  order  of 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

(hi  March  [6,  [871,  Mr.  Blue  was  mar- 
ried to  Jennie  P.  Eckert.  who  was  horn  in 
Butler  county.  Ohio,  and  was  a  diughtet 
Henry  K.  and  Sarah  M.  (  Squire  1  Eckert. 
Henry  Eckert  was  horn  in  Ohio,  as  was  also 
his  wife.     They  came  to  Illinois  in  January. 


1  No-,  and  settled  in  Texas  township,  De- 
Witt  coumy.  where  the  father  engaged  in 
farming.  lie  now  re-ides  with  his  daugh- 
ter. Mrs.  lllue.  and  i-  aged  seventy-six. 
lie  is  a  member  of  the  I'.aptist  church.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Blue  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  and  died  in  [866. 
She  was  the  mother  of  six  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blue  were  horn  seven 
children:  Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  oi 
six  month-:  Charles  F...  who  died  when 
three  years  old;  Lilly,  who  died  at  the  age 
.  f  two  years;  Edmund  W.,  who  5  on 

the  home  place  and  i-  assessor  of  the  town- 
ship: Carl  I)..  William  <  >.  and  Clara  Alice. 
all  at  home.  All  of  the  children  were  horn 
in  Texas  township,  DeWitt  county,  and 
were  or  are  being  educated  there.  The 
family  reside  in  the  line  modern  house  Mr. 
I 'due  erected   oil   the  homestead. 

Mr.    Blue  died  on    December  23,    1891, 
r  a  short  illness,     lie  was  a  public-spir- 
i  man  and  an  advocal  11  that  tended 

toward-  the  advancement  of  the  interests 
of  tin-  neighborhood  in  which  he  resided. 
lie  wa-  very  libera!  and  devoted  to  his 
home  and  family.  In  his  death  the  com- 
munity suffered  by  the  1"--  of  a  friend  to 
the  itizen  and  a  man  1  if 

upright  life  and  high  standiri 


CARL  SWIGART. 


Among  the  honored  and  highly  es- 
teemed citizens  of  Weldon  i-  the  gentleman 
whose  name  head-  this  sketch.  lie  was 
horn  in  DeWitt  township,  this  county.  No- 
vember 14.  [854,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Rebecca  (Doirs)  Swigart,  both  "f 
whom  were  natives  of  Ohio.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  wa-  Daniel 
Swigart,     a     native     of    Lancaster    county. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


421 


Pennsylvania,   and  a   sun    of    Daniel   and 
Catherine  1  Swigart,  who  wore  . 

natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  of  German 
parentage.  Daniel  Swigart,  Sr.,  \\a-  a  • 
dier  of  the  war  of  1812,  serving  under  den- 
oral  Harrison,  and  fought  with  him  against 
General  Hull  at  Fort  Meigs  and  other  bat- 
that  war.  Daniel.  Jr..  was  horn  at 
Mercerbury,  Pennsylvania,  in  1793,  and 
came  to  Pickoway  county,  Illinois,  with  his 
parents  in  1810.    H(  jrew  to  manhood 

and  married  Elizabeth  Coonrod,  a  native 
of  Greenbrier  county.  Virginia,  and  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Eve  (Vandevinder) 
lie  also  served  in  the  war 
2  under  t  leneral  Harrison,  hut  his  posi- 
tion in  the  quartermaster's  department  pre- 
vented him  from  taking'  any  part  in  any  of 
the  battles.  The  maternal  grandparents 
our  subject  were  James  and  Elizaheth  Da- 
ds, natives  of  Ohio,  hut  came  to   DeWitt 

inty    in    1837   and   located    near    Farmer 
City,  on  land  which  is  now  within  the  1 
poration  limits  of  that  town. 

S  trt   was   reared   in  his  native 

inty,  and  from  the  public  schools  received 
preliminary  .education.     While  very 

ing  he  started  out  in  life  as  a  farmer, 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  twelve  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  highly  improved  land. 
There  is  five  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in 
DeWitt  county,  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Mason  county,  two  hundred  and 
-  in  Piatt  and  one  hundred  acres 
in  Champaign,  all  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation. In  addition  to  his  farming  inter- 
deal-,  extensively  in  stock,  mak- 
ing a  specialt)  of  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  for 
market. 

Since   [888  lie  has  resided  in  Weldon, 
eight  years  of  which  time  he  has  been  en- 

ijed    in    the    hanking   business.      He   has 
twice   been    united   in     marriage,     his     first 


union  being  with  Miss  Sarah  A.,  daughter 
of  Archibald  ami  Lydia  (Runyon)  Mc- 
kley,  of  DeWitt  township,  formerly  of 
Ohio.  As  a  result  of  this  union  three  chil- 
dren were  horn,  as  follows:  Vespascian  '  .: 
Harry  F.  and  Grace  M.  .Mis.  Swigart  was 
called  to  her  final  rest  in  1887  and  in  i  : 
Mr.  Swigart  was  married,  his  second  wife 
being  Miss  Kate,  'laughter  of  James  ami 
Emma  (McPherson)  McConkley,  by  whom 
he  has  one  daughter,  Clara. 

ally  Mr.  Swigart  is  a  member  of 
Mozart  Lodge,  No.  96,  K.  of  ]'..  of  Wel- 
don; Weldon  Lodge,  No.  74''.  V  F.  &  A. 
M.;  G lbrake  Chapter,  R.  A.  M..  of  Clin- 
ton, and  Clinton  Commandery,  No.  66.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  warm  sup- 
porter of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  from  1894  until  [898 
served  as  supervisor  of  Nixon  township  and 
is  now  the  representative  from  the  19th  dis- 
tricl  in  the  state  legislature,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  all  measures  calculated  to 
prove  of  benefit  to  the  public. 


PHILIP  HALLOWAI 

Among  the  prosperous    and  ssful 

citizens  of  fanner  City.  Illinois,  is  Philip 
Hallowa*t"who  was  horn  in  McLean  coun- 
ty, this  state,  October  30,  1*4-'.  ami  is  a 
of  Jorial  Hallowan,  who  was  horn  in 
[8l2.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
-  Susanna  Hand,  was  horn  in  1818,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  George  and  Barbara 
Hand.  Jorial  Hallowan  and  wife  removed 
to  Illinois  in  the  early  days  in  the  history 
of  the  state  and  by  hard  work  and  ceaseless 
saving  accumulated  property  and  died  p 
sessed  of  some  sixty-five  acres  of  land,  all 
of  which  was  well  cultivated  and  supplied 
with   house,   barn   and    necessary   buildil 


i 


422 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


In  religious  matters  they  were  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church.  To  these 
good  people  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: Henry,  William,  Barbara,  John  W., 
Nancy  J.  and  Jonathan.  Jorial  was  a 
farmer  all  his  life  and  his  memory  is  cher- 
ished as  that  of  a  good,  kind-hearted  man. 
in  whose  death  the  community  sustained  a 
severe  1 

Philip  Hallowan  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  district,  .and  after  attaining 
to  manhi  od's  estate  he  engaged  in  farming. 
hut  in  1861,  fired  with  patriotism,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  1.  Thirty-ninth  lllii 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  gave  his  country 
thro  of  his  life,  although  he  was  very 

fortunate  in  not  being  wounded  or  cap- 
tured. 

After  concluding  his  war  experience  Mr. 
Hallowan  resumed  farming  and  continued 
to  pursue  that  calling  for  four  years,  when 
he  engaged  in  business  in  Farmer  City  for 
some  years  a-  a  merchant.  At  present  he 
i-  one  of  the  leading  ice  dealers  in  that  lo- 
cality and  has  built  up  a  large  and  flourish- 
ing business.  Socially,  he  i-  a  member  ol 
the   Independent  Order  of  Odd  3,   in 

which  he  has  been  past  grand:  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  No.  2ii,  Lemon 
Post,  "f  which  he  ha-  been  commander. 

Mr.  Hallowan  married  Miss  Nancy  H. 
Walls,  and  they  had  two  children:     Maud. 

eased;  and  Eliza  M.,  who  married  a  Mr. 
Yarina.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hallowan  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  church. 


1-1.1 1  IT  HELMICK. 

Among  the  residents  of  Farmer  City 
none  are  more  deserving  of  representation 
in  this  volume  than  Elihu  Helmick,  who  for 


many  years  was  actively  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  DeWitt  county,  and 
who  has,  through  his  well-directed  efforts, 
gained  a  handsome  competence,  so  that  he 
is  now  numbered  among  the  largest  land 
owner-  of  this  section  of  the  state.  Keen 
discrimination,  unflagging  industry  anil  res- 
olute purpose  are  numbered  among  his  sali- 
ent characteristic-,  and  thus  he  ha-  won  that 
prosperity  which  is  the  merited  reward  of 
h<  mest  effort. 

.Mr.  Helmick  was  horn  in  Pendleton 
county,  We-t  Virginia,  March  26,  iS_>_\  and 
is  a  -on  of  Vlam  Helmick  and  grandson  of 
Jacob  Helmick.  The  latter  wa-  probably 
a  native  of  Germany,  and  was  one  <>i  the 
pioneers  of  West  Virginia,  where  he  fol- 
lowed   farming  throughout   life,  dying  at   a 

id  old  age.  lie  married  Miss  Borer  and 
to  them  were  horn  seven  children,  among 
the  number  being  Jacob,  John,  Adam  and 
Abraham. 

Adam  Helmick,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  Valley  River,  Randolph  county, 
West   Virginia,  and   -pent   his  entire  life  as 

inner  in  his  native  state,  his  sons  having 
tried  in  vain  to  persuade  him  to  come  to 
Illinois.  During  the  war  of  iSi_>  he  en- 
listed, hut  before  he  arrived  on  the  scene 
. if  actii 'ii  peai  ed.     He  was  twice 

married,  his  first  wife  being  Hannah  Teeter, 
who  died  leaving  five  children,  namely: 
Abel,  Cornelius,  Moses,  Elizabeth  and  An- 
nie. For  1  '  1  wife  he  married  Cath- 
erine Huffman,  a  daughter  of  Christian 
Huffman,  who  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary  war.  Mr.  Helmick  died  at  the 
of  sixty-five  years,  and  his  widow  subse- 
quently came  to  DeWitt  county,  Illinois 
make  her  home  with  her  sons,  and  here  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy.  She  was  a  native  of 
Bath  county,  Virginia,  and  the  mother,  oi 
five  children,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy 


h 

♦   ^j 

m't 

M 

9 


ELIHU   HELMICK. 


MRS.   ELIHU   HELMICK. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    KLCukD. 


427 


;ukI  Reuben  died  when  young.  Those  who 
reached  years  of  maturity  were  Nathaniel, 
who  is  represented  on  another  page  of  this 
work,  and  Elihu.  The  parents  were  both 
devout  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  reared  their  children  in  that 
faith. 

In  1846  Elihu  Helmick,  in  company  with 
his  brother  Nathaniel  and  his  family,  started 
by  wagon  for  Central  Illinois.  (  >n  their  ar- 
rival in  Christian  county,  the  others  stop- 
ped while  our  subject  came  north  on  a  pros- 
pecting tour,  looking  up  a  suitable  location. 
Being  pleased  with  DeWitt  county  he  de- 
cided to  settle  here  and  rent  a  farm  until  he 
found  a  favorable  opportunity  to  buy.  hav- 
.  accumulated  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars.  In  February  he  rented  a 
Miiall  place  and  sent  for  his  brother  and 
family.  Subsequently  they  bought  an  ad- 
joining  tract  of  a  Mr^XHwg+ttr-this  being 
a  claim  of  one  hundr  sixty  acre-  on 

section  21.  Rutledge  township; AAly  a  very 
few  acres  of  which  had  been  broken.  This 
place  is  .-till  owned  by  our  subject.  He  first 
built  a  small  frame  house,  which  he  later  re- 
placed by  a  more  commodious  and  substan- 

itructure. 

Mr.    Helmick   was   married   in    1X47   • 
Mary  Trimble,  who  was  born  in  High- 
land county.  Virginia,  January  20,  [824,  and 
i-  a  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
law  I    Trimble.      Her  father,  who  was  a  11a- 

of    Scotland,    died    in    middle    age.    his 
death  being  caused  by  drinking  from  a  coo! 
spring  when  overheated  by   work.      If 
only    two    children.    <.  lezekiah     and 

Mary.  The  mother  subsequently  married 
Frederick  Wayman,  by  whom  she  had  three 
children.  Sarah  A..  Susie  and  Jacob.  She 
was  eighty-four  year-  of  age  at  the  time 
of  her  death.  1  1  )  Eliza  Jane  married  Will- 
iam Vance,  and  died  leasing  four  children, 

19 


Willis.  Clara.  Fannie  and  Walter. 
Elizabeth  i-  the  wife  of  lame-  Bland,  and 
they  have  six  children  living,  Ashley,  Mary 
A..  Ilattie.  Walter  1'..  Bessie  and  Dell. 
George  Ewell  and  Bertha  are  deceased. 
1 ,:;  1  Annie  J.  married  Thomas  VVarman 
died  leasing  one  -on.  W'ilber.  14)  Simeon 
Clark  married  [da  Johnson  and  has  four 
children,  Charles,  Mary,  Francis  and  Ivy 
Jane.  W.  is  represented  on  an- 

other paj  lis, volume.     (<>)   Charles    \. 

married  Eliza  Gammon.  17)  Francis  M. 
died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  and  the 
two  who  were  born  prior  to  Eliza  Jane  died 
in  infancy. 

In  his  business  affairs  Mr.  Helmick  has 
been  ably  assisted  by  the  encouragement  and 
aiil  rendered  him  by  his  wife,  who  has  been 

him  a  true  helpmate,  and  by  their  com- 
bined efforts  met  with  success.  A-  soon  as 
they  got  one  farm  paid  for  they  purchi 
another,  and  to-day  own  four  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  line  farming  land  in  De- 
Witt  county:  six  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
in  Champaign  county;  and  over  two  hun- 
dred acres  in  McLean  county,  all  of  which 
property  has  been  acquired  through  their 
industry,  economy  and  perseverance.  When 
Mr.  Helmick  found  that  he  could  no  lor, 
say  to  hi-  sons,  come  boys,  but  had  to 

boys,  while  he  could  only  look  on  and 
superintend  the  work,  he  decided  to  retire, 
and  removed  to  Farmer  City,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home,  having  purchased  the 
Vaneman  property  there.  During  his 
younger  years  he  was  considered  one  of  the 
best  -lock  raisers  of  his  community,  and 
always  kept  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  head 
of  cattle  and  as  many  hog-.  He  also  rai 
fine  horses.  Hi-  farms  are  well  improved, 
are  tiled  and  drained,  and  supplied  with 
:  buildings,  while  fruit  and  shade 
tree-  add  greatly  to  their  beauty. 


428 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Politically  Mr.  Helmick  affiliates  with 
the  Democratic  party,  and  although  he  has 
never  sought  office  he  ha-  been  called  upon 
to  serve  as  supervisor  and  school  director. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  active  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which 
they  contribute  liberally,  and  they  are 
among  the  most  highl)  esteemed  citizens  ol 
Farmer  City. 


PTAIN  J<  U1X    I).  GRAHAM. 

ptain  John    I  >.   <  iraham,   residing  on 

ion  2,  Creek  township,  DeWitt  county, 
Illinois,  has  lived  in  this  canity  since  [852. 
lie  was  born  in  Pike  county,  <  >hio,  in  [828, 
and  was  a  son  of  Samuel  1 1,  and  Lucj   1  I  >an- 

1)  Graham,  who  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Maryland,  respectively.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  son  of  Arthur  (iraham.  who  was 
a  native  1  r£  Ireland,  born  of  Scotch  Irish 
parentage.      Arthur  Craham  came  to  Amer- 

vvhen  a  young  man  and  located  in  \  ir- 
ginia,  where  he  married,  but  later  removed 
to  Tike  county,  Ohio,  about  1822,  and  was 
one  of  the  earl)  settlers  of  that  county.  He 
l  in  farming.  The  parents  of  the 
mother  of  our  subject  also  removed  to  Ohio 
at  an  early  day  and  assisted  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  state. 

Samuel  11.  (iraham  was  also  a  farmer 
during  his  entire  life.  He  removed  to  De- 
Witt  county,  Illinois,  and  located  on  what  is 
now  (.'reek  township,  making  that  his  home 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  d 
there  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  His  widow 
was  seventy-eight  years  of  age  when  she 
died.  Both  are  buried  in  the  Lisenby  ceme- 
tery in  (reek  township.  Prior  to  his  mar- 
riage with  the  mother  of  our  subject,  Sam- 
uel II.  (iraham  married  Nancy  Thomas,  by 


whom  he  had  one  child.  Christian,  who  has 
been  dead  many  years.  Sex  en  children 
were  horn  to  Samuel  II.  Graham  and  his 
wife  Lucy,  as  follows:  Our  subject;  .Mary, 
who  resides  with  her  brother  Harvey  in 
tieek  township;  Absalom,  who  died  in 
(864,  when  only  twenty-nine  years  of  age; 
Keziah,  who  married  William  Lisenby,  of 
(reek  township;  Dorcas,  who  died  in  child- 
hood; James  Henry,  who  resides  in  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah;  Harvey,  who  resides  in 
Creek  township. 

Captain  John  I  >.  (iraham  attended  the 
schools  of  Fairfield  county.  Ohio,  to  which 

locality  bis  father  had  removed  when  he  was 
about  three  years  of  age.  The  school- 
houses  were  made  of  logs,  with  puncheon 
benches  with  pegs  for  legs.  At  one  end 
was  an  immense  fireplace  which  was  not 
largi  li    to   heat    the   little   room    suffi- 

ciently, and  the  greased  paper  at  the  windows 
was  a  poor  substitute  for  glass.  The  little 
to  ti  udge  a  mile  and  a  half  ti  1 

ool  through  the  snows  of  winter  and  the 
heat  of  summer,  and  yet  considered  himself 
fortunate  that  he  was  given  this  oppor- 
tunity of  obtaining  an  education.  Later  he 
attended  the  Greenfield  Academy  in  Green- 
field township.  Fairfield  county,  thus  receiv- 
ing a  much  better  education  than  his  asso- 
ciate rly  in  life  John  was  forced  to 
take  upon  his  shoulders  the  work  of  a  man. 
While  he  was  yet  at  school  hi-  father  broke 
his  leg,  and  the  faithful  son  left  school  and 
assumed  the  father's  tasks,  remaining  with 
the  family  until  after  their  removal  to  De- 
Witt  county.  Illinois,  and  the  father's  death. 
In    1862   John    1).    (iraham    enlisted    in 

mpany  F,  One  Hundred  and  Seventh 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Colonel 
Thomas  Snell.  and  was  mustered  in  at 
Camp  Butler  as  first  lieutenant  of  the  com- 
pany.    The  regiment   was  sent    to    Jeffer- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORH. 


429 


sonville,  Indiana,  tirst  doing  camp  duty  and 
drilling,  and  later,  when  they  crossed  into 
Kentucky,  they  wore  in  .several  engaj 
ments  against  General  Morgan.  Our  sub- 
ject participated  in  the  siege  of  Knoxville 
and  the  engagements  at  Campbell  Station 
and  Huff's  Ferry.  He  .was  in  the  battles 
at  Blaine's  Cross  k"ads.  Strawberry  Plains 
and    Mi  ek,  and  then   started  on  the 

campaign  through  Georgia,  by  the  way  of 
Knoxville  and  Chattanoogo,  and' was  in  sev- 
eral spirited  engagements  as  well  as  in  the 
battle  of  Decatur.  Georgia.  After  this  last 
named  battle  our  subject  was  honorably 
discharged  on  account  of  disability,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1864,  with  rank  of  captain,  having 
been  promoted  in  the  spring  of  that  year  at 
Knoxville,  Tennessee. 

During  the  time  he  was  absent  his  be- 
loved father  had  passed  away,  and  John, 
with  a  brother,  engaged  in  farming,  and 
have  .always  remained  partners.  They  now 
own  five  hundred  and  eighty  acre-  of  rich 
farm  land  in  Creek  township,  which  is  de- 
voted principally  to  stock-raising,  and  their 
product  meets  with  ready  sale  in  the  market 
on  account  of  its  excellence: 

On  March    1.     [866,    Captain  John   D. 

ham  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Van 
Ness,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Cornelius  Van  Ness,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont. Mrs.  Graham  was  one  of  seven  chil- 
dren and  the  youngest  of  the  family.  Her 
parents  never  left  Ohio,  where  they  died. 
■  tain  and  Mrs.  Graham  four  children 
have  been  born,  namely:  Minnie  and  Nel- 
lie, who  both  died  in  infancy;  Samuel  I 
at  home  assisting  hi-  father;  and  George 
F.,  also  working  on  the  home  farm. 

Mrs.  Graham  is  an  active  member  of  the 

ristian  church,  as  are  her  sons.  In  poli- 
tics Captain  Graham  is  a  Democrat  in  na- 
tional matter-,  but   in  local  affair-  he  votes 


rather  for  the  man  than  for  party  principles. 
lie  has  served  most  acceptably  as  collector 
for  several  term-,  as  well  as  several  terms 
supervisor.  While  he  was  on  the  board 
of  supervisors  the  railroad  was  built,  and  he 
took  an  active  part  in  pn  the  interests 

of  his  township.  Captain  Graham  has  also 
served  as  school  director.  Having  lived  in 
this  comity  for  SO  many  year-,  he  can  re- 
member when  the  entire  locality  was  wild 
land,  and  he  ha-  often  gone  by  wagon  or  on 
horseback  to  Springfield  for  the  necessary 
groceries  and  to  Bloomington  for  flour,  but 
later  he  went  to  LeRoy,  McLean  count),  for 
such  article-,  lie  i-  a  pleasant,  genial  gen- 
tleman, who  possesses  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  a  wide  circle  of  friend-  ami  the  confidence 
1  >f  the  entire  community. 


GE<  IRGE  A.  LITSINBERGER. 

George    A.    Litsinberger    was    born    in 

Hancock  county.  Ohio,  April  16,  [851,  and 
i-  the  son  of  Henry  and  Margaret  (Bell) 
Litsinberger.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  mother  was  a  native 
of  Ohio.  The  parents  were  married  in 
Ohio,  where  the  father  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  farmer.  In  185(1  the  father  was 
engaged  in  railroading,  and  finally  came  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Wilson  township,  De- 
Witt  county,  where  he  entered  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  .of  wild  land.  Only  a 
small  portion  of  this  was  broken  and  a  small 
log  house  was  the  only  residence.  This 
contained  two  rooms  and  a  loft,  but  the  little 
nily  lived  in  this  small  abode  and  worked 
hard  to  make  a  plea-ant  home.  Shade  and 
fruit  tree-  were  set  Out,  which  to-day  fur- 
nish fine  fruit  and  afford  grateful  shade. 
In   1N74  the  father  erected  the  present  coin- 


43° 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


fortable  house,  to  which  improvements  have 
been  added  from  time  to  time.  He  was  a 
Republican  during  his  later  years,  although 
a  Democrat  until  1856,  bul  would  never  ac 
cept  office.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  church  and  he 
was  an  officer  until  the  increasing  infirmi- 
ties o|  ipelled  him  to  decline  further 
election.  The  mother  was  also  very  active 
in  the  church,  winch  was  held  in  what  was 
known  as  the  Bell  school-house,  on  the  site 

the  present  Bell  chapel.  The  father  died 
,  in  1893,  aged  eighty-six  years,  while  the 
mother  died  in  1874,  aged  sixty,  and  both 
are  interred  in  Woodlawn  cemetery.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  them,  namely:  Will- 
iam, who  resides  at  (.'cntralia.  Illinois;  a 
child  who  died  in  infancy;  Allen,  who  re- 
sides at  Decatur,  Illinois;  John  (I..  who  re- 
sides in  Bloomington;  Emily  J.,  who  mar- 
ried I).  \V.  Hickman  and  lives  in  Tennes- 
see: Milton  A.,  who  111  Wilson  town- 
ship, this  county;  and  our  subject. 

>rge    A.    Litsinberger    came    to    the 
county  when  hut  five  and  re 

ccived  hi-  education  in  the  common  scln 
of  his  district,  attending  school  in  the  winter 
and  working  upon  the  farm  in  the  summer 
until    he    was   twenty-two.     after     which 

nined    hi  arm    work. 

his  father's  death  he  purchased  the  interests 
of  the  "tlier  heirs  and  now  conducts  the 
home  farm,  which  he  has  largely  impro 
On  this  property  he  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising,  making  a  )  of 
raising  draught  horses  for  the  market.  Ills 
place  1  '  kepi  farms  in  the 
township,  and  his  good  management  is 
demonstrated  on  every  side. 

In   [876  Mr.   Litsinberger  married   Miss 
Margarel   E.  Smith,  who  was  horn  in  Ohio 

1    was  a   daughter  of   William   and   Ellen 
1   Taylor  1    Smith.      Two  children  were  horn 


to  our  subject  and  his  wife,  namely:  Ern- 
est, a  resident  of  Harp  township,  married 
Edna  Stubblefield  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Lucile  and  I. eland.  Gertrude  resides 
with  our  subject.  Mrs.  Litsinberger  died 
in   February,    1900,  at    forty-eight  years  of 

age,  and  was  interred  in  Woodlawn  ceme- 
tery. Both  our  subject  and  his  wife  early 
connected  themselves  with  the  Methodist 
church.  lie  is  now  one  of  the  stewards  and 
trustees  of  the  church  as  well  as  class  leader, 
and  he  takes  a  very  active  and  earnest  pari 
in  all  the  work  of  the  denomination.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  hut  has  never 
taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  his  own 
affairs  and  church  matters  absorbing  all  of 
his   attention. 


1    II  \RI.TS    11.    M.  1    I    I  IDY. 

Among    the    prominent     citizens     now 

if  life,  who  have  been  identified 
with    the    growth    and    development    of 
Wil  .    Illinois,    the    name   i  if    <   liarles 

IT    McCuddy    takes    a    leading    place.      'The 
birth  of  our  subject  1  ccurred  in  Spsingfield, 
<  Ihio,  on   Max   8,    [832,  and  he  was  a  son  of 
c    and    Mary    (Whitridge)     McCuddy, 
the   fi  riner  of  whom   was  a  native  of   Kei 
tucky     and     the     latter     of     Massachusetts, 
although    they    were   married    in    <  >hio.      In 
[836  the)  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Mc 
an  county,  a  short  time  Later  moving  to 
liar])  township,   in    DeWitt   county,   when 
both  passed  awaj   and   weje  laid  to  rest  in 
Woodlawn  cemetery  at  Clinton.      'The}   had 
a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  our  sub- 
ject  was  the  third  in  the  order  of  birth. 

Charles  II.  McCuddy  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  this  county,  where  he 
grev\  to  manhood,  and  on  January  28,  [859, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to   Miss   Eliza- 


Till  IRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


431 


beth   Surface,    who    was    born  in   Mad 

inty,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  1  Weaver)  Surface,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Virginia  and  were  married 
in  Ohio,  where  the  former  died  in  1850,  at 
the  age  of  fifty  y< 

In   iS;j  the  mother  of  Mrs.   McCuddy 

rted  with  her  children  for  DeWitt  county, 
Illinois,  with  the  intention  of  joining 
who    resided    in     Texas    township.     They 
were    obliged    t>>    drive    overland,    coming 

ng   what   was  then   known   as  the  "Na- 
tional   Pike,"  and   were  about   twelve  days 
d.     The  nights  during  this   trip 
wet  I  in  small  shelter  cottages  which 

had  been  erected  for  the  convenience  of  the 
travelers  who  were  continually  "ii  the  move 
westward.  The  conveyances  that  came  in 
consisted  of  three  large  covered  wagons, 
which  conveyed  all  their  household  belong- 
ed a  carriage,  in  which  the  party 
rode.  For  the  younger  members  this  was 
but  a  pleasant  experience,  but  the  older  ones 

rcely  enjoyed  it  so  much,  for  at  that  date 
the  west  was  considered  full  of  unknown 
dangers.  The  noble  and  faithful  mother 
passed  away  in  t88i,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
years,  and  she  was  tenderly  laid  away 
in  the  beautiful  Woodlawn  cemetery.  She 
had  been  the  mother  of  four  children, 
namely:  George,  deceased;  Jacob,  who 
died  young;  John,  who  is  now  a  resident 
of  Kansas;  and  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of 
our  subject.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Surface 
were  worthy  and  consistent  members  of  the 
Methodist  church. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  McCuddy  lived 
for  two  years  on  a  small  farm  in  Nixon 
township,  but  later  moved  to  Texas  town- 
ship,   where   he   took    up   two   hundred   and 

enty  acres,  about  one-half  of  which  was 
covered  with  a  valuable  growth  of  timber. 
The    only    building  was  an  old  log  cabin, 


which  was  occupied  but  a  short  time,  and 

now  in  its  place  has  been  erected  a  com- 
modious and  comfortable  residence.  This 
land  Mr.  McCuddy  placed  under  cultiva- 
tion and  also  entered  extensively  in  the 
breeding  of  fine  cat;  »heep,  preferring 

the  Shorthorn  cattle  and  the  <  »xl  \  11s 

p.      He    proved    a    g 1    business    man, 

both  his  farm  and  stock  always  being  kept 
up  to  the  highest  point  of  excellence. 

In    1893   Mr.   McCuddy  purchased  a  de- 

ble  lot  in  Clinton,  located   in  a  portion 

the  town  where    the    surroundings  were 

isant  and  promised  to  he  of  greater  value, 

and  he  erected  one  of  the  largest  and  most 

.Milt    residences    on    South    (.'enter    street. 

Here  his  useful   life  ended,  in    1897.     With 

other   members   of   the    family,   he   rests   in 

Woodlawn   cemetery    in   Clinton. 

Renting  the  farm  in  Texas  township, 
Mrs.  McCuddy  lives  in  her  beautiful  home 
in  Clinton,  her  son  Frank  residing  with  her. 
The  one  daughter  of  the  family  was  Carrie, 
who  married  Jacob  Zorger  and  resides  in 
Indiana. 

In  politics  Mr.  McCuddy  was  a  life-long 
Republican,  hut  never  sought  office,  though 
consenting  to  serve  in  some  of  the  minor  po- 
sitions, such  as  road  commissioner,  in  order 
to  do  what  he  considered  a  true  citizen's 
duty.  During  his  long  life  in  the  county 
he  had  built  up  a  reputation  for  strict  in- 
rity,  and  left  not  only  an  ample  com- 
petency to  his  family,  but,  still  better,  a 
name  reflecting  honor  upon  all  who  hear  it. 


P.I.ISII    M<><  (RE. 


Among  th<  sful    farmers   of   De- 

Witt   county  one  of  the  most   prominent    is 
Blish  Moore,  residing  on  section   11.  Harp 


432 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


township,  who  has  lived  in  this  county  for 
half  a  century.  He  was  born  in  Kirkland, 
Ohio,  July  6,  1826,  and  he  was  a  son  of 
Isaac  and  Philena  Moore,  both  of  whom 
wen-  born  near  Albany.  New  York. 

Tin.'  Moore  famil)  from  which  our  sub- 
ject sprang  was  originally  from  Ireland  but 
settled  in  Paris.  The  -real  uarml  father 
came  to  America  ami  located  a  little  west 
iif  the  present  city  of  Albany.  New  York, 
lie  and  bis  entire  family,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  then 
a  small  buy,  were  killed  by  the  Indians. 
The  grandfather  hid  in  a  hollow  tree.  and. 
almost  dead  with  terror,  traveled  two  nights 
and  "lie  day  to  the  fort,  subsisting  upon 
routs  ami  berries.  lie  became  \  er\  useful 
'      tu   the   officers   at    the    furl,    and   during   the 

Revolution  was  a  small  scoul  for  General 
Washington  himself.  Our  subject  remem- 
bers distinctly  his  grandfather  telling 
thrilling  tale-  of  In-  adventures,  for  he  was 
sent  right  into  the  enemy's  camp,  he  being 
si  1  small  that  he  could  go  and  come  without 
being  suspected.  So  successful  was  he  that 
his  little  figure  became  a  well-known  one  in 
the  colonial  camp,  and  many  a  piece  of  cake 
and  pie  were  handed  him  by  her  whom  the 
patriotic  soldiers  loved  to  call  "Lady  Wash 
ington."  When  the  grandfather  grew  tu 
manhood  he  settled  in  New  York  and  was 
married  there,  but.  .after  residing  in  the 
state  some  time,  removed  tu  what  was  later 
Lake  county,  <  >hio,  and  there  he  died  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-four  years,  lie 
reared  a  family  >>\  five  children,  of  whom 
Isaac,  father  of  our  subject,  was  fourth  in 
order  of  birth. 

Isaac  Moore  grew  to  manhood  in  New 
Yqrk  state,  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
family  tu  Ohio  he  virtually  took  charge  of 
his  father's  affairs.  Upon  his  land  the 
famous  Mormon  temple  was  built,  and  the 


present  town  of  Kirkland  is  on  the  site  of 
the  old  Moore  homestead,  lie  came  tu  De- 
Witt  county,  Illinois,  in  1NS0,  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  with  his  children.  He 
died  here  at  an  advanced  age,  and  his  wife 
had  passed  away  in  Ohio.  Of  his  eight 
children,  three  girls  and  five  boys,  those-  now 
living  are  our  subject  ami  Milan,  who  re- 
sides 111  DeWitt  county  and  is  a  jeweler  of 
Farmer  City. 

Blish  Moore  attended  a  select  school  in 
Ohio,  and  he  received  a  good  education  I'm" 
those  early  days,  lie  first  worked  on  a 
farm  in  Ohio,  and  in  1N44  came  to  [llinois, 
traveling  by  way  of  Detroil  and  Cleveland 
by  water  and  then  by  railroad  hall  across 
the  stale.  The  next  portion  of  the  journey 
was  made  by  stage  to  St.  Joseph,  whence  he 
took  a  boat  to  Chicago.  At  that  tune  Chi- 
cago was  a  town  of  about  live  thousand 
people  ami  the  streets  were  so  poor  that  in 

going  to  tlu-  hotel  a  four-horse  team  was 
stranded  in  the  mud.  from  Chicago  Mr. 
Moore  traveled  to  Peru  by  stage,  and  there 
lie  remained  for  some  time  teaching  school. 
In  addition,  he  kept  bonks  for  a  linn  in  that 
city.  but.  having  an  opportunity  to  come  to 
Clinton.  Illinois,  by  private  conveyance,  he 
made  the  trip,  and  after  arriving  here  taught 
school  for  about  a  year  and  for  a  year  more 
worked  as  a  wagon  maker.  At  this  time 
Clinton  was  a  village  of  some  three  hundred 
people.  for  two  years  he  clerked  in  a  store, 
and  then,  having  saved  his  money  all  this 
time,  he  was  enabled  to  purchase  a  stock  ol 
ds,  and  took  them  to  Oskaloosa,  b'vva, 
by  water  as  far  as  Keokuk  and  thence  by 
stage.  For  about  a  year  he  remained  in 
Oskaloosa,  but  he  then  returned  to  Clinton 
and  clerked  in  Mitchell's  store.  In  1851  he 
engaged  in  farming  in  Clintonia  township, 
acting  as  foreman  of  the  farms  owned  by 
his  brothers.      So  successful    was  he  in  his. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


433 


fanning  operations  that  in  1871  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres  of 

his  present  farm,  to  which  he  has  added 
twenty-five  acres  more,  and  now  possesses 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  II,  Harp 
township.  This  farm  is  highly  cultivated, 
and  on  it  Mr.  Moore  makes  a  specialty  >>f 
raising  grain  and  hogs.  He  is  very  suc- 
cessful. 

On  March  27,   1851,  he  married  Susan 
McCuddy,  of  <  >hio,  who  died  November  23, 
1854.     By    this    marriage    one    child    was 
born,  Alice,  who  was  l>orn  on  May  _•_*.  1852, 
and  died  when  she  was  about  fourteen  years 
I  )n  (  >ctol>er  28,   [869,  Mr.  Moore 
married   Miss   Martha   Phillips,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  to  them  four  children  have  been 
born,  namely:      Harry,  who  died   in  child- 
hood; Minnie,  who  died  in  childhood:  Tonie 
n-maker  by  trade,   who  married 
Meda    Sline,    and    they    have    two   children. 
1  Ilisli  and  Thelma  Opal;  and  Nellie,  who  is 
at  home.     Mrs.  M.»  .re  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist    church     of     DeWitt.     and     Mr. 
Moore  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, being  the  first  man  made  a  Master  Ma- 
in DeWitt  county,  in  the  winter  ><i  [850. 
He  has  served  acceptably  as  commissioner 
for  three  year>  and  has  been  town  clerk  and 
sch< H.l  director,  as  well  as  held  other  town- 
ship offices.      He  is  universally  respected  and 
ved   for  his  public   spirit   and   his  high 
m.  iral  character. 


PARLEY    PRATT   NELSON. 

One  of  the  prosperous  and  pr.  _ 
farmers  of  Creek  township  is  Parley  I'ratt 
Nelson,  who  was  born  in  Washington 
county.  Illinois,  December  4.  1850,  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Lucretia  (Mauzy)  Nelson. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and 
the  mother  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  of  French 


scent.     The  paternal   grandfather  served 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

The  father  came  t..  Illinois  in  [813,  when 
hut  a  hoy.  with  his  parents,  and  located  in 
(reck  township.  DeWitt  county,  in  [865, 
at  the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  Here  he  pur- 
chased four  hundred  acres  of  laud  on  the 
high  ground,  and  fenced  it  and  erected  two 
cabins  thereon.  Later  he  removed  to  Ma- 
son county,  where  he  .lied  in  1888.  His 
wife  died  when  about  eighty-three,  and  both 
are  buried  in  Mason  county.  In  politics 
the  father  was  a  Democrat,  but  never  sought 
l..r  office.  Both  parents  of  our  subject  were 
consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  church 
and  to.k  an  active  part  in  church  work. 

To  them  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: William  G.,  who  lives  in  Kansas  and 
was  first  lieutenant  in  Company  II.  Fifth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry:  Thomas  La- 
fayette, a  business  man  of  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee: Augusta,  who  married  Moses  ('..x, 
of  Kansas:  John,  who  lives  in  Oshkosh, 
Wisconsin,  and  was  captain  ..f  Company  II. 
Fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  during  the 
Civil  war:  Robert,  deceased,  who  was  or- 
derly sergeant  in  the  same  company  and  now 
resides  in  Denver.  Colorado;  James,  who 
resides  in  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  and  was 
in  Company  < ',.  One  Hundred  and  Eleventh 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry;  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Sales  ami  resides  in  Lincoln,  Ne- 
braska; Benedict,  who  lives  in  Fort  Dodj 
Iowa:  Caroline,  who  married  a  Mr.  East 
and  is  now  decease.!:  and  ..ur  subject. 

Until  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age 
our  subject  went  to  school  and  worked  up 
the  homestead,  and  then  began  farming  for 
himself.  He  now  has  one  of  the  best  farms 
in  the  county,  upon  which  he  has  made  all 
the  improvements,  erecting  the  comfortable 
house,  the  commodious  barn  and  numerous 
buildings,  setting  out  the  orchard  and  put- 


434 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ting  up  fences.  Upon  this  property  lie  car- 
ries cm  general  farming  and  stock-raising, 
owning  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  oi 
fine  land. 

i  in  .March  26,  1872,  he  married  Miss 
Susie  M.  Cloud,  a  native  of  this  county  and 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  Cloud.  The  mother 
died  when  Mrs.  Nelson  was  born,  and  her 
father,  who  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  came  to 
Illinois  at  a  verj  early  date.  To  Mr.  and 
.Mrs.      Kelson      were     l>  Lir     children. 

namely:     Samuel,  who  died  at  the 
three  years;  Effie  Etta,  who  lives  at  home; 
and  two  children   who  died  in   infancy. 

In  politics  Mr.  Nelson  is  a  Republican, 
and  supports  the  candidates  of  his  party, 
although  he  never  has  been  an  office-seeker. 
lie  is  a  man  who  finds  his  greatest  enjoy- 
ment in  the  companionship  of  his  family  and 
friends,  and  enjoys  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  the  entire  community. 


WILLIAM    HUGH 

William  Hughes,  deceased,  was  for  sev- 
eral wars  one  of  the  most  highly  respected 
and  honored  citizens  of  Texas  township. 
He  was  born  on  the  1 6th  of  February,  1N11. 
in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  ?nd  on  the  pa 
ternal  side  was  of  Irish  descent,  though  the 
familv  have  made  their  home  in  this  country 
for  several  generations.  In  1801,  his  grand- 
father, William  Hughes,  removed  with  his 
family  from  North  Carolina  to  Ohio,  settling 
on  land  which  now  forms  a  part  of  the  city 
of  Cincinnati.  W  that  time  the  finest  build- 
ing on  what  is  now  Main  street  was  :i 
cabin.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  He 
never  held  office,  desiring  only  to  serve  his 
country  in  the  private  walks  of  life  that  he 
might  more  fully  enjoy  the  quiet  of  his 
home.      In   his    family    were   seven   children. 


six  s, ,ns  and  one  daughter,  namely:  Levi, 
Nathaniel,  tsaac,  Jesse,  James.  Sina  and 
Cyrus. 

James  Hughes,  die  father  of  our  subject, 
was  horn  in  North  Carolina,  in  1 7S0.  and 
was  fifteen  years  old  when  his  parents  moved 
to  Ohio.  In  [806  he  was  united  in marri; 
with  Miss  \nn  Dunnurn,  who  died  a  few- 
months  later,  and  in  t8o8  he  married  Miss 
Catherine  Johnson,  who  was  horn  in  New 
J»rsev.  and  with  her  parents  moved  to  Ohio 
in  [789,  settling  in  Clermont  county.  Eight 
clnl  :  the  second   unii  in,   li.  e  Si  ins 

and  three  daughters:  John.  William.  Re- 
becca, Ann.  Jacob,  Jane.  Silas  and  James. 
Onh    two  are  now    living:      lames  at     \1- 

:.  Indiana,  and  Silas,  at  Goshen,  Ohio. 
The  father  served  in  the  war  of  1 S 1  _•  and 
was  at  Fort  Defiance  at  the  tune  of  Perry's 
\  icti  in  on  Lake  I 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Mr.  Hughes 
ol  this  review,  grew  to  manh 1  and  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  there-  until  forty- 
two  years  of  age.  'in  the  <>th  of  No- 
vember, 1842,  he  married  Miss  Margaret 
Cain.  Her  father.  Richard  Cain,  was  horn 
in  Virginia,  Mav  S.  171)5.  and  while  young 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Clermont  coun- 
ty. Ohio.  At  tin  if  seventeen  years  he 
entered  the  service  of  his  country  as  a  sol- 
dier of  die  war  of  1812  and  served  until  its 
close.  lie  then  returned  to  his  old  home, 
where  he  was  married  in  1  N ;  7  to  Miss  Eliza 
Danbury,  who  was  horn  near  Trenton.  New 
Jersey,  and  was  also  quite  young  when  she- 
removed  with  her  parents  to  Clermont 
county,  <  >hio.  By  this  union  were  born  one 
son  and  three  daughters,  namely  :  Margaret, 
William.  Milly  and  Mary.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  in  [828,  after  which  the 
father  removed  to  Darke  county.  Ohio,  in 
[853,  and  there  died  in  [859,  aged  sixty- 
four  years. 


WILLIAM   HUGHES 


MRS.    WILLIAM    HIV.HES 


Till-:    IUOC.RAI'IIICAL  RECORD. 


439 


In  the  fall  of  1853,  Mr.  Hughes,  in  com- 
pany with  his  family,  came  to  DeWitl  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  1< tattil  cm  a  farm  in  Texas 
township,  whore  ho  continued  i"  make  his 
home  until  called  t"  his  final  rest  February 
5.  1^74.  when  nearly  sixty-four  years  of 
age.  Politically  Ik-  was  always  a  stanch 
Democrat,  casting  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Andrew  Jackson  in  1832,  but  he  held  no 
office  except  those  <<i  hi--  township,  and  was 
never  a  candidate  for  any  other  official  po- 
sitions. Ili>  upright,  honorable  life  gained 
for  him  the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact,  ami  his  fellow  citizens  held 
him  in  the  highest  esteem. 

Unto  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughes  were  horn 
en  children,  of  whom  the  eldest  died  in 
infancy.  Those  still  living  are  Albert  M.. 
a  contracting  carpenter  of  Clinton;  Nelson 
R..  who  ha-  served  a-  county  superintendent 
of  schools,  having  been  elected  to  that  office 
in  November,  1890,  and  make-  his  home  in 
Clinton:  Warren  h"..  a  farmer  of  Texas 
township;  George  W.  and  Perry,  who  have 
been  in  the  newspaper  business  in  Clinton 
since  1885;  and  Eliza,  also  a  resident 
ton.  In  January.  1892,  the  mother 
moved  from  the  farm  to  Clinton,  where  -he- 
died  on  the  [3th  of  the  following  Novemb 
at  the  age  of  seventy-four  year-.  She  was 
a  most  estimable  lady,  and  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Texas  Christian  church,  with 
which  she  united  in  1875.  "cr  husband 
was  al-o  a  member  of  th:  t  church. 


HUGHES  BR(  >THERS. 

The  Clinton  Register,  the  Democratic 
paper  of  DeWitt  county,  i-  published  by 
Hughes  Brothers.  The  t'ir-t  issue  of  this  pa- 
per wa-  published  May  29,  [868,  by  A.  J. 
ckford,  ami  he  continued  it<  publication 
until  November  27,  of  the  -ante  year,  when 


\\ .  L.  I  rlessner  and  C.  ( ',.  Stone,  to  w  horn  he 
-old  the  paper,  became  it-  editors  and  pub- 
lishers.     This  partnership    continued    until 
September    15,    [873,   when    Mr.   Stone  -old 
his  interest  to  F.    M.    VanLue,  who  retired 
from  the  business   August   7.    [874.        Mr. 
-  ci  mtinued  its  publicatii  in  until  ( )cti  1- 
ber  1.  r88i,  when  J.  II.  Waggoner  &  Son, 
who    had    bought    the    plant,    took    chat  ■. 
Ihe\    owned  and  published   the  paper   just 
four  years.  They  retired  September  28,  1885, 
when  George  W.  and  berry  Hughes, who  had 
been  reared  near  Clinton,  became  editor-  and 
proprietors,  and  have  since  published  it  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Hughes  Brothers.   The 
frequent  changes  had  not  been  beneficial  to 
the  paper,  as  but  little  money  had  been  ex- 
pended  in    equipping    the    plant.        When 
Hughes  Brothers  assumed  control  the  pa] 
was   four-page,   the  paid   circulation   about 
-i\   hundred,  and  all   the  machinery  of  the 
plant   was   not   worth   five  hundred   dollars. 
Since  that   time  the   paper  and   plant   have 
undergone   a   transformation    rarely   known 
in  a  country  printing  office.     The  paper  out- 
grew its  dingy  quarters  in  an  up-stairs  room 
and  a  building  lot  was  bought  in  1X1)4.     In 
1895  a  two-story  brick  building  with  base- 
ment was  built,  and  dedicated  Augusl  <>.  of 
that  year,  addresses  being  made  bj    lion.   1-".. 
A.    Snively,  of    Springfield;     Hon.    Owen 
-.  of  Bloomington,  and  Hon.  V.  Warner 
of    Clinton.      With    the    new    home    for    the 
Register  had  come  new   presses,  new    folder. 
new  boiler  and  engine)  new  type.  etc.  Nearly 
six  thousand  dollar-  wa-  -pent   within   four 
month-  equipping  the  plant,  and  providing 
a  home  for  the  paper,  which  was  increased 
from    four   to   eight    page-,    all    home   print. 
Since    that     time  a   twenty   by   twenty-two 
foot  job  room  ha-  been  added,  making  two 
thousand  -ix  hundred  ami  eighty  square  feet 
of  floor  space  used.    The  circulation  of  the 


440 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


paper  has  been  increased  more  than  twice 
ami  a  half,  and  the  plant  is  said  to  be  the 
host  in  the  state  in  any  city  no  larger  than 
Clinton,  and  better  than  is  found  in  many 
cities  double  its  population.  The  machinery 
bought  new,  consisting  of  news  press,  three 
job  presses,  boiler  and  engine,  folder,  cutter, 
perforator,  stapler  and  small  pieces,  cost 
over  three  thousand  dollars. 

orge  W.  Hughes,  senior  member  of 
the  firm,  was  bom  June  9,  [853,  in  Clermont 
county,  Ohio,  his  parent-  moving  to  De 
Witt  county,  Illinois;  in  September  of  that 
year.  After  completing  the  studies  of  the 
public  schools,  he  attended  VVesleyan  (Jni- 
sity  at  Bloomington,  and.  in  [878,  com- 
pleted the  course  of  the  Springfield  Business 
College.  lie  taught  five  terms  of  school  in 
his  home  township,  four  of  them  being  the 
same  school,  lie  was  the  Democratic  nom- 
inee for  state  senator  in  the  thirteenth  dis 
t riit  in  [89  1  September  28,  1893,  'u'  was 
married  t<>  Miss  Eliza  l'>.  Shaw,  eldest 
daughter  of  Achilles  1'..  and  Harriet  B. 
Shaw  .  1  if    Texas  t.  w\  nship. 

Terry  Hughes  was  ln.ru  in  Texas  town- 
ship. April  -'-'.  [856,  and  lived  on  the  home 
farm  until  iSSj.  when  he  was  employed  in 
the  Register  office  b)  J.  II.  Waggoner  & 
Si  'ii.  lie  w  as  pi  istmaster  1  if  <. lint'  m  during 
Cleveland's  second  term,  lie  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  of  Clinton. 
December  13,  1888,  he  was  married  to  .Mis- 
Florence  Argo,  eldest  daughter  of  Emanual 
( i.  and  Sarah  Argo,  of  Clintonia  township. 
'They  have  one  child,  Ruth  Argo. 


PHILIP   WOLF. 


'The  prosperity  of  Clinton.  Illinois,  is 
largely  due  to  the  eft".  >rts  of  the  men  who  by 
their  industry  and  commercial  foresight  de- 


veloped the  natural  advantages  of  the  local- 
ity, and  among  them  the  name  of  Philip 
Wolf  is  prominent.  lie  is  a  son  i>i  John 
I'..  Wolf,  who  settled  in  Tunbridge  town- 
ship in  1847.  The  latter  was  horn  in  Lan- 
caster county.  Pennsylvania,  and  he  was  the 
son  of  Wright  and  Mary  Wolf.  Wrighl 
Wolf,  a  native  of  Germany,  died  while  still 
a  young  man.  but  his  widow  survived  him 
many  years  and  died  at  Peoria.  Illinois,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-two.  'Their  family  con- 
sisted of  two  children. 

John  B.  Wolf  continued  farming  in 
Tunbridge  township  until  [853,  when  he 
sold  his  property  and  located  in  Clinton  and 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  He. died 
in  1862,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Rebecca  Stout, 
and  she  was  a  daughter  of  Philip  Stout,  of 
Logan  county.  Ohio,  who  died  in  Bond 
county.  Illinois.  To  the  parents  of  our  suh- 
ject  these  children  were  horn.  namel\  : 
Elizabeth,  Lydia,  Philip,  Margaret,  Ruzella, 
Joseph^    Mary,  John  and  Catherine. 

•  Mir  subject  was  horn  in  Logan  county, 
Ohio,  near  Bellefontaine,  on  January  14. 
1834.  During  his  early  life  he  engaged  iit 
farming,  but  later  settled  at  Clinton,  Illinois. 
and,  in  partnership  with  P.  W.  'Taylor,  em- 
harked  in  the  mercantile  business.  His 
nexl  commercial  venture  was  at  Payne,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  and 
implement  business  with  J.  W.  Bell  for  two 
years.  For  thirteen  years  he  was  in  husi- 
ness  with  A.  I).  McHenry  at  Clinton,  from 
which  connection  he  retired  in  iSjj.  Later 
he  was  associated  with  the  firm  of  Bailer  & 
Bryant,  and  after  two  years  joined  in  busi- 
ness  with  Mr.  Savage,  a  real  estate  dealer  in 
Clinton.  At  present  his  attention  is  taken 
up  with  the  management  of  his  own  prop- 
erty, which  is  considerable  in  Clinton  and 
the  surrounding  country. 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


441 


Mr.  Wolf  married  Miss  Mary  Bell,  who 
i-  a  daughter  ■•!'  Henrj  Bell,  one  of  the  old 
of  DeWitt  county.  To  our  sub- 
ject and  wife  have  been  born  three  children, 
namely:  Laura,  who  married  Rev.  E.  A. 
Hammond,  a  Methodist  clergyman  of  Ma- 
con city,  and  they  have  one  child,  Edna; 
Annie,  who  married  Reuben  Hurlis,  of 
Monticello,  Illinois;  and  Belle,  who  married 
J.  F.  Deland,  and  they  have  one  child.  Lotta. 

Mr.  Wolf  lias  been  honored  with  the 
.  ffice  of  alderman  and  t<  m  .k  a  very  decid 
stand  upon  the  liquor  question,  he  being  an 
anti-license  man.  Socially  he  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  is 
now  past  master  of  his  lodge.  He  is  an  en- 
jetic  business  man  and  has  always  taken 
an  active  part  in  local  affairs. 


PETER  FORD. 


One  of  the  early  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  DeWitt  county  and  one  who 
owns  and  occupies  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  rich  farm  land  on  section  ^4.  Texas 
township,  is  Peter  ford.  He  was  horn  in 
Ireland  on  February  14.  1829,  and  is  a 
of  John  and  Margaret  (Beirne)  Ford,  both 
of  whom  were  native-  of  Ireland,  where  the 
father  was  horn  in  1783  anil  the  mother  in 
1815.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation and  died,  in  Ireland  at  the  old  home. 
<  >ur  subject  was  one  of  twelve  children  and 
the  tenth  in  order  of  birth,  and  is  the  only 
one  of  the  sons  living.  Of  the  six  girls 
there  is  also  only  one  now  living  and  she 
resides  in  Ireland,  hut  passed  twenty  years 
of  her  life  in  the  United  States.  She  is  un- 
married. 

In   1850  Peter  Ford  came  to  the  United 
States  ami  landed  in  New  York,  but  soon 


removed  to  New  Jersey  and  later  to  Canada 
in  1854.  He  went  to  Chicago  on  June  IO, 
1855,  and  there  worked  a-  a  member  of  the 
construction  crew  on  the  Chicago,  Rock 
Island  &  Pacific  and  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western railroad-.  These  railroad  compan- 
ies also  employed  him  as  foreman  of  the 
grade  two  years.  |n  [856  he  came  to 
Maroa,  Illinois,  and  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  as  a  track  re- 
pairer. In  this  capacity  he  was  employed 
for  fifteen  years  and  resided  in  the  village 
of   Maroa. 

In  [863  he  purchased  land  in  T< 
township,  DeWitt  county,  consisting  of  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  forms  par; 
his  present  property.  This  land  he  im- 
proved until  he  had  it  all  under  cultivation 
and  to  it  he  added  more  land,  from  time  to 
time  until  he  now  owns  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  all  of  which  is  improved.  1  le re- 
he  has  since  made  his  home,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  years  spent  at  Decatur.  Ellin 

Mr.  Ford  was  married  on  July  4.  1857, 
to  Margaret  Burden,  a  native  of  Ireland. 
She  came  to  the  United  States  with  her 
father.  ( leorge  Burden,  who  settled  in  Du 
Page  county.  Illinois,  and  resided  there  until 
his  death.  He  was  a  farmer  during  all  of 
his  active  life.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ford  nine 
children  have  been  horn,  and  all  are  living, 
namely:  John,  who  resides  in  California 
and  is  a  fruit  shipper:  George  Rennet: 
Charles,  who  is  a  traveling  man  and  resides 
at  home:  William,  who  is  also  a  traveling 
man:  Frank;  Kate;  Anna:  and  Ella  and 
Jennie,  both  of  whom  are  teachers. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ford  is  independent,  and 

been  honored  with  the  office  of  school 
director,  which  he  tilled  to  the  satisfaction 
of   his   constituents.      He   always  for 

the  man  he  deems  best  fitted  for  the  place. 
Both  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the- 


442 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL   REO  >RD. 


Catholic  church,  and  they  arc  very  highly 
respected  in  the  community  in  which  they 
reside. 


WILLIAM  G.   ECIRBY.  i 

William  G.  Kirby,  now  deceased,  was  a 

native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Warren  county,  ' 
tclicr    i_'.    1833,   where  he  resided  until   he 
was  twelve  years  of  age,   when  he  came  to 
Illinois    with    his    parents,    and    1 

Waynesville,  DeWitt  county,     lie  was 
a    si  >n    of    Ri  >bert   and    Phcebe    1  <  irahai 
Kirhv .  both  of  whom  ai  the 

father  dying  in  Texas  and  his  wife  in  I 
Witt  county.     They  were  very  worthy  peo 
pie  and   resided  ill  this  count)    for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  gaining  the  respect  and  este< 
1  if  all  who  knew    them. 

William  <  i.  Kirby  remained  on  the  home 
farm  until  grown  and  then  married  Miss 
Mary  Ellis,  by  win  mi  he  had  one  child,  who 
died  when  but  nine  months  old,  while  the 
young  mother  passed  awaj  a  year  a  iter  mar- 
riage. In  July,  '873,  he  purchased  a  I 
farm  of  fifty-four  acres  on  section  i_\  Tun- 
bridge  township,  where  his  widow  now  re- 
sides, and  he  addeil  to  this  property  until  at 
the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  two  hundred 
and  twenty-live  acres  on  sections  1  and  1  _* 
of  Tun1'  iwnship,  only  part  of  which 

wa-~  under  cultivation.  For  a  number  o\ 
years  Mr.  Kirby  was  school  director  and 
also  road  commissioner  for  several  terms, 
and  he  held  a  number  of  the  minor  offices. 
In  religion  he  was  a  (Jniversalist,  but  was 
not  a  member  of  any  church.  He  was  a 
public-spirited  man  and  an  advocate  of  every 
measure  tending-  towards  the  advancement 
i>i  the  o  immunity. 

Mr.  Kirby  married,  March  3,  [872,  Mrs. 
Mary    Bruner,   and   to  them   were  horn   five 


children,  all  living,  as  follows:  Irvin  X., 
horn  in  May.  1S74,  resides  in  Tunbridge 
township,  and  he  married  Pearl  Byerly,  hy 
whom  he  has  two  children,  June  and  Verna 
B.  James  A.  resides  at  home  with  his 
mi  ther.  Emma  L.  married  Walter  An- 
drews, who  resides  in  Tunbridge  township, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  farming,  and  they 
have  one  child.  Emmet.  Eva  resides  in 
Kenney  and  is  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Todd,  who 
is  a  school  teacher  of  that  place  and  a  soil 
of  J.  S.  [odd,  of  Kenney.  a  retired  farmer. 
Mr  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  Todd  have  one  child,  Vela 

May.  \  era  resides  at  home,  Ml  the  chil- 
dren were  horn  in  Tunbridge  township  on 
the  hi  une  place. 

Mrs.  Kirby  was  the  widow  ol  lames  11. 
Bruner,  late  of  Texas  township.  lie  was 
lative  of  I  h  \\  itt  county,  Illinois,  and  was 
horn  in  1843.  All  his  life  he  followed 
fanning  in  Texas  township,  1  [e  enlisted  in 
l  ompaii)  ( '.  Fort)  first  Illinois  Volunteer 
[nfantry,  and  served  three  years  during  the 

1  il  war.  After  this  In-  returned  to  Texas 
township,  where  he  continued  farming  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  October  J. 
[869,  No  children  were  horn  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bruner.  Mrs.  Kirby  was  the  daugh 
ter  of  John  W.  and  Lucinda  (Blair)  Scott. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and 
came  to  Illinois  at  a  very  early  dale,  settling 
in  DeWitt  county,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  December,  [854. 
1  \\  .  Scott  and  wife  were  horn  nine 
children.  The  occupation  of  this  most  ex- 
cellent man  was  that  of  a  farmer,  and  when 
he  died  he  left  his  family  well  provided  for. 
Later  his  widow  married  L.  B.  Spencer,  who 
was  also  a  very  early  settler  of  Texas  town- 
ship, having  come  to  DeWitt  county  when 
he  was  only  two  years  of  age.  He  was 
horn  in  1833  and  died  January  _',  1900. 
leaving  his  widow  and   three  sons  in  good 


Till'.    I'.IOGRAPHICAL   REC<  IRD. 


443 


circumstances,  arid  all  of  them  now  reside 
in  1  )e\\  in  county. 

Mrs.  Kirby  i-  a  lady  of  great  executive 

ability,  ami  since  the  death  of  her  liusband 
has  managed  the  affairs  of  her  farm  in  a 
manner  which  reflects  great  credit  upon  her. 
She  understands  thoroughly  every  detail  of 

farm  work,  and  can  direct  her  workmen  as 
clearly  and  concisely  as  though  her  place 
had   always   been     at     the    head   of   affairs. 

ie  women  are  bortl  to  lead,  and  wli 
ever  circumstances  require  them  t>>  grasp 
the  helm  they  are  n«  >i  found  wanting  in  abil- 
ity or  knowledge.  The  pleasant  home,  sur- 
rounded with  large  shade  trees,  is  none  the 
less  inviting  because  it-  mistress  also  de- 
cides upon  the  various  crops  in  the  sur- 
rounding fields  and  !^i\es  supervision  to  the 
farm  and  poultry  yards  as  well  as  the  dairy. 
'I"he  outbuildings  are  in  good  condition  and 
the  big  barn  gives  shelter  to  excellent  cattle 
and  an  ample  number  of  sleek,  well-fed 
horses.  All  the  fences  show  that  a  master 
mind  is  at  the  head  of  affairs,  and  the  whole 
farm  is  in  the  best  possible  shape.  In  her 
work  and  management  .Mrs.  Kirb)  is  ably 
isted  by  her  son.  James  A.,,  while  Miss 
Vera  helps  her  in  the  household  duties  and 

:  young  lady  of  taste  and  ability.  A 
most   charming  hospitality   is  dispensed 

homestead  of  the  Kirby  family  and  rela- 
tives and  friends  are  alike  made  welcome-  b\ 
the  genial  hi  »stes 


|<  MIX    .MAS'  ).\". 


John    Mason,    di  was    born    near 

Greensburg,    Westmoreland   county,    Penn- 
sylvania, September    16,    [807.      His   1 
Thomas   Mason,  was  a  native  of   Pennsyl- 
vania, and  never  came   west.     John    Mason 
was  one  of  fourteen  children  born  to  hi-  par- 


ents, and  while  he  and  his  brother  George 
were  still  small  the  burden  of  support  of  the 
family  fell  upon  them,  as  their  father  died 
while  still  a  young  man. 

Until  he  was  thirty  year-  of  age  J 
Mason  worked  by  the  mouth,  and.  having 
then  saved  up  seventeen  hundred  dollars  in 
-old. he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Clintonia 
township.  DeWitt  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land,  paying  twenty- 
three  hundred  dollar-  for  it  in  the  fall  of  the 
year  [856.  The  following  spring  he  re- 
turned io  In-  native  state  for  his  wife  and 
children  and  brought  them  to  the  new  home, 
lie  located  on  the  farm,  which  was  but 
slightly  improved,  the  only  house  being  a 
1<  1-  one.  The  next  Spring  he  moved  into  a 
little  one  storj  frame  house  which  was  four- 
teen by  sixteen  feet.  Here  the  family  lived 
for  a  few  years  until  sufficient  means  were 
gathered  together  to  build    a    comfortable 

He.     lie  afterward  added  to  his  eighty 
acres,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  had  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Clintonia  town- 
ship   and    two    hundred  and  seventy  a< 
near  1  lannibal,   Missouri. 

In  1 S44  Mr.  Mason  was  married  in 
Blairsville,  Pennsylvania,  to  Mary  Jane 
Smith,   a   nativi  miibu-.    Ohio.      She 

was  a  daughter  ofj  Nathaniel  W.  Smith,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  who  had  removed  to 
Blairsville  when  it  was  a  small  village  and 
resided  there  for  some  years.  lie  w.i 
jeweler  and  silversmith  by  occupation,  lie 
din!  in  Decatur,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  31 
enty-eight  years. 

To  Mr.  Mason  and  wife  were  born  three 
children,  namely:  Robert  <  '•..  who  reside- 
in  Englewood,  Chicago,  engaged  in  real 
estate  business,  married    Anna    Abbott, 

Witt  county,  and  they  have  one  child. 
Maude.  <  >ne  daughter  died  in  infancy. 
Wilson  S.  i-  mentioned  below. 


444 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


(  >n  March  22,  1884,  Mr.  Mason  died, 
aged  seventj  seven  years,  and  was  buried  in 
the  Clinton  cemetery.  Mrs.  Mason  died 
July  23,  [900,  at  her  home  and  is  also  bur- 
ied in  the  ( ilinti  »n  cemeterj .  She  was  a  lady 
of  many  excellent  traits  of  character.  Mr. 
Mason  was  a  man  of  sterling  honesty,  and 
held  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew 
him.  II u-\  woe  consistent  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  in  politics  he  was 
a  Republican,  but  he  newer  would  ace 
offi<  1 

Wilson    S.    Mason    was  born   in    W 
moreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  May  _'_•. 
[851,  and  was  six  years  old  when,  his  par- 
ents came  west,  and  lie.  therefore,   received 
In-,    education    in    the    schools    of    tlliin 
1  irsl  attending  the  district  schools^  he  later 

went  tn  the  Clinton  high  school  and  then  to 

the  Wesleyan  College,  of  Bloomington. 
After  completing  his  education  Mr.  Mason 
took  a  hunting  trip  of  fourteen  weeks 
through  the  west  with  five  Main-  men.  and 
during  the  entire  time  none  of  them  slepl 
on  a  lied,  it  being  their  intention  to  follow 
the  life  of  a  hunter  in  every  detail.  Re- 
turning home,  he  worked  upon  the  farm  for 
some  time  w  ith  his  lather,  hut  later  n 
to   southern    Missouri   and  in   the 

lumber  and  hardware  business  at  Rockville. 
Later  he  went  to  Colorado  and  embarked  in 
the  hardware  business  at  Holyoke.  He 
also  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  at  )v 
burg  with  a  partner,  bul  the  firm  was  in  ex- 
istence only  a  short  time. 

In  [890  Mr.  Mason  returned  to  DeWitt 
county  and  took  charge  of  the  old  home- 
stead, and  since  that  time  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  general  farming,  stock-raising  ami 
dairying,  lie  raises  and  feeds  cattle  and 
hogs  for  the  market,  and  his  product  com- 
mands a  good  price  because  of  its  excellence. 

On  November  <>.   [878,  Mr.  Mason  was 


married  to  Mar\  J.  Judy,  6f  Iroquois  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  who  died  March  3,  1881.  On 
December  31,  [884,  Mr.  Mason  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  \cKlie  May  Porter,  of  Law- 
rence county,  Pennsylvania.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Porter,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  are  still  residing  in 
Lawrence  count),  that  state,  where  Mr. 
Porter  is  engaged  in  farming,  although  for 
mam  years  he  was  a  blacksmith  in  that  lo- 
cality. Mrs.  Mason  is  one  of  five  children 
horn  to  her  parents  and  she  is  the  youngest 
in  order  of  birth.  One  child  has  been  horn 
to  our  subject  and  his  wife.  Frank  B.,  horn 
October  iS,  [888,  in  Holyoke,  Colorado. 
Mr.  and  Mis.  Mason  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  church  of  Prairie  Center  and  he 
is  one  of  the  officials  of  the  church  ami  was 
very  active  in  securing  money  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  church  building.  Mrs.  Mason 
is  also  active  in  church  work,  and  is  a 
teacher  in  the  Sundaj  school.  In  politics 
he  1-  a  Republican,  hut  he  has  never  aspired 
t,  1  office.  It.iu  rnallj  he  is  a  member  1  <\ 
Clinton  (amp.   M.  \\  .  A.,  of  (  lmton. 


WILLIAM  II.  CARDIFF. 

Among    the    worthy     farmers  ol    liar]) 
township  now  deceased  should  he  mentioned 

William  II.  Cardiff,  who  was  horn  in  Mar- 
ion county.  (  )hio.  on  June  25,  [836,  and  he 
was  H  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Grif- 
fith) Cardiff.  I  he  father  of  our  subjeel 
removed  to  Ohio  from  Maryland  and  later 
to  Iowa  and  then  returned  to  DeWitt  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  in  1842.  For  some  years  prior 
to  his  death  he  led  a  retired  life,  and  he  died 
at  the  home  of  William  II.  Cardiff. 

(  lur  subject  was  educated  in  Ohio  and 
located  in   DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  in   1842. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


44  5 


ginning    with    two    acres,  he  purchas 
land  in  various  parts  of  the  county,  and 
the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  all  cultivated  and  the 
improvements  made  by  him. 

-  itember  to,  1854,  Mr.  Cardiff  was 
married  to  Kitura  Harrold,  a  daughter  of 
Eli  and  Carrie  Ann  Harrold.     Mr. 

Ham  Id  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and 
his   wi'fe  of   Virginia.      He    died    in     1881, 

1  about  eighty-four,  and  she  pass 
away  in  1853,  both  being  buried  in  DeWitt 
county.  Mr.  Harrold  came  to  this  county 
in  the  early  days  and  he  settled  in  Harp 
township,  taking  up  forty  acres,  which  he 
cultivate!.     He  was  successful,  own- 

at  the  time  of  his  death  a  large  amount 
of  property.  Mr.  Harrold  was  tirst  a  Whig 
and  later  a  Republican,  and  held  all  the 
town  5,  and  he  was  a  very  prominent 

man  in  the  county. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cardiff  were  born  the 
g    children:     Charles   Wesley,   who 
lives  in  Harp  township,  is  married  to  R    - 
etta    Tyler   and   they   have   twelve  children. 
larence,   Ernest,  Zella,  Nel- 
lie.   Nora,    Ada,    R  .1.    Harry.    El- 
mer and  Ellis.     Jesse  <  (liver  married  Mary 
Nixon  and  lives  in  DeWitt  township,  where 
lie  is  a  farmer.  e     sin  buyer  of 
Clinton,  married  Ida  Marquis  and  they  have 
child.    Minnie.     Viola    Anna    married 

IC    Robinson,   who  lives  with   Mrs.   Car- 
diff, and  have  four  children,  Mima,  Wi 
iam.    Kittie  and  Frank. 

Mr.  Cardiff  died  December  25,  1895,  and 
was  at  DeWitt.     He  was  a  Demo- 

crat,  and    for  twenty-five    years    held    the 

Hector.     He 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  De- 
Witt  and  was  very  active  in  the  lodge.     The 
M:  '••:  charge  of  affairs  at  the  fune 

and  the  ceremony  was  very  impressive.     Mr. 


Cardiff  is  remembered  a--  a  man  of  kindly 
character,  great  enterprise  and  industry,  and 
in  his  untimely  demise  the  township 
good  citi/en  and  kind  neighbor  and  his  fam- 
ily a  tender  husband  and  father.  Mrs. 
Cardiff  is  an  active  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist church  at  Birkbeck. 


CHARLES  E.  MOODY. 

Charles  I-"..  Moody,  one  ,,f  the  prosper- 
ous and  highly  respected  citizei  eek 

township.  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  was 
born  in  Mahoning  county.  Ohio,  April  5, 
1S4,}.  and  is  a  -on  of  John  and  Martha 
1  I  laun  1  Moody.  The  father  was  of  Eng- 
lish de-cent,  but  was  born  in  this  county, 
while  the  mother  >  German  descent. 

Early  in  life  he  was  a  school  teacher.  He 
had  the  misfortunte  to  lose  a  leg,  but  this 
ident  did  not  deter  him  from  farming 
quite  extensively.  His  sons  moved  to  VVil- 
township,  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  and 
purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land  of  what  was  known  as  the  J.  K. 
Davis  farm,  in  [856,  and  to  this  property 
the  father  came.  They  all  worked  to  im- 
prove the  land  and  erected  a  log  cabin  upon 
upon  it.  Gradually  they  brought  it  to  a 
line  state  of  cultivation,  planted  an  orchard 
and  built  various  outbuildings  and  a  com- 
fortable home.  The  trip  the  family  made 
from  Ohio  to  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  was 
a  1'  They   first   went   t"   St.    Louis 

111  the  <  >hio  river  and  thence  by  team  to 
Wapella.  From  this  town  to  their  destina- 
tion the  journey  was  made  with  four  yoke 
of  oxen.  The  following  family  was  born 
to  the  father  .and  mother  of  our  subject: 
Garrett,  a  resident  of  Texas  town-hip; 
I     mfort,  of  Nebraska;  Bruce,  of  Illin 


446 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


our  subject:  and  Fanny  and  Martha,  both 
■  deceased. 

The  little  education  obtained  by  our  sub- 
ject was  from  the  district  schools  of  the 
neighborhood,  but  as  they  were  only  log 
school  houses  and  the  teachers  very  often 
incompetent  and  the  appliances  scanty  and 
poor,  the  few  months  of  instruction  amid 
the  terrible  blizzards  of  Illinois  winters  of 
nearly  half  a  century  ago  did  little  beyond 
encouraging  a  '  -  and  teach 

the  rudiments  of  knowledge.  Early  in  life 
he  was  taught  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  but 
has  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  atten- 
tion to  farming.  Eighty  acres  of  his  p 
ent  farm  of  two  hundred  and  seventy  a 
were  a  portion  of  the  old  homestead  in 
Creek  township,  which  originally  consisted 
of  .me  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  unbroken 
land.      The  home  in    Wilson   township  was 

disposed   of  at  a   g 1   price  in    iNi>_>.      .Mr. 

Moody  bought  his  eighty  acres  in  1870 
and  has  to  it  from  time  t"  time.     All 

of  the  land  is  well  improved  and  the  build- 
ings and  comfortable  hom<  ill  been 
erected  by  him. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  M ly  fought 

bravely  for  the  Union,  lie  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany e  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Il- 
linois Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain 
James  Hunter  at  Clinton  and  was  mustered 
out  at  Springfield.  His  army  record  is  <  >nc 
<.<{    which  he  may   well    feel   proud. 

In    1866    Mr.    M ly    was   married    to 

Miss   char1  a   native  of   Creek 

township  and  a  daughter  of  Solomon  and 
Martha  Cn>ss.  Mr.  Cross  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  that  township  and  did 
much  to  aid  in  the  development  of  the  coun- 
ty. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moody  have  the  fol- 
lowing children  born  to  them:  Henry,  who 
married  Emma  Tucker  and  resides  in  the 
township:   Ida.    who  married    Frank   Bow- 


,man  and  resides  at  Lane  station:  Everett, 
who  resides  with  bis  father;  Charles.  ■ 
married  Flora  Williams,  ami  reside  in 
(reck  township;  Nora;  Homer:  and  three 
children  who  died  in  infancy.  Both  Mr. 
Mid  Mrs.  Moody  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch 
Democrat  and  has  served  most  acceptably 
as  road  commissioner  and  member  of  the 
sdh  11  '1  b  iard. 

J.  Q.  A.  JONES 

One  "f  the  most  prominent  citizens  and 

cessful  farmi  :  inta  Anna  township 

is  John  Quincy  Adams  Jones,  who  was  born 
in  Madison  county.  <>hi",  February  10, 
[850.  I  lis  paternal  grandfather  was  Will- 
iam Jones,  a  farmer  of  Culpeper  county, 
Virginia,  who  attained  a  good  "Id  age. 
The  children  of  his  family,  so  far  as  known, 
were  \llen.  Mason,  William.  Charles,  Mr-. 
Nancy  Rosebeny,  Mrs.  Lydia  Bates,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Jones  and  a  Mrs.  South. 

Allen   Jones,   the    father  of   our   subj 
was  born  iu  Culpeper  county,  Virginia,  in 

15,  and  at  an  early  age  removed  to  <  >hio, 
where  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mis- 
Mary  Dockum,  who  w  1  in  Ohio. 
Little  is  known  of  her  family  history.  In 
[855  Mr.  Jones  came  to  this  state  ami  after 
spending  one  year  in  Macon  county  he  took 
Up  his  residence  in  Clinton.  DeWitt  county, 
in  the  fall  of  [856.  As  a  carpenter  and 
contractor  he  ei  in  business  in  that 
place,  which  at  that  time  contained  but  a 
few  hundred  s.>uls.  Many  of  the  buildings 
that  he  erected  are  still  standing,  including 
the  "Id  grist  mill  in  the  southwest  pari 
the  city  and  the  Charles  Hanger  home,  lie 
continued  in  this  line  of  business  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  and  when  he  retired  from  active 
labor  he  was  elected  as  justice  of  the  peace. 


J.   Q.   A.  JONES. 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RED  »RD. 


45 1 


which  position  he  retained  for  the  period  of 
eight  years.  In  iSi>4  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  occurred.  She  became  the  mother  of 
the  following  children:  Clarissa,  Matilda, 
David,  Cyrus,  Josephine,  Argus,  Lemuel, 
Henry,  Thomas,  Milton,  Amanda.  Lucretia, 
Charles,  Samuel,  John  Q.  V.  Maria  and 
Emma.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife, 
Mr.  Jones  was  again  united  in  marriage,  his 

•\u\  union  being  with  Mrs.  F.liza  Wren. 
On  January  I.  1887,  he  was  called  to  his 
final  rest,  hut  his  widow  still  survives  him 
and  makes  her  home  in  Clinton. 

Tlie  subject  of  tliis  -ketch  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Clinton,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
city.  He  began  his  business  career  a-  a 
farmer,  and  throughout  life  that  ha-  been 
his  principal  occupation.  On  November  1. 
1870,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Hester  A.  Brennan,  widow  of  lame-  Bren- 
nan  and  a  daughter  of  Elias  and  Lydia  M. 
Johnson,  a  sketch  of  whom  appear-  else- 
where in  this  work. 

In  [875  Mr.  Jones  removed  to  Piatt 
inty,  Illinois,  where  he  operated  a  large 
farm  for  over  eight  years,  lie  then  re- 
moved to  Farmer  City,  where  for  eighteen 
months  he  conducted  a  restaurant  on  the 
of  the  present  postoffice,  hut  the  close 
confinement  proved  injurious  to  his  health. 
lie  next  removed  to  Centralia,  where  he 
lived  for  a  year  and  a  half,  and  then  returned 
to  Farmer  City.  At  this  time  Mr-.  Jones 
came  into  possession  of  her  portion  of  her 
father"-  e-tate  and  they  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-seven  acres  of  land  in  Santa 
Anna  town-hip  of  Dr.  Rogers,  of  Qtica, 
<  )hio.  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
the  Dick  W'ehl)  farm.  Since  that  he  has  re- 
modeled the  buildings  and  made  man)  other 
improvements;  so  that  they  now  have  a  very 

tine  farm.     During  the  '50s  the  old  house 
20 


and  barn  that   stood  on  the  place  accomm 
dated  many  a  wear)    traveler  and  hi-  beast 
that  -topped  here  for  rest  and  refreshments, 
it  being  a  public  house.     Abraham  Lincoln 

always  -topped  here  for  hi-  meal-  when  on 
his  way  front  Springfield  to  various  place- 
north  and  east.        The  house  at  that  time  • 

owned  by  James  Watson  and  the  same  is 
still  standing,  being  used  a-  a  store  house 
In  1  S< j 5  Mr.  Jones  erected  a  fine  new  hot 
and  in  [900  erected  a  large  barn  for  hay. 
He  has- set  out  fruit  tree-,  and  ha-  the  largest 
and  finest  maple  grove  in  the  county.  lie 
keep-  a  tine  herd  of  high  grade  cattle,  includ- 
ing some  thoroughbred  short-horns,  and 
has  twelve  line  draft  and  road  horses.  Al- 
though he  raises  considerable  grain,  hay  is 
his  chief  product,  and  he  ha-  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acre-  of  meadow'  land.  SO  that 
he  probably  raises  more  hay  than  any  other 
man  in  the  count}-. 

Mr.  Jones  was  reared  under  the  teach 
ings  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  but 
is  liberal  in  his  religious  views,  lie  i-  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  i-  now  serving  a-  noble  grand 
oi  his  lodge.  In  political  sentiment  be  i-  a 
stalwart  Republican,  and  for  the  past  nine 
years  be  ha-  most  creditably  and  acceptably 
served  a-  president  of  the  board  of  com 
missioners.  lie  ha-  also  been  a  member  of 
the  school  board,  and  i-  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive  and    public-spirited    citizens    of    his 

c<  immunity. 

— • » » — 

JAMES    M.    MORRIS)  'X. 

^mong  those  who  have  passed  to  the 
reward  awaiting  them  none  i-  more  worthy 
of    mention    than    James     M.     Morrison,    ol 

Clintonia  township,  DeWitt  county.  Illinois, 
who    wa-    horn    in    Kellcfontaine.    Ohio,    in 


452 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1S33.  His  father,  a  native  of  Ohio,  was 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Belle- 
fontaine,  but  later  came  to  Illinois  and  lo- 
cated in  DeWitt  county,  where  he  died. 

James  M.  Morrison  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  excellent  schools  of  Ohio  and 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  living 
with  them  in  Clintonia  township.  DeWitl 
county,  until  he  became  a  grown  man.  When 
lie  was  married  he  rented  a  farm  for  several 
years  and  then  purchased  the  present  home- 
stead "i  eighty  acres,  which  is  very  nicely 
kepi  up  and  has  an  excellent  orchard  and 
good  shade  trees,  while  the  buildings  and 
fences  are  in  good  condition.  This  farm 
Mr.  Morrison  <le\oted  to  general  farming 
and  stock-raising,  and  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful. 

Air.  Morrson  was  married  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet May.  a  native  of  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
and  a  daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  (  Hick- 
ex  1  May.  both  of  whom  were  also  natives 
of  Ohio.  Mrs.  Morrison  lived  in  that 
state     until     she     was     fifteen     years 

she  came  t>  1  I  >e\\  ut  0  »unt ) 
with  her  parents  and  settled  in  Harp  town- 
ship. Her  education  was  received  in  Ohio. 
To  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Morrison  were  born  three 
children,  namely:  Cina  married  Charles 
Johnson  and  they  make  their  home  in  Cham- 
paign, Illinois,  where  Mr.  Johnson  is  en- 
ged  in  the  Illinois  Central  shops  and 
they  have  had  one  son  who  died  in  infancy; 
Cyrus  Henry,  who  died  when  eleven  weeks 
old;  Charles  Elmer,  who  is  farming  on  the 
old  homestead,  married  Bertha  Thorpe,  of 
1  larp  t.  w  nship.  a  daughter  1  if  Ji  'lm  I'h'  irpe, 
one  of  (lie  oldest  settlers  of  DeWitl  coun- 
ty, and  they  have  one  child.  Carl   Russell. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Morrison  occurred 
October  20,  1NN7.  when  he  was  fifty-four 
years   of   age.      After   his   death,    until   her 

>   took  charge  of  affairs.   Mrs.    Morrison 


conducted  the  farm  herself  very  success- 
fully. Both  she  and  her  husband  were 
earnest  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
in  which  Mr.  Morrison  was  an  officer  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  his  death  the  com- 
munity lost  a  zealous,  puhlic-spirited  man, 
a  good  neighbor  and  honorable  citizen, 
while  in  his  home  he  is  mourned  deeply  and 
sincerely.  Although  a  strong  Republican 
in  politics  and  supporting  the  candidates  of 
his   party,    Mr.    Morrison   never   wished    lor 

1  iffice. 

*  »♦ 

JOSEPH  ("..  MOORE. 

One  of  the  largest  cattle  feeders  in  cen- 
tral Illinois  i-,  Joseph  G.  Moure,  of  Farmer 
City,  Illinois,  who  was  horn  near  Concord, 
Xew  Hampshire,  October  <>.  [838,  and  is 
a  son  of  Jacob  and  Cynthia  A.  t  <  larrick  ) 
Moore,  a  grandson  of  Joseph  (iarrick. 
Jacob  Moore,  who  was  a  farmer  and  stock 
dealer,  went  to  Brown  county.  Ohio,  in 
1S40.  and  to  I 'ike  county.  Illinois,  ten  years 
later.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five 
and  his  wife  when  she  was  aboul  eighty 
years  of  age.  They  hail  live  children,  name- 
ly: Fanny  I'..  Joseph  G.,  Phoebe  K., 
George  II.  and  Albert  II.  In  all  his  opera- 
tions Jacob  Moore  was  successful,  as  has 
been  his  s.  ,n.  our  subject. 

Joseph  G.  Moore  went  to  McLean  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  in  i860  and  engaged  in  fanning 
wild  land  for  some  six  years,  doing  this 
work  with  oxen.  At  this  time  wild  game 
was  to  he  found  on  every  hand.  Quite 
early  in  his  business  career  Mr.  Moore's 
attention  was  called  to  the  great  profit  there 
was  in  dealing  in  cattle  by  a  business  trans- 
action in  which  he  was  engaged,  selling 
some  fifty  head  which  he  had  bought  for 
five  dollars  each   for  thirty  dollars  a  head 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


453 


after  keeping  them  a  year.  The  money 
lu-  thus  made  he  used  in  larger  transactions 
and  as  his  pretits  accumulated  he  invested 
in  land,  and  he  now  owns  over  a  thousand 
acnes,  the  greater  pari  of  which  he  rents, 
just  retaining  a  sufficient  amount  to  make 
good  pasturage  for  the  number  of  cattle  he 
annually  feeds.  Recently  he  located  in 
Fanner  City,  where  he  owns  and  occupies 
a  comfortable  home,  beautifully  furnished 
and  surrounded  by  well  cultivated  grounds. 
Mr.  Moore  married  Miss  Sabina  Ens- 
minder,  a  daughter  of  Philip  and  Mariah 
(Myers)  Ensminder,  k>th  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  Mr.  Ensminder  dying  when 
thirty-seven  and  his  wife  at  the  aye  of  sev- 
enty-one. No  children  have  been  horn  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  M 


JOIIX  ALMON  LISENBY. 

Among  the  enterprising  and  wide  awake 
business  men  of  Weldon  is  numbered  John 
Almon  Lisenby.  He  was  horn  in  Creek 
township.  Februarj  27,  [851,  and  is  a  son 
of  Charles  Simpson  .md  Eliza  (McKinley) 
Lisenby,  who  were  natives  of  Kentucky 
and  Ohio,  respectively.  1 1  is  great-grand- 
father, Abraham  Lisenby,  was  born  in 
North  Carolina  and  married  Rebecca  Lyon. 
a  native  of  Tennessee.  He  was  a  son  of 
Reuben  Lisenby,  who  was  a  Revolutionarj 
lier  and  lost  his  life  during  the  sii 
Charleston.  Abraham  was  hound  out 
to-  a  North  Carolinian  soon  after  the  war. 
and  on  attaining  his  majority  removed  to 
east  Tennessee  and  thence  to  Illinois.  He 
and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, six  suns  and  four  daughters,  lie 
was  buried  on  the  tract  of  land  he  had 


lected  as  a  home  and  which  i>  still  used  as 
a  cemetery. 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  our  sub- 
jecl  were  Benjamin  G.  and  Margaret 
(Simpson)  Lisenby,  both  of  whom  were 
horn  in  Tennessee,  hut  in  the  early  part  of 
the  nineteenth  century  moved  to  Kentucky. 
In  1828  Benjamin  Lisenby  brought  his 
family  to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  hut 
two  years  later  settled  in  what  is  now 
known  a-  Creek  township,  where  he  im- 
proved one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
prairie  and  one  hundred  and  five  acres  of 
timber  land.  Here  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  was  the  father  of  six  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  grew  tO_  maturity,  they 
are  as  follows:  Charles  S.,  our  subject's 
father;  Rebecca,  who  married  Thomas 
Ritcher;  Nancy  A.,  who  became  Mrs.  Su- 
rer: Ritta  married  T.  1).  Fisher;  William 
I.:  Sarah,  who  became  Mrs.  J.  H.  Salis- 
bury. 

Charles  Simpson  Lisenby,  the  father  of 
the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  re- 
view, was  horn  in  Monroe  county.  Ken- 
tucky. January  30,  [822,  and  when  hut 
eighl  years  of  aye  came  with  his  parents  to 
Creek  township.  Here  he  was  reared  to 
manhood  and  his  life  from  youth  to  age 
was  one  of  almost  incessant  labor,  ami  the 

•  t  education  which  he  received  was  ob- 
tained in  the  district  schools.  While  liv- 
ing with  his  father  he  improved  a  farm  in 
the  same  township,  preparatory  to  making 
a  home  for  himself.  On  March  .}.  [847, 
was  celebrated  his  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza 
A.  McKinley.  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Susan  McKinley, 
of  Farmer  City  1  formerly  called  Mount 
Pelasant  1,  this  county.  This  union  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  live  children,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity,  namely:  Missoura,  who 
married  William  Winslow;  James   F. ;  John 


454 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


V.  our  subject;  .Minnie  A.,  now  Mrs.  Jo- 
seph G.  Garrigus:  and  Maude,  who  mar- 
ried  Edward  Sackett. 

Air.  Lisenby  acquired  a  considerable 
amount  of  property,  owning  one  Fourth  of 
the  entire  town  of  Weldon,  which  place 
lie  took  a  very  active  part  in  settling  and 
laying  out,  and  his  farm  land  in  the  imme- 
diate neighborh !  consisted  of  about  one 

thousand  acres,  lie  built  the  first  residence 
in  Weldon  in  [872.  In  [88i  he  erected  an 
elevator,  and  with  the  assistance  of  his  son 
:  H-d  on  an  extensive  business  as  ;i  lum- 
ber, grain  and  coal  merchant.  For  several 
s  he  served  as  supervisor  in  Nixon 
township,  and.  was  always  an  industrious. 
enterprising,  liberal  man.  enjoying  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  Ins  friends  and  neigh- 
bors,      lie    departed    this    life    January    _'_;. 

[882. 

n  Almon  Lisenby  was  reared  on  the 
famil)     homestead    in    ("reek    township     and 

received  a  common  school  education.  Me 
moved  to  Weldon  with  his  parents  in  [872, 
where  for  three  years  he  engaged  in  the 
agricultural  pursuits.  \s  before  stated,  he 
then  became  associated  with  his  father  in 
tin.'  lumber,  main  and  coal  business,  where 
he  continued  until  his  father's  death.  From 
that  time  until  1898  he  was  engaged  in  the 
breeding  of  Norman  horses.  In  March. 
1900,  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  business 
at  Weldon,  in  which  he  has  since  continued. 
meeting  with  marked  success  in  all  his  un- 
dertakings, his  being  the  only  exclusive 
gn  icery  store  in  the  town. 

Mr.  Lisenby  was  first  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Alice,  daughter  of  David 
M.  and  Jane  Cavcnder.  of  Nixon  township, 
the  ceremony  being  celebrated  on  Septem- 
ber [2,  [876.  This  union  was  Messed  with 
three  children,  of  whom  two  survive:  Al- 
bert   L.   and   Charles  C.      Mrs.    Lisenby   de- 


parted this  life  May  [9,  [892,  and  on  Oc- 
tober K).  [893,  Mr.  Lisenby  look  for  his 
si  coin!  wife  Ada.  daughter  of  James  and 
Anna  (Wilson)  Rhodes,  of  Ohio.  R\  this 
second  union  two  children  were  horn:  lily 
A.  and  Myrtel   Lucille. 

Mr.  Lisenby  held  the  office  of  super- 
visor of  Nixon  township  for  one  term,  and 
served  three  terms  of  two  years  each  as 
president  of  the  village  of  Weldon.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  Weldon  Lodge, 
No.  7  p'.  A.  F.  &  V  M.;  Goodbrake  Chap- 
ter, No.  94,  R.  A.  M..  of  Clinton;  Mozart 
Chapter,  No.  ~~.  <  >.  !•'..  S. ;  Weldon  an. I 
Rainier  Circle.  No.  '26,  Weldon.  Politically 
he  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
ticket. 


-•♦••- 


URIAH    JAMES. 

I  hie  of  the  ( >ldest  settlers  of  Texas  n  >vv  11 
ship.  DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  and  one  who 
has  seen  the  township  developed  from  wild 
prairie  land  into  a  succession  of  line  farms 
is  Uriah  James,  who  now  occupies  two 
hundred  and  fort)  acres  of  rich  farm  land 
1  u   sectii  iii   30  of  this   l<  iw  nship. 

Uriah  James  was  horn  on  September 
14,  1X41),  in  Texas  township.  DeWitt  coun 
ty,  and  was  a  s.  .11  of  William  and  Susan 
(  Belfbrd  1  James.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early 
day  and  he  settled  in  DeWitt  county  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  Texas  township 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he 
was  about  fifty-four  years  of  age,  and  our 
subject  was  eighteen  years  old.  lie  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church  for  many 
years,  but  later  joined  the  Baptist  denomi- 
nation. In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and 
was  a  prosperous  and  progressive  man. 
The    place    where   our   subject    now    resides 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


455 


was  the  old  homestead,    where  the   father 

■  !.  and  where  also  the  mother  in  the 
spring  of  [883  passed  away,  and  lmth  are 
buried  i'-.  the  cemetery  in  Texas  township. 
Eleven  children  were  born  t<>  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
William  James,  six  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing. 

The  subject  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  and  assisted  his  father  on 
the  home  farm.  After  the  death  of  his  fa- 
ther he  purchased  the  homestead  of  the 
heirs  and  erected  a  new  and  large  h 
and  substantial  outbuildings  and  has  im- 
proved  the  land  and  fences  until  his  is  one 
one  of  the  model  farms  of  the  town-hip. 
All  of  the  land  is  under  cultivation  and 
vie'  s  g  d  crop-.  Mr.  James  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Maroa  Lodge,  No.   109,  K.  of  P. 

Mr.    James    was    married    to     Mary    E. 
Wilson,  a   native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter 
ind  Amanda  Wilson.     Mr.  Wil- 
was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  and 

•ted  in  Mason  county,  where  he  engag 
in  farming,  dying  in  Decatur,  where  he  was 
leading  a  retired  life.     The  wife  is  still  liv- 
ing and  reside-  at  Decatur.  This  wife  of  our 
subject  died   in    1S71   at  the  home  place  in 
Texas  township  and  she  left  three  children, 
all  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely:    Lucy, 
who   is   now    the   wife  <>f   Charles   Slauter- 
bor      a         f    Macon   county,   and   he    is 
prosper  us  farmer  and  they  have  three  b 
viz. — Anthony.  Harold  and  Russell:  Nellie, 
now  the  wife  of   William   I  Macon 

county,  win.  is  a  farmer,  and  their  one  child 

'  in  infancy:  May  now  resides  in  Clin- 
ton with  her  uncle.  J.  M.  Wilcox,  M.  D. 

Mr.   James  married   again   and   his 
ond  choice  was  Miss  Mary  C.  Scholby,  who 

.  native  of  Mason  county.  Illinois,  and 
a  daughter  of  Kenneth  and  Maria  Scholby. 
Her  parents  are  both  living  and  reside  in 


Texas  township,  where  Mr.  Scholby  is  en- 

Sjed  in  farming  Mr.  and  Mr-,   lames 

have  been  horn  two  children,  name- 
ly: Edna  and  Hazel.  All  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  James  were  horn  on  the  home- 
1  in  Texas  township,  where  he.  to...  was 
horn.  It  is  a  source  of  much  gratification 
to  Mr.  Jame-  to  contrast  the  present  con- 
dition of  the  town-hip  to  that  of  his  boy- 

h 1  and  to  retlect  what  large  part  he  and 

his  family  have  borne  in  the  development 
of  the  natural  resources  of  the  land  until  it 
is  now  one  of  the  richest  farming  districts 
in  the  state. 


-     MUEL  E.  NEWELL. 

Among  the  successful  farmers  of  Clin- 
ton township  i-  Samuel  E.  New  ell.  who  was 
born  September  21,  1849,  m  Hancock. 
Ohio,  and  is  f  Thomas  and  Hannah 

I  Rough  1  Newell,  both  of  whom  died  when 
our  subject  was  a  -mall  child.  The  father 
came  to  Piatt  county.  Illinois,  in  1852,  and 
look  up  land,  which  he  farmed,  and  . 
conducted  a  saw-mill  until  his  death,  be- 
ing a  millwright  by  trade.  Ten  children 
were  born  to  the  parents  of  our  subjeci 
follows:  William.  James,  Thomas,  and  Jo- 
seph, all  deceased;  John,  who  is  m  Mon- 
tana; Caroline,  who  married  Jacob  Burgit, 
and   they   r  Missouri;   «  de- 

ceased; Samuel  E..  our  subject;  Almeda, 
who  married  Benjamin  Grady;  and  Frank, 
who  resides  in  Kans 

r  subject  was  married  in  Piatt  and 
DeWitt  counties  and  also  attended  a  sul>- 
scription  school  kept  in  his  own  home  by 
a  maiden  lady,  to  whom  six  children  were 
sent.  His  father  dying  when  he  was  but  a 
child,  he  soon  had  to  care  for  himself,  and 


456 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


from  [869  until  1871  he  worked  upon  the 
farms  of  the  neighborhood.  In  1871  tie 
was  employed  by  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road in  the  neighborhood  of  Decatur  for 
about   a   year. 

I  )n  March  4.  1873,  Mr.  Newell  was  mar- 
ried t<i  Miss  Tina  May,  a  sketch  of  whose 
parents  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Af- 
ter his  marriage  he  rented  a  farm  and  in 
[883  purchased  eighty  acres,  which  forms 
pari  nf  his  present  excellent  farm.  To  this 
lie  added  from  time  to  time  and  it  is  now 
all  under  cultivation,  lie  also  has  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in   Nebraska. 

[*<  1  himself  and  w  ife  ha\  e  been  born  four 
children,  namely:  An  infant  who  died  in 
infancy:  Ira.  who  married  Miss  Anna  Po 
ell,  a  native  of  tins  county,  and  resides  near 
Clinton;  and  Alia  and  Leila,  both  at  home. 
Mr.  Newell  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never 
been  willing  to  accept  the  nomination  for 
office.  I  lis  wife  is  an  active  member  of 
the  Methodist  church  and  the  entire  family 
is  highly  respected  and  esteemed  in  DeWitt 
county. 


I  l  \U  INEL  II  M  IM  \S  SNELL. 

In  the  past  a.^es  the  history  of  a  country 
was  the  record  of  wars  and  conquests; 

it  is  a  record  of  commercial  activity, 
and  those  whose  names  are  foremost  in 
its  annals  are  the  leaders  in  business  cir- 
cles. The  conquests  now  made  are  tl. 
of  mind  over  matter,  not  of  man  over  man, 
and  the  victor  is  he  who  can  successfully 
establish,  control  and  operate  extensive 
commercial  interests.  Colonel  Snell  is  un- 
questionably one  of  the  strongest  and  most 
influential  men  whose  lives  have  become  an 
essential  part  of  the  history  of  DeWitt  coun- 
ty.     Tireless   energy,   keen   perception,   hon- 


esty of  purpose,  genius  for  devising  and 
executing  the  right  thing  at  the  right  time, 
joined  to  every-day  common  sense,  guided 
by  resistless  will  power,  are  the  chief  clr.tr- 

■  ;  istics   1  if   the   man. 

Colonel  Thomas  Snell  is  a  native  of  the 
Buckeye  state,  horn  in  Cincinnati,  December 
jo,  [818,  and  is  a  s<  >n  1  if  Tl*  mias  Snell.  a  na- 
tive of  New  Jerse)  and  of  German  ancestry. 
In  early  life  he  learned  the  trade  of  builder 
and  contractor,  which  he  followed  for  many 
years.  Me  became  an  earl)  settler  of  tins 
state,  hut  in  [836,  the  year  of  the  cholera, 
he  passed  a\\a\  at  his  home  in  Pekin.  I  le 
married  Elizabeth  Stark,  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  and  daughter  of  II.  Stark,  who 
was  of  Scotch  descent.  Mrs.  Snell  died 
in  Jasper  county,  Iowa,  and  her  remains 
were  interred  in  the  cemetery  at   Clinton. 

Colonel  Snell  was  the  fourth  in  order  0! 
birth  in  a  famil)  of  five  children  and  re- 
ceived his  early  intellectual  training  in  the 
district  schools  of  his  native  slate.  In 
those  days  the  temple  of  learning  was  a 
log  building  situated  in  the  center  of  some 
neighborhood  where  it  would  he  about  an 
equal  distance  from  the  homes  of  the  pio- 
neers. When  eleven  years  of  age  he  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  this  state.  The) 
settled  in  Pekin  and  from  that  time  until 
1845  our  subject  passed  his  time  in  that 
place  and  in  Tazewell  county.  While  a 
resident  of  the  latter  place  he  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  and  continued  in  that 
line  of  business  until  after  his  removal 
to  Clinton,  hut  the  slow,  plodding  life  of  a 
country  merchant  was  not  the  vocation  he 
wanted:  there  was  not  enough  scope  for 
that  great  brain,  the  brain  that  was  never 
idle.  It  needed  stimulus  and  that  was  not 
to  he  found  in  a  business  where  the  most  ex- 
citing event  of  the  day  was  when  the  farm- 
er- came  in  and  disposed  of  their  stock  of 


THE  BIOGKAI'llirXL    UIECORD. 


and  butter.     He  wanted  activity,  and 
in    [852  he  abandoned  commerce  and  en- 

I  in  the  construction  of  railroads,  and 

railroad  contractor  he  became  one  of 
the  most   prominent   builders   in   tlii -   sec 
tion  of   Illinois,  constructing  many  of  the 
leading  lines  of  the  state,  such  as  the  illi- 

Central;  the  Chicago  &  Southwestern 
(in  Iowa  i:  Joliet  &  Qiicago;  Racine  & 
Mississippi;  Ohio  &  Dayton;  Blooming 
Lafayette  &  Western;  and  the  Lafayette  & 
Muncie.  He  graded  and  bridged  the  road 
from  Champaign  to  Havana  and  was  ap- 
pointed its  first  president,  lie  was  con- 
nected with  the  railways  of  the  state  for 
some  fifteen  years,  but  even  this  was  not 
enough  for  that  wonderful  brain.  He  could 
not  hear  to  he  idle  for  one  minute.  He  had 
to  be  doing  something  and  while  in  the 
railroad  work  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  S.  L.  Keith  in  1859,  and  together  they 
established  a  large  wagon  manufacturing 
plant  at  Aurora.  This  partnership  was 
continued  for  -ix  years.  At  times  they  had 
a  force  of  nearly  three  hundred  men  at 
work  and  it  was  then  that  the  Colonel  was 
in  his  glory.  His  was  the  dominate  mind. 
It  was  he  that  did  the  planning  and  devis- 

•id  it  was  he  that  at  all  times  carried 
•1  ending  all  undertakings  that 
were  entered  into  by  the  firm.  First  here 
and  then  there,  he  was  always  <>n  th 
It  has  been  said  of  him  that  in  tl 
he  never  slept.  No  matter  what  important 
business  came  up  the  Colonel  was  011  hand 
to  look  after  the  interests  of  the  firm  and 
if  a  railroad  contract  wa-  to  he  let  he  was 
there.  In  this  his  quick  perception  and 
keen  judgment  was  especially  valuable,  as 
many  times  he  was  able  to  grasp  an  idea 
and  in  an  instant  have  a  reply  ready  that 
would  take  others  hour-  to  decide.  Con- 
tractors who  were  at  that  time  in  the  habit 


of   looking   up   contracts   in    this   section   of 
the    -late    SOOI1    learned    that    it    wa-    useless 

to  compete  with  the  Colonel. 

At  about  tin-  time,  when  he  wa-  mosl 
heavih  interested  in  different  enterprises, 
the  new-  wa-  flashed  over  the  wire-  that 
Fort  Sumter  had  been  tired  upon.  It  was 
the  spark  that  steadily  glowed,  fanned  by 
the  dispatches  that  followed,  until  at  last 
it  burst  into  a  grand  demonstration.  Ili- 
tory  tells  us  what  the  loyal  and  patriotic 
citizens  of  the  north  did.  hut  it  i-  only  in 
biography   that    we   learn   of   the    personal 

!-  of  men  who  gave  up  all  and  rushed 
die  front  to  defend  that  flag  that  has 
never  yet  been  conquered.  Some,  yes  thou- 
sands, were  only  able  to  offer  them-el 
but  there  were  other-  who  were  able  not 
only  to  offer  themselves,  hut  were  able  to 
do  more,  and  to  this  latter  class  belongs 
the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
review.  The  devotion  of  Colonel  Snell  to 
hi-  country  is  -, ,  well  known  to  those  who 
will  read  this  biography  that  we  will  no! 
into  details,  hut  it  would  not  he  right  to 
pass  it  by  without  a  little  more  than  ordi- 
nary mention.  In  August,  [862,  he  raised 
the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois  In- 
fantry and  was  elected  its  colonel,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  four  month-.  During 
that  time  he  was  ready  and  willing  to  not 
only  do  hi-  duty,  hut  often  did  more.  I  lis 
course  wa-  radical,  lie  believed  it  right  and 
proper  f<  r  every  man  to  do  all  in  his  power 
to   put    down    this    rebellion    that    threatened 

the  destruction  of  the  country. 

In  politics  he  has  always  taken  a  very 
prominent  part.  In  [860  he  was  a  candi- 
date for  the  office  of  lieutenant  governor 
on  the  Breckenridge  ticket  and  at  that  time 
there  was  no  man  in  central  Illinois  that 
wielded  a  more  powerful  influence  over  the 
people   than   did   the   Colonel.      So   wonder- 


453 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


fill  was  his  power  that  those  two  great  men, 
Stephen  \.  Douglas  and  General  McClel- 
lan  deemed  it  necessary  to  journey  here 
in  a  special  car  for  the  purpose  of  getting 
the  Colonel  to  support  the  Democratic 
ticket.  Money,  and  large  amounts  of  it. 
was  offered,  position,  and  important  ones, 
were  promised,  but  to  all  this  the  man  who 
is  now  passing  his  last  days  in  the  citj  of 
Clinton  turned  a  deal'  ear.  lie  was  as  il 
carved  from  stone,  so  firm  did  he  stand 
for  the  principles  that  he  deemed  right,  ami 
after  their  departure  he  labored  the  harder, 
not  only  with  eloquence,  hut  with  money. 
Any  enterprise  that  was  calculated  to  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  not  only  the  state, 
hut  the  nation,  received  his  support. 

From  early  manhood  up  to  the  present 
time  he  has  been  a  man  with  more  than 
ordinary  force  of  character,  a  man  of  in- 
trepid spirit  and  indomitable  will,  and  these 
traits,  with  large  enterprise  and  great  • 
ecutive  ability,  have  placed  him  in  the  front 
ranks  of  the  men  of  wealth  in  this  county. 
lie  is  a  man  of  strong  convictions  ami  is 
outspoken  in  his  views.  Perhaps  no  man 
has  displayed  more  real  public  spirit  or 
been  more  interested  in  advancing  the 
welfare  of  the  comity  than  the  Colonel,  and 
to  no  man  is  it  more  -really  indebted  for 
its  present  high  financial  standing. 

(  !olon<  I  Snell  was  united  in  mar; 
with  Mis-  Sarah  E.  Church,  of  Washing- 
ton. Illinois, and  hy  this  union  were  horn  i 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living.  Octo- 
ber II.  i  S  7  5 .  death  invaded  the  pleasant 
home  of  our  subject  and  took  from  him  his 
beloved  wife.  She  was  a  woman  of  per- 
fect character,  in  whom  all  the  higher  wo- 
manly qualities  were  blended.  She  was 
kindness  itself  in  her  relations  with  others, 
always  gentle,  considerate  and  just.  Her 
charitableness   was   well   known,   and  many 


who  have  been   benefitted   by   it   hless  her 
memory. 

Such  in  brief  outline  is  the  history  of 
Colonel  Thomas  Snell.  His  life  record  is 
one  well  worthy  of  emulation  and  contains 
many  valuable  lessons  of  incentive,  show- 
ing the  possibilities  that  are  open  to  young 
men  who  wish  to  improve  every  opportun- 
ity for  advancement.  Upright  and  honor- 
able in  all  the  relations  of  life,  he  merits 
and  receives  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact.  lie  is 
now  passing  his  last  days  retired  from  ac- 
tive labor,  Inn  although  eighty-three  years 
of  age.  he  is  hale  and  hearty  and  the  same 
Colonel  Snell  that  he  was  when  in  touch 
with  the  leading  men  of  the  state  and  nation. 
Mis  is  a  life  well  spent  and  no  history  of 
the  leading  men  of  I  )e\\  ill  count)  would 
he  complete  without  a  review  of  his  more 
than  ordinan   career. 


WARREN  HICKMAN. 

M.n hi ii  among  the  leading  citizens  oi 
Clinton,  lilin.  i-.  i-  numbered  Warren  Hick- 
man, who  has  taken  quite  an  active  and  in- 
fluential part  in  political  affairs,  ami  is  now 

reditably  serving  a-  county  clerk  of  I  >e- 
Witt  county.  lie  was  horn  October  7, 
1863,  in  the  city  where  he  now  resides,  and 
is  a  sou  of  Llewellyn  1!.  Hickman,  who  was 
mie  of  the  first,  if  not  the  very  first,  mer- 
chant tailor  in  Clinton.  The  father  was  a 
native   of    Kentucky.      On   coming    to   l.'lin- 

he  1  ipened  a  sh<  ip  111  an  abandoned  p; 
car  which  stood  011  tin-  present  site 
of  the  hardware  store  of  Dudley  Watson, 
and  there  he  engaged  in  business  until  his 
health  failed.  In  the  meantime  he  had  built 
a  residence,  which  George  Greer  now  owns, 
and  there  he  worked  at  his  trade  to  a  limited 
extent  as  long  as  his  health  permitted.      lie 


I 


WARREN   HICKMAN. 


THK   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


died  in  1869,  at  tin-  age  of  sixty-two  \> 
In  1850  he  married  Mr-.  Cynthia  V.  1  Rose) 
Brown,  who  was  l>"rn  in  Alabama  and  first 
married  Andrew  Brown,  by  whom  she  had 
one  son,  Thomas.  The  children  born  of 
her   second   marriag  William    I.,   a 

resident  of  Springfield,  Illinois:  Mrs.  Fan- 
nie Zeigler;  Warren.of  this  sketch,  and  John 
1...  who  died  at  the  age  of  forty-two  years. 
The  mother  was  again  married  in  1878,  her 
third  husband  being  1'..  I.  F.  Mitchell.  She 
was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  died  in  that  faith  June  8,  igoo. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Warren 
Hickman  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Clinton  and  the  Wavnesville  Academy.  On 
completing  his  education  in  [879,  he  began 
his  business  career  as  a  laborer  at  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  but  shortly  afterward  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  clerk  in  the  general 
ston  f  R.  11.  Dragstrem,  and  he  gave  such 
satisfaction  that  his  services  were  retained 
for  eighteen  year-.  He  then  went  to  Peoria 
and  entered  the  wholesale  house  of  a  wagon 
manufacturer,  holding  that  position  until 
elected  county  clerk.  He  has  since  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  that  office,  and  has 
proved  a  very  popular  and  efficient  officer, 
his  services  giving  the  utm  sfaction. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
and  is  a  man  highly  respected  ami  esteemed 
by  all  who  know  him. 

Mr.  Hickman  married  Mis-  Ella  Dean, 
who  was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age  and 
was  reared  by  Mrs.  Lemuel   E.  Thompson, 

Wavnesville.  They  now  have  two  chil- 
dren:    Walter   Dean   and   Ella   Thompson. 


RALPH   H.   R( 


Ralph  H.  Ross,  of  Clinton.  Illinois,  who 
has  gained  a  prominent  place  in  the  esteem 
of  it-  residents  and  history  a-  a  brick  con- 


tractor ami  builder,  is  a  man  of  sterling 
qualities,  whose  work  -peak-  for  hi-  pains- 
taking   and    desirable   workmanship.      <  hir 

worthy  subject' was  horn  in  Delaware,  <  >hio, 
April  [9,  1843,  ;m''  's  a  son  "'  John  and 
Lorette  (Welsh)  Ross.  The  father  was 
a  brick  manufacturer  and  builder,  spending 

his  entire  life  in  <  >hio.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  eighty-four  year-,  the  mother  passing 
away  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  They  were 
the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  eleven  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  most  of  them 
reaching  1  old  age.     Under  his  fa- 

ther"- careful  training  our  subject  learned 
his  trade,  which  he  followed  diligently  un- 
til the  commencement  of  the  Civil  war.  Be- 
ing  then  eighteen  years  of  age.  he  enlisted 
in  Company  1'..  Forty-eighth  Ohio  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  as  a  private,  serving  two 
year-.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and 
saw  his  share  of  the  hard-hips  of  a  s,,ldier. 
He  re-enlisted  in  the  navy  for  one  year  and 
was  assigned  to  United  States  Rattler.  No. 
].  flagship  of  the  Mississippi  squadron.  He 
was  sent  ashore  with  twenty-two 
and  a  lieutenant,  sold  by  the  captain  and 
made  prisoner  after  a  -light  skirmish  in 
the  night  with  Harrison'-  Brigade,  Louisi- 
ana Cavalry,  September  4.  iN<>4.  After  be- 
ing exchanged  he  was  sent  to  the  Cham- 
pion and  discharged  in  June.  [865. 

Mr.  Ross  then  came  to  DeWitt  county, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  and  assisted 
his  brother  Edward  for  four  years.  The 
next  three  years  he  -pent  in  Clinton  as  a 
journeyman  ami  then  began  contracting. 
Since  that  time  he  has  built  many  of  the 
best    residences,   remodeling    and    enlarged 

xal  of  the  business  places,  also  built  the 
city  engine  Ik  •use.  the  library,  waterworks, 
electric  light  plant  and  many  other  buildings 
which  alone  prove  his  wonderful  ability  as 
a  builder.      None   -how   the   wonderful   sue- 


462 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cess  of  his  life's  calling  more  than  his  own 
beautiful  brick  residence  at  the  corner  of 
Johnson  and  Jackson  street-.  It  is  a  home 
one  should  he  proud  of,  having  all  the  mod- 
ern style  and  workmanship,  every  conven 
ience  that  means  and  good  taste  could  sup- 
ply. 

Our  subject  chose  a-  a  helpmate  through 
this  life's  journej  Miss  Emma  Rogers,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Alexan- 
der Rogers,  who  was  an  early  settler  in 
Clinton,  where  he  worked  as  a  teamster 
and    was    for   several   years   a   mail   carrier. 

To  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been 
born  five  children,  as  follows:  Ahhic.  a 
teacher  by  profession,  was  for  eight  years 
in  the  high  schools  of  Clinton  and  is  now 
principal  of  the  high  school  at  Washington, 
this  slate.  \\ 'infield,  who  is  a  bricklayer, 
makes  his  home  in  Chicago.  lie  married 
Miss  Bessie  Bower.  Carl  is  also  a  brick- 
layer. Jennie  is  a  teacher.  Edward  1-  a 
brakeman  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  are  both  members  of 
the  Methodist   Episcopal  church. 


S  \Ml'l  1.  EDWARD  HOLMES 

Mercantile  interests  at  Weldon  have 
been  materially  strengthened  by  the  suc- 
cessful business  of  Samuel  Edward  Holmes. 
the  leading  hardware  merchant,  and  dealer 
in  farm  implements,  carriages  and  buggies. 
He  was  horn  in  Goos  Creek  township, 
Piatt  county,  Illinois.  December  31,  1874, 
a  son  of  Zachary  Taylor  and  Mary  (  V. 
Holmes,  natives  respectively  of  Indiana  and 
England.  The  maternal  grandfather,  Will- 
iam Holmes,  was  a  pioneer  of  Clark  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  a  successful  farmer.  For 
several  years  he  lived  in   Minnesota  and  is 


now  a  resident  of  Farmer  City,  Illinois. 
To  himself  and  wife,  Betsej  (Hoge) 
I  lolmcs,  have  been  horn  ten  children  :  John  ; 
Evelyn,  who  is  the  wife  of  Clinton  Lee: 
Oliver;  Polly  A.,  who  is  now  Mrs.  William 
Dawson;  Oscar;  Zachary  T. ;  Sarah,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Fulton  Aikens;  Frank:  Alice, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Stortts;  and 
Alexander.  The  maternal  grandfather, 
Samuel  Wood,  was  a  native  of  England 
and  came  to  America  about  1N50.  locating 
in  Philadelphia,  lie  later  removed  to  Can- 
ton, Illinois,  where  he  engaged  for  several 
years  in  the  harness  business,  after  which 
he  located  in  Goose  Creek  township.  Piatt 
county,    and  1    in    farming   until    his 

death.  The  parents  of  S.  E.  Holmes  were 
married  at  the  Wood  homestead  in  Goose 
(reek  township  and  continued  to  live  there 
until  L899,  when  the\  located  in  their  pres 
cut  home.  There  were  three  children  in 
the  family.  Samuel  I-'..;  Oscar  A.;  and 
1  barles  <  Hyde. 

rhe  earl)  part  of  Mr.  Holmes'  life  was 
spent  in  Piatt  county,  where  he  received 
a  common  school  education,  and  assisted 
his  father  about  the  farm.  He  left  the  old 
familiar  surroundings  in  the  fall  oi  [898 
to  engage  in  the  agricultural  implement 
business  in  Farmer  City,  remaining  there 
until  March  of  [900.  Thinking  to  better 
his  business  prospects  he  then  sold  out  his 
Stock  and  removed  to  Weldon  and  entered 
upon  the  successful  business  career  which 
is  a  matter  of  pride  to  his  fellow  towns- 
men. He  carries  a  complete  line  of  hard- 
ware, agricultural  implements,  buggies  and 
wagons,  and  selects  his  stock  with  due  re- 
gard to  improvements  and  late  innovations, 
and  all  possible  demands  on  the  part  of  cus- 
tomers. He  is  prominent  in  all  enterprises 
of  importance  in  the  city,  has  a  genial  and 
strong  personality,  and  enjoys    the    confi- 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


463 


dence  of  all  who  are  associated  with  him, 
whether  in  a  business  or  social  way. 

<  »n  the  7th  of  April,  1896,  Mr.  Holmes 
married  Nora  I'.,  daughter  of  Cornelius 
and  Elizabeth  (Vance)  Huffman,  of  Farm- 
er City,  and  of  this  union  there  are  two 
children,  Adeline  and  Vernelle.  Mr. 
Holmes  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  1-  at 
the  present  time  serving  his  first  term  as 
villa  ere  clerk  of  Weldon. 


RICHARD  A.   LEMON. 

Richard  A.  Lemon  was  l*>rn  at  Berlin, 
Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  October  16, 
184.8,  and  when  a  small  boy  removed  with 
his  parents  to  Blue  Ridge  township,  Piatt 
county.  Illinois,  to  a  raw  prairie  farm. 
where  they  resided  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Civil  war.  when  three  of  his  elder  brothers 
enlisted  and  went  to  war.  all  of  whom  gave 
their  lives  to  the  cause  1  i  the  Union:  James 

:'  the  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Volunteers 
1  Yates  Phalanx).  William  and  John  I.,  of 

Ine  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois  V<  I- 
unteers.  In  the  last  year  of  the  war  the  sub- 
ject of  this  brief  sketch  served  as  a  recruit 
in  the  "Yates  Phalanx."  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years,  as  a  private  soldier  in  the  ranks,  par- 
ticipating in  the  Richmond  and  Petersburg, 
Virginia,  campaign,  and  returning  home  as 

:ily  survivor  of  the  foui  brothers.  He 
resumed  his  studies  in  different  schools,  ob- 
taining an  academic  education.  On  account 
of  the  diminution  in  the  working  force  in 
the  family  (  one  hmther  having  died  at  home 
during  the  war),  and  the  failing  health  <  f 
the  father,  the  farm  was  disposed  of  and  the 
remaining  meml>ers  of  the  family  removed 
to  El  Paso,  Woodford  county.  Illinois,  in 
when   and   where  the  subject   of  this 


sketch  entered  the  law  office  1  1  W.  <  '•■  Ran- 
dall and  pursued  the  study  of  law  under  his 
direction  for  about  one  year,  l>ut  becoming 
disc  uraged  he  abandoned  it  and  secured 
a  position  1  n  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw 
Kai'road  at  that  place  a-  freight  transferer. 
He  was  also  a  switchman  and  in  other  minor 
capacities  served  this  company,  when,  in 
[868,  he  resumed  his  studies,  this  time  in 
the  office  of  [ngersoll,  Harper  a  I  assell, 
completing  the  same  in  [870,  when  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  Augusl  13  of  that  year, 
and  1  pened  a  law  office  in  Farmer  City,  He- 
Witt  county,  Illinois,  where  his  efforts  were 
rewarded  with  indifferent  success  until  Aug- 
USl  [3,  [877,  when  he  removed  to  Clinton, 
the  county  seat,  where  he  has  been  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  the  law  ever  since. 

lie  loves  his  profession,  and  believes  in 

it.     It  is  his  business  to  the  exclusion  <  i  all 

Hi-  never  carried   "side  lines."   such 

money  loans,  insurance,  real  estate,  etc.. 
believing  that  the  practice  of  law  affords 
enough  opportunity  for  one  to  devote  his  en- 
tire time  and  energies. 

In  1874  he  was  married  to  Mis-  Opha 
Kyle,  and  they  have  three  sons:  Frank  K.. 
Carl  W..  and  Lawrence  W. 

Mr.  Lemon  is  not  wealthy  hut  has  al- 
ways made  an  economical  living  for  his  fam- 
ily. He  ha-  never  held  any  office  worth 
mentioning,  except  possibly,  member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Pardon-,  to  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed  by  <  '••  vernor  John  R.  Tinner,  July 
1.  1897,  and  held  the  same  a-  chairman 
the  !» ard  until  19 

He  knows  little  about  hi-  rem<  te  ances 
try.  and  cares  k-ss.  Respects  the  doctrine 
that  "blood  wili  tell,"  l>ut  believes  more 
strongly  in  individualism.  If  the  person  has 
the  right  --tuff  in  him  it  is  immaterial  how- 
he  gol  it.  and  the  only  sure  test  i-  t..  see  the 
results. 


464 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


From  what  lias  been  said,  it  scarcely 
seems  necessary  to  sa)  that  in  politics  he  is 
a  Republican,  and  we  may  add  that  his  views 
upon  this  as  well  as  other  public  questions 
are  radical  and  pronounced,  lie  is  not  p<  p- 
ular  in  the  sense  of  a  dissembling,  cringing, 
hypocritical  trimmer,  but  is  an  outspoken, 

11  field  fighter,  contending  to  the  last  for. 
what  he  believes  to  be  right,  regardless  of 
ci  msequences. 


PRESTI  IN   [ONES. 


Among  the  honored  pioneers  and  rep- 
resentative citizens  of  DeWitt  county  is 
numbered  1'reston  Junes,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  in  Farmer  City,  enjoying 

a  well  earned  rest.  lie  was  horn  in  'laze- 
well,  cast  rennessee,  Movember  12,  1831, 
and  on  the  paternal  side  is  of  Welsh  de- 
scent.  The  first  of  the  family  to  come  to 
America  was  Edward  Jones,  who  settled 
in  Virginia.  His  son,  William  Jones,  was 
horn  in  that  state  in  1751.  and  on  the  break- 
ing out  of  tin-  Revolutionary  war  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  patriots  ami  enlisted  under 
Washington  in  the  Continental  army,  re- 
maining in  the  service  until  hi  >stilities  ceased. 
lie  carried  despatches  and  "was  often  en- 
trusted with  matters  ,  f  greal  moment.  It 
was  he  who  com  eyed  the  glad  tidings  of 
Cornwallis'  surrender  at  Yorktown  to  the 
Continental  congress.  In  [H09  or  [810  he 
removed  to  Kentucky,  hut  after  a  short 
time  spent  in  that  state  went  to  Overton 
inty,  Tennessee,  where  he  died  in  1839. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
Susan  Clark,  was  horn  in  Virginia,  of 
French  ancestry,  and  died  in  1S40.  In 
their    family    were   ten    children,    including 


Robert,  William,  John.  James  and  Mrs.  Su- 
san  llolden. 

Of  this  family.  John  Jones,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  horn  in  Mecklenburg 
county,  Virginia,  January  24,  1801,  and 
was  therefore  quite  small  when  he  removed 
with  Ins  parents  to  rennessee,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm.  In  [837, 
in  company  with  his  family,  he  came  to 
Illinois,  making  the  journey  with  a  Penn- 
sylvania covered  wagon  drawn  by  two  yoke 
of  oxen,  and  arriving  in  Rutledge  town- 
ship, DeWitt  county,  on  the  28th  of  Octo- 
ber, thai  year.  lie  first  rented  a  small  tract 
of  land  where  J.  11.  McCord  now  lives. 
There  was  a  small  log  cabin  upon  this  place 
and  a  few  acres  had  1  ecu  broken.  After 
buying  his  pork  for  the  winter  Mr.  Jones 
found  that  he  had  only  fifteen  cents  re- 
maining, lie  operated  this  farm  for  a  year 
and  also  engaged  in  breaking  prairie  for 
the  early  settlers,  lie  next  rented  the  Rev. 
Paxton  Cummings'  farm  two  years,  and 
the  Benjamin  Newberry  farm  one  year. 
Having  saved  some  money  during  this  time 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land,  all  of  which  was  covered  with  tim- 
ber fort)  acres  of  prairie  land, 
and  there  were  no  improvements  upon  the 
place,  hut  he  at  once  set  to  work  to 
build  a  log  house,  which  is  still  stand- 
ing— one  of  the  few  landmarks  of  pioneer 
times.  Mr.  Jones  soon  cleared  his  land 
and  broke  the  prairie,  converting  it  into  the 
line  farm  now  owned  by  Jacob  Swigart. 
Prospering  in  farming  operations,  he 
bought  more  land,  and  at  one  time  owned 
nine  hundred  acres  of  the  besl  farming  land 
in  the  county,  lie  may  truly  he  numbered 
among  the  self-made  men,  as  he  never  re- 
ceived any  outside  aid  or  support,  his  suc- 
-  in  life  being  due  to  his  natural  ability, 
d   constitution   and   sound   judgment    in 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


465 


business  affairs.  He  cast  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  Andrew  Jackson  in  1824,  and 
never  failed  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  1  _  sly  both  he  and  his 
wife  were  active  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  gave  liberally  to  its 
support  and  the  erection  of  the  t'irst  churches 
in  this  section  of  the  state.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Tennessee  in  [828  t"  Miss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  (Belcher) 
Fullington.  She  died  in  1890  at  the  age 
<>f  eighty-five  years,  and  his  death  occurred 
September  14.  [889,  when  he  was  eighty- 
eight  year-  .  i  age.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren: Preston,  our  subject;  Campbell,  who 
died  in  Kansas:  and  Albert,  who  died  in 
Texas.  At  one  time  all  of  the  sons  were 
I  in  farming-  in  Santa  Anna  town- 
ship, this  county. 

Preston  Jones  was  the  only  child  of  the 
family  1  >n  their  removal  to  this  state.  Al- 
though quite  small  he  well  remembers  the 
long  and  tedious  journey  of  thirty-six  days. 
The  young  people  of  the  present  day  ean 
have  litttle  conception  of  the  discomforts 
of  riding  behind  slow-going  ams    for 

that  length  of  time.  Our  subject,  however, 
has  many  pleasant  recollections  of  the  trip, 
especially  the  camping  out  at  night.  As 
a  boy  he  usi  greatly  enjoy   seeing  his 

mother  prepare  a  meal  over  the  large,  old- 
fashioned  tire-place.  He  pursued  his  studies 
in  an  old  log  school  house  with  its  puncheon 

ts,  where  he  gained  a  good  practical  edu- 
cation, which  has  been  of  greater  benefit 
to  him  than  a  college  training' to  many 
another  man. 

In  early  manhood  Mr.  Jones  wedded 
Miss  Mary  Johnson,  a  daughter  of  Matthew- 
Johnson.  She  was  born  in  New  Jersey. 
and  in  the  spring  of  1837  came  with  her 
parents  to  DeW'iit  county.   Illinois,  locating 


on  land  now  owned  l>\  ( ).  J.  Smith.  She 
died  in  1857,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three 
years.  There  were  five  children  born  of 
this  union,  namely:  Lucinda  and  Melvina 
both  died  in  infancy.  Cynthia  Ann  mar- 
ried Samuel  Hoover  ami  they  have  five 
children:  Preston,  Charles.  Clyde.  (' 
ter  and  Loma.  Albert,  a  farmer  of  Rut- 
ledge  township,  this  county,  married  Ellen 
Johnson,  who  died  leaving  live  children. 
Belle  completes  the  family. 

For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Jones  married 
Miss  Laura  Riggs,  who  was  born  in  Bloom- 
on.  Illinois.  January  24,  1852,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Andrew  J.  Riggs.  a  farmer 
of  McLean  county,  who  died  in  Blooming- 
ton  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  his  wife 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six.  By  his  second  mar- 
riage Mr.  Jones  has  nine  children,  namely: 
William,  an  employe  of  the  Standard  (  >il 
Company  at  Bloomington,  married  Cora 
Nelson  and  has  one  child,  Sylvia.  Bertha 
Maud  married  William  Drum,  a  farmer 
of  DeWitt  county,  and  has  one  child.  Shel- 
ley. Frank,  who  lives  on  the  homestead 
farm,  married  Alice  Johnson  and  has  two 
children.  Iris  and  Hope.  L>  ttie  is  the  wife 
of  Lincoln  Kibby.  of  Bloomington.  John 
is  a  farmer  of  this  county.  May  is  at  home. 
Ola  is  the  wife  of  Roy  Cook,  of  Bloom- 
ington. Pearl  and  Lance  are  both  at  home. 
Mr.  Jones  has  reared  his  sons  to  habits  of 
industry  and  honesty,  and  to-day  has  a  fam- 
ily of  which  any  parent  might  well  be  proud. 
Mr.  Jones  bought  his  father's  farm  in 
Santa  Anna  township,  on  sections  8  and  9, 
and  has  added  to  it  until  he  now  has  five 
hundred  and  four  acres,  his  home  being 
on  section  9.  The  first  house  built  upon 
the  place  was  of  split  logs  and  rudely  con- 
structed, but  later  a  good  frame  residence 
was   erected.      Mr.    Jones   has    made   many 


466 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


other  improvements,  which  add  greatly  to 
the  value  and  attractive  appearance  of  the 
farm.  In  early  manhood  he  used  to  haul 
grain  and  produce  to  the  Chicago  markets, 

considering  twenty-five  bushels  a  g 1  load, 

and  after  selling  his  wheal  for  seventy-five 
cents  or  a  dollars  per  bushel,  he  would  buy 
salt  for  one  dollar  per  barrel,  and  on  his 
return  home  would  sell  it  for  four  dollars 
per  barrel.  It  required  nine  or  ten  days 
to  make  a  trip  of  this  kind.  The  firsl  boots 
he  ever  had  he  In  night  with  his  own  money, 
secured  by  raising  beans,  which  he  sold  in 
Chicago.  lie  used  to  walk  ami  drive  his 
hogs  to  market  at  lYkiu.  Illinois.  In  [859 
he  crossed  the  plains  t, ,  I 'ike's  Teak,  where 
he  followed  prospecting  and  mining  for 
two  years,  but  as  a  home  he  preferred  the 
beautiful  a  irn  bell  1  >i  Hiiro  'is. 

During  the  dark  days  of  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  Mr.  Jones  enlisted  in  iNf>_>  in 
Companj  I.  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Il- 
linois Volunteer  Infantry,  ami  was  in  the 
service  until  hostilities  ceased.  lie  was 
first  made  a  corporal,  subsequently  was 
promoted  to  sergeant  and  still  later  to  - 
ond  lieutenant.  lie  is  now  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  Post  at  Farmer  City,  and 
is  .[  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party, 
lie  has  filled  the  offices  of  road  commis- 
sioner and  school  director,  ami  served  as 
tax  collector  in  igoo.  He  is  liberal  in  his 
religions  views  and  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity.  In  1895  he  retired  from 
active  labor  ami  removed  to  Farmer  City, 
purchasing  two  acres  near  the  depot,  where 
he  has  since  made  his  home,  enjoying  a 
well  earned  rest.  His  home  is  noted  for  its 
hospitality  and  good  cheer,  and  his  many 
friends  are  always  sure  of  a  hearty  wel- 
come within  its  doors. 


ZADOK    VV.    EVANS. 

Zadok  W.  Evans,  of  Clinton,  is  one  of 

the  most  successful,  as  well  as  the  most 
popular  photographers  of  this  section  of 
the  state,  lie  has  thoroughly  mastered  ev- 
ery detail  of  his  profession  and  in  artistic 
taste  and  excellent  results  his  work  com- 
pares favorably  with  anj  produced  in  Illi- 
nois. \  native  of  this  state,  he  was  horn 
in  Williamson  county,  January  [3,  [861, 
and  is  a  son  of  Charles  \V.  and  Margaret 
CEvans)  Evans.  Ilis  father  was  one  of 
the  most  progressive  farmers  in  southern 
j. thiols.  / 

(  )nr  subjeel  remained  on  the  home  farm 
until  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  then,  join- 
ing his  brother,  they  embarked  in  the  photo- 
graph business  under  the  linn  name  of 
I'". vans  Brothers,  doing  a  successful  busi- 
ness until  [879,  when  by  mutual  consent 
the  partnership  was  dissolved,  our  subject 
locating  in  (eutralia.  Illinois,  where  he  did 
a  tine  business. 

In  [883  Mr.  Kvaiis  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  Alice  Gillett,  daugh- 
ter of  Sidney  B.  ami  Martha  (Smith)  ( ril- 
lett,  ^i  (eutralia.  Our  subject  remained 
in  that  city  until  [888,  when  lie  sold  Ins 
business  and    with   his   wife   removed   to    Los 

Angeles,  California,  but  the  following  year 

they   returned   to  (eutralia   and    Mr.    Evans 

purchased  the  gallery  winch  be  had  former- 
ly conducted,  lie  met  with  most  excellent 
success  there,  but  still  being  in  love  with 
California,  he  returned  to  the  Pacific  slope 
in  1892,  and  remained  there  until  tin-  spring 
of  1893. 

On  again  coming  to  Illinois,  at  that 
time.  Mr.  Evans  located  in  Clinton  and  at 
once  Opened    a    studio.        It    was    not    long 


Till-    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


467 


before  the  people  lure  recognized  the  su- 
periorit)  of  his  work  over  the  old  photogra- 
phers located  here  and  gave  him  their  p 
ronage,  so  that  he  was  soon  the  only  one 

here.  Since  then  others  have  come  and 
gone,  but  he  has  mastered  his  art  so  thor 
oughly  that  he  commands  the  most  of  the 
trade.  He  has  an  elegant  suite  of  rooms, 
including  parlors,  dressing  rooms,  operat- 
ing and  work  rooms,  equipped  with  every- 
thing needed  in  his  profession.  He  carries 
a  large  Stock  of  kodak  supplies  and  dors 
all  kinds  of  up-to-date  work  pertaining  to 
his  art.  He  ranks  high  among  the  pro- 
fessional brethren,  and  in  1900  and  [9 
was  second  vice-president  of  the  Pho- 
tographers' Association  of  Illinois.  Jn  1900, 
at  the  state  convention  of  photographers, 
held  in  Springfield,  the  displays  of  our  sub- 
ject were  awarded  two  medals  for  superior 
v  1  irk. 

Socially  Mr.  Evans  is  a  member  and 
ex-officer  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fra- 
ternity: was  a  charter  member  of  the 
Knights  of  the  .Maccabees  of  Clinton  and 
its  first  secretary.  Through  his  own  un- 
aided efforts  he  has  prospered  in  business 
affairs,  and  is  today  the  owner  of  five  houses 
and  a  vacant  lot  in  Clinton,  one  of  these 
being  his  handsome  resilience  on  West  Main 
street,  which  he  purchased  of  Charles  Wat- 
n.  He  built  two  of  the  other  buildings 
owned  bv  him. 


kOilRRT    MARSH. 


(  )ne  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly 
esteemed  citizens  of  DeWitt  township  is 
Robert    Marsh,    who.    since   attaining   man's 

estate,  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  agricultural    interests   of   that   locality. 


Me  was  born  in  DeWitt  township,  on  the 
23d    of    May,    [850,    and    is   a   son   of   John 

and    Ann    Eliza    (Forsman)    Marsh,    both 

of  whom  were  natives  of  (  >lno.  ,\t  an  early 
day  the  father  came  to  DeWitt  county,  Il- 
linois, and  entered  eighty  acres  of  timber 
land    and    one    hundred    and    sixty    acres    of 

prairie  land,  which  he  placed  under  culti- 
vation. Upon  his  farm  he  first  built  a  log 
house,  in  which  our  subject  was  born,  but 
later  erected  a  better  and  more  modern 
frame  residence.  He  also  built  a  barn, 
fenced  his  place,  and  made  many  other  im- 
provements. As  time  went  by  he  acquired 
four  hundred  and  forty  acres,  two  hun- 
dred of  which  he  placed  under  cultivation, 
but  in  [882  he  sold  out  and  removed  to 
Kansas,  where  he  bought  a  quarter  section 
of  land,  making  his  home  there  until  his- 
death,  which  occurred  in  1890,  when  he  was 
seventy-six  years  of  age.  In  politics  he 
was  a  stanch  Republican,  and  he  was  called 
upon  to  till  various  township  offices  of  honor 
and  trust,  serving  as  supervisor  for  some 
time  and  as  school  director  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Lodge  at  DeWitt,  and  was  a  highly  respect- 
ed man  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 
Ills  estimable  wife   died   when   about    sixty- 

n  years  of  age. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
sixteen  children,  of  whom  our  subject 
is  the  twelfth  in  order  of  tilth,  and  eight 
of    the    number    are    still    living.        Robert 

Marsh    grew    to    manh 1    upon    the    home 

farm)  and  acquired  his  education  in  the 
country  schools  of  tin-  neighborhood.  He 
gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his  labors 
in  the  work  of  the  farm  until  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  when  he  was' united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Catherine  BoSSman.  Her 
father.  Daniel  Bossman,  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  came  to  this  county  in   18O0,  1<>- 


468 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


eating  in  DeWitt  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  oi 
land,  lint  he  later  sold  that  place  and  bought 
the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  which  his  widow  still  resides,  lie  died 
at  the  age  "t'  seventy-two  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marsh  are  the  parents  of 

en  children,  all  living,  namely  :  Charles. 
Ollie,  Thomas,  Stella,  Daniel,  Carrie  and 
Minnie.  All  are  still  at  home  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Charles,  who  i-  married  and  re- 
sides in  DeWitt  township.  lie  has  made 
farming  his  principal  occupation,  but  he  is 
now   i  I  in  school  ten  hing. 

In  1882  Mr.  Marsh  purchased  a  partial- 
ly improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty acres,  and  to  its  further  improvement 
and  cultivation  he  has  since  devoted  his  en 

ies  with  most  gratifying  results.  Upon 
his  place  he  lias  erected  a  good  residence, 
the  necessan  hams  and  outbuildings,  and 
its  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  testifies  to 
the  careful  supervision  of  a  painstaking 
owner,  one  who  thoroughly  understands 
the  vocation  he  follows.  |  k-  now  owns 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  and 
also  operates  a  tract  of  similar  size.  Po- 
litically he  is  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  gives  his  support  to  all 
measures  which  he  believes  will  prove  oi 
public  benefit. 


SAMUEL  MORTON  ARGO. 

This  well  known  and  highly  esteemed 
citizen  of  Lincoln.  Illinois,  was  horn  on 
the  1st  of  September,  1836,  in  New  Rich- 
mond. Clermont  county.  Ohio,  and  is  of 
Scotch  and  French  descent.  On  coming  to 
.America  his  ancestors  located  in  New  jer- 
sey,  and   from  there  removed  to  Virginia. 


Later  the  family  made  their  home  in  Ohio, 
and  its  representatives  have  since  lived  in 
Indiana  and  Illinois.  Moses  Argo,  the  pa- 
ternal grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  horn 
in  New  Jersey,  February  15,  1 771  >,  and 
died  in  Cleves.  Indiana.  June  _'o.  1842.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  I  lis  wife  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  liruen  and  was 
horn  March  iS.  1771).  Their  children  wen 
Libbie,  Lucinda,  Alexander.  Khenezer, 
Anna.    Elizabeth,   William  and   Sarah. 

Alexander  Argo,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  <  >lu.>.  Sep 
tember  [3,  1807,  and  was  reared  by  his 
uncle.  Robert  YVatkins,  a  wagon  maker, 
with  whom  he  served  a  regular  apprentice- 
ship. He  trailed  his  property  in  Ohio 
for  a  large  stock  of  spinning  wheels, 
which  he  shipped  down  the  Ohio  river 
and  up  the  .Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers, 
and    tin  erland    to    Clinton,    where 

he  put  them  together  and  sold  them  to  the 
pioneers,  this  being  the  first  lot  of  wheels 
brought  into  this  section  of  the  state.  This 
was  m  1842.  Being  well  pleased  with  the 
country  Mr.  Argo  moved  his  family  t" 
Clinton  in  1S44  and  opened  a  wagon  shop 
on  the  corner  of  Madison  and  [efferson 
streets.  He  was  the  first  wagon  maker  to 
Incite  here,  and  si  >  durable  wen'  the  wagons 
which  he  manufactured  that  some  are  still 
in  existence.  <  In  his  firsl  visit  to  the  county 
in  1840  he  purchased  of  Jesse  Fell  a  tract  1  if 
land  adjoining  Clinton  on  the  east,  and  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  farming;  and  stock-rais- 
ing in  connection  with  his  othef  husiness. 
He  amassed  quite  a  fortune,  owning  several 
farms  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred August  8,  [883.  lie  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Epicopal  church. 
and  gave  liberally  to  the  erection  of  the 
house  of  worship!  In  politics  he  was  first 
a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican.     In  early 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


manhood  lie  married  Miss  Eliza  A.  VVal- 
raven,  who  was  born  in  Clermont  county, 
Ohio.   September    19,    (815,  ami  died   Au- 

-•  17.  iN'><>.  1 1 1->  death  occurred  in  Clin- 
ton in  1883.  Unto  this  worthy  couple  were 
horn  the  following  children:  Philena  P., 
who  was  born  August  1.  1835,  and  mar- 
ried 1..  Campbell;  Samuel  Morton,  our  sub- 
ject;  Emanuel  (irul>l>.  horn  August  17. 
Hiomas  J.,  born  July  i_\  1N41  :  W'ill- 
ian.y  horn  March  20,  1N44:  and  Martin 
Luther,  who  was  born  July  5,  1848,  and 
died  January  20,  1849.  Those  living  are 
residents  of  Clinton. 

During  his  majority  Samuel  M.  Arsjn 
remained  upon  the  home  farm,  and  in  [859 
went    overland    to    Pike's    Peak,  ado, 

and  during  the  long  trip,  which  lasted  many 
weeks,  had  several  thrilling  encounters  with 
the  Indians.  He  followed  mining  for  two 
years  and  then  returned  home.  In  the  fall 
^>i  [862  Mr.  Argo  offered  his  services  to 
the  government  to  assist  in  putting  down 
the  rebellion,  hut  failed  to  pass  the  physical 
examination  on  account  of  defective  near- 
He  then  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing, buying  a  place  of  his  father  in  Clintonia 
township,   which   he  greatly   improved  and 

,  in  1N70.  it  being  now  the  property  of 
William  Fuller.  For  the  past  twenty  year- 
he  has  efficiently  tilled  the  p>sition  of  su- 
perintendent of  Colonel  Thomas  Snell's 
large  estate  adjoining  Clinton,  having 
charge  of  five  thousand  ..ere-  of  farming 
land.  The  erection  of  new  buildings  and 
the  remodeling  of  others  has  all  been  done 
under  his  supervision,  and  his  long  reten- 
tion in  so  responsible  a  position  plainly  in- 
dicates his  ability  and  the  confidence  and 
trust  reposed  in  him.  Hi-  ha-  been  a  very 
active  ami  busy  life,  and  he  has  acquired 
some  valuable  property.  He  ha-  been  elect- 
ed collector  and  commissioner  of  highways 
21 


on  the  independent  ticket,  and  tilled  the  lat- 
ter office  nme  years. 

Mr.  Argo  has  been  twice  married,  his 
first  union  being  with  Mi-s  I'ermelia  A. 
Rogers,  a  daughter  of  Robert  1'.  Rogers, 
of  Clinton.  She  was  horn  March  15.  1840 
and  died  July  7.  1881.  By  this  marriage 
were  horn  seven  children,  namely:  Will- 
iam U..  horn  October  5,  1862,  became  an 
engineer,  and  was  killed  in  a  wreck  at  Guth- 
rie, Illinois.  July  jo.  1892;  Martin 
Luther.  l>orn  July  30.  1864,  married  Annie 
Hull  and  follows  farming;  Eliza  Ann.  horn 
October  5.  t866,  i-  at  home:  Harriet,  horn 
March  30,  1868,  i-  the  widow  of  William 
Fuller  and  has  two  children,  William  and 
Helen;  Alexander,  horn  February  9,  i> 
married  Iva  Dunham  and  his  children  are 
Annie.  John  and  Alexander;  Thomas,  horn 
April  (j.  1875.  died  April  9,  1876;  and 
Philena.  horn  December  <>.  187(1,  died  May 
t4.  1881.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Arj 
married  Mi-s  Mary  F.  Weddle.  daughter  of 
John  Weddle.  of  Kentucky.  She  died  Janu- 
ary 15,  [890,  leaving  three  children:  Sam- 
uel M..  horn  July  19,  1884;  James  Sargent, 

11  Fehruary    19,    1887;  and   David,  horn 
March   13,   [8 


GE<  IRGE  L.  LIGHTHALL. 

(  >ne  of  the  most  energetic  and  enterpris- 
ing young  men  of  DeWitt  county  1-  George 
L.  Lighthall,  who  for  the  past  tour  years  has 
been  successfully  engaged  in  business  in 
Wapella  a-  a  dealer  in  hardware,  agricultur- 
al implements,  buggies,  w;  s  He  was 
born  in  that  village  on  the  23d  of  February, 
[871,  and  is  a  representative  of  an  old  New 
York  family.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
John  L.  Lighthall,  was  horn  in  the  Empire 


47° 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


state,  and  on  coming  west,  abonl  i860,  lo- 
cated  in  DeWitt  county,  Illinois.  Our  sub- 
ject's father,  A.  II.  Lighthall,  was  also  a 
native  of  Now  York,  and  came  with  the 
family  to  this  state.  When  the  Livil  war 
broke  oul  he  entered  the  service  of  his 
country,  and  for  four  years  valiantly  fought 
for  the  old  flag  and  the  cause  it  represented. 
When  hostilities  ceased  he  returned  home 
and  settled  in  Wapella.  lie  wedded  Mis- 
Alary  Scoggin,  a  native  of  this  county,  and 
a  daughter  of  Aaron  Scoggin,  one  of  its 
pioneers.  Two  children  blessed  this  union: 
Carrie,  wife  of  II.  E.  Duncan,  who  is  now 
holding  a  position  in  our  subject's  si,, re: 
and  George  I...  of  this  review. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Wapella,  and  began  his  business  career  as 
clerk  in  a  hardware  si,, re.  where  he  remained 
lour  years,  gaining  a  thorough,  practical 
business  training.  In  1897  he  embarked  in 
business  for  himself  on  borrowed  capital. 
having  only  ten  dollars  with  which  to  start, 
but  at  the  end  of  the  first  week  he  had  a 
stock  valued  at  sixtj  dollars  and  was  only 
in  debt  for  half  the  amount.  He  steadily 
prospered  and  soon  built  up  a  good  trade; 
his  business  amounted  to  two  thousand  dol- 
lars the  first  year.  He  also  had  a  mail  eon- 
tract.  In  [900  he  did  thirty-five  hundred 
dollars  worth  of  business,  and  in  19O]  over 
four  thousand  dollars  worth.  As  his  finan- 
cial resources  have  increased  he  has  en- 
larged his  business,  and  now  carries  a  line 
stock  of  shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  farm 
implements,  buggies,  wagons,  etc.  He 
probably  sells  more  buggies  than  any  other 
dealer  in  the  county,  having  sold  one  hun- 
dred and  fourteen  from  the  ist  of  January 
until  the  15th  of  August,  1901.  lie  may 
take  a  just  pride  in  his  success,  for  it  is 
due    entirely    to    his    own    unaided     efforts, 

d      management,     and     excellent     busi- 


ness ability.  lie  bought  a  lot  and  erected 
one  of  the  neatest   residences  in   Wapella. 

Air.  Lighthall  was  married  December 
21,  [895,  to  Miss  Belle  E.  Duncan,  who  was 
born  in  this  county,  but  was  reared  in  Kan- 
sas. Her  father,  J.  E.  Duncan,  was  an  old 
settler  here  and  a  resident  of  Wapella.  as 
well  as  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  have  four  sons.  Lewis. 
Wilfred,  Thomas  and  George. 

Politically  Mr.  Lighthall  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  has  served  his  fellow  citizens 
as  a  member  of  the  town  board  and  town- 
ship clerk  two  years.  Fraternal! J  he  be- 
longs to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  .America, 
and  religiouslj  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of    Wapella. 


LEVI    R.   MURPHEY. 

Levi  R,  Murphey,  cashier  of  the  State 
Hank  of  Clinton,  Illinois,  is  one  of  the  enter 
prising  business  men  of  DeWitt  county,  and 
one  who  has  won  and  retained  the  confidence 
of  the  entire  community.  lie  was  born  in 
Frederick  county.  Virginia,  December  28, 
1S47,  and  is  a  son  of  Hiram  Murphey,  a 
sketch  of  whom   will  be  found  elsewhere  111 

tins  vi  lume.  Air.  Murphey  was  brought  to 
lllin,  is  by  his  parents  in  [853  and  was 
reared  to  farm  life.  Lie  attended  the  pub- 
liools  and  the  high  school  at  farmer 
Cite  until  he  was  twenty-two.  lie  then 
left  the  farm  and  taught  school  in  this 
county  and  Linn  county.  Kansas.  At  the 
death  of  his  parents,  lie  returned  home  and 
engaged  in  farming,  lb-  now  owns  a  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  Here  he 
makes  a  specialty  of  raising  high  grade  cat- 
tle and  has  been  very  successfully  at  his 
work,  both  upon  the  farm  and  in  commercial 
life. 


THE    BIOGR  \riIIC\L   RECORD. 


4,-1 


In     1890    Mr.     Murphey    was    elected 
sheriff  of  DeWitt  county,  which  office  he 

to  thf  entire  satisfaction  of  everyone. 
In  1893  lie  was  made  cashier  1  f  the  State 
Bank  of  Clinton,  one  of  the  sound  financial 
institutions  of  the  county.  While  he  was 
discharg  g  the  <luties  of  sheriff,  Mr. 
Murphey  and  his  family  lived  in  Clinton. 
but  in  [897  they  returned  l>>  their  beautiful 
home  near  Farmer  City,  and  now  live  there 
surrounded  by  the  comforts  of  lwth  city  and 
country  life.  He  has  served  acceptably  as 
Hector,  road  supervisor  and 
school  director,  as  well  as  justice  of  the 
and  treasurer  of  the  t  iwnship.  Mr. 
Murphe}  r  of   the    Fanner 

City  Fair  Association,  of  which  he  was 
of  the  organ 1 

ir  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
M..  a  daughter  of  James  Bracken,  late  of 
Farmer  City.      Two  children  have  beer, 
of    this   union,     namely:     All>ert    I".,    who 
o]>erates  his  father's  farm,  and  Earl  C.  who 

brother.      Both  are  very  enei  ; 
young  men  and  excellent  farmers. 

Mr.  Murphey  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity.  Lodge  X  f  \i  Farmer 
City,  and  1  i  the  Knights  1  >f  Pythias.  X 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  active  menilu 
the  Methodist  church,  of  which  they  are  lil>- 
eral  supporters.  Mr.  Murphey  is  a  man  in 
whom  supreme  trust  is  placed  for  he  is  rec- 
ognized I  man  of  sterling  honesty. 
strictest  integrity  and  a  high  sense  of  honor. 


HUFFMAN. 


-    I  1.  Huffman,  proprietor  of  the  la -. 
and  boarding  stable  in  Clinton,  was 
born  in  Rutledge  township,  this  county.  No- 
vember >>.   [8<  :  irnelius   Huff- 


man, of  Farmer  City.     His  paternal  great- 

tndfather,  Christian  Huffman,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  of  German  ancestry,  and 
spent  his  last  'lays  in  Virginia,  where  he 
died  at  the  ghty  years.     He  not 

only   served    four  and   a  half-years   in   the 
Revolutii  nary  war.  but  •  in  the  war 

'•\  1812  for  eighteen  months.  In  his  family 
were  the  following  children:  Daniel, 
George.  Laban,  Christian,  Jonas.  Solomon. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Helmick  and  Mrs.  Arbogast. 
imon   Huffman,  the  grandfather  of 

■  subject,  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Vir- 
ginia, and  was  married  in  Randolph  county, 
that  state,  to  Elizabeth  Westfall,  who  died 
young,  leaving  two  children.  Benjamin  and 
For  his  second  wife  he  married 
Hester  Bonner,  by  whom  he  also  had  two 
children.  Job  and  Sylvanius.  Throughout 
life  he  followed  farming  and  died  in  Pendle- 
ton county.  Virginia,  in  1884,  at  the  ag< 
eighty  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
.  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  a  man 
many  sterling  qualities. 

Cornelius  Huffman,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  Pendleton  county.  Virginia, 
August  4.  1833,  and  was  reared  in  the  south. 
In  [853  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  after  spend- 
ing one  year  in  McLean  county,  located  in 
Ik-Witt  county,  having  purchased  sixty 
acres  of  land  of  Henry  Huffman.     Later  he 

I  that  place  and  bought  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  railroad  land,  which  he  still 
owns.  He  has  since  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  George  Freelove, 
and  forty  acres  of  1  >.  Turner,  both  adjoin- 
ing his  farm,  and  he  successfully  engaged  in 
the  operation  of  his  land  until  1895,  when 
he  rented  the  place  and  removed  to  Farmer 
City,  where  he  bought  the  J  W  heeler  prop- 
erty and  converted  it  into  a  nice  home.     He 

1  earnest  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  ami  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics,      lie 


472 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


married  .Miss  Elizabeth  Vance,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  I  Hrnslej  i  Vance,  na- 
tives of  Virginia,  who  removed  from  that 
slate  tn  Athens  enmity.  Ohio,  and  from  there 
tn  Vermilion  enmity.  Illinois,  where  Mr. 
Vance  died.  The  death  of  his  wife  occurred 
in  DeWitt  county.  Mrs.  Huffman  was 
In  irn  in  Alliens  e<  unity.  <  Mm  i.  March  5,  1  838, 
and  died  January  4.  [890.  She  was  the 
mother  of  the  following  children:  Alvin 
Warren,  whose  sketeh  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  volume;  a  son,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Sophronia  E.,  wife  of  S.  F.  Lewis; 
Svlvanns  G.,  our  subject  :  I. aura  «...  at  home  : 
George  I A  a  resident  of  Weldon;  and  Nora 

1'...  wife  nf  S.    E.    1  h 'lines. 

Our  subject  was  reared  upon  the  home 
farm  and  1  >i  1  reaching  nianlx  >od  w  ent  U  1  Kan 
s:is.  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  for  a  time.  While  there  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Willie  Brown, 
1  if  Dodge  City,  a  daughter  of  Frank  M. 
Brown.  Bj  this  union  were  born  four  chil 
dren,  namely:  Vera,  Esther,  Beulah,  de- 
ceased :  and  W'alda. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Huffman  re- 
moved tn  Mansfield.  Illinois,  where  lie  en- 
gaged in  horse  dealing  for  six  months,  and 
then  carried  on  the  livery  business  at  Wel- 
don fnr  fourteen  months.  Coming  to  Clin- 
ton in  February,  [900,  he  purchased  three 
hundred  and  thirty  acres  nf  land  in  Texas 
township,  known  as  the  T.  W.  Warner  farm. 
built  new  barns  and  sheds  upon  the  place, 
and  embarked  in  stock  raising,  keeping  from 
fifty  tn  one  hundred  head  ^i  Durham  eattle 
and  from  one  hundred  tn  one  hundred  ami 
fifty  Poland  China  hogs,  lie  also  breeds 
road  and  draft  horses,  and  owns  a  tine 
Hambletonian  stallion  of  Kentucky  bred. 
On  the  4th  i'\  November,  [900,  Mr.  Huff- 
man bought  the  livery  stock  nf  J,  A.  Curl, 
including  thirty    head  of    horses,  some  of 


which  he  has  since  sold  and  buying  others 
now  has  forty  head.  1  le  has  also  purchased 
a  line  line  oi  carriages,  busses  and  other 
vehicles,  and  now  has  one  of  the  largesl  and 
best  equipped  siables  in  the  enmity,  emplo) 
ing  from  twelve  to  fifteen  hands.  Frater- 
nally Mr.  Huffman  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
League  nf  America. 


ISAAC  FRANKLIN  SWISHER. 

Isaac    Franklin    Swisher,    nnw    deceased. 

was  born  nn  March  20,  1N40,  in  Harp  town- 
ship, DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  and  was  a  son 
<>\    William    Swisher,    who   was   a    native  of 

<  Him  and  a  snn  of  Jacob  Swisher,  who  was 
a  native  of  Virginia  and  an  early  settler  of 

<  >hio,  a  tanner  by  occupation.  Jacob  Swish- 
er was  a  soldier  ni  the  Revolution  and  died 
at  an  advanced  old  age.  William  Swisher 
the  father  nf  our  subject,  grew  i<>  manhood 
in  (>hin.  and  in  [837  came  in  Harp  town- 
ship, this  county,  overland  in  a  wagon.  He 
entered  a  tract  >'i  land  from  the  govemmenl 
ami  he  and  his  family  lived  in  a  log  cabin. 
lie  led  a  very  active  life  until  [842,  when 
he  retired  from  business.  He  married  Fan- 
nie Foley,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  she  bore  her  husband  one  child,  our 
subject.  She  died  jusl  before  her  husband. 
Her  father.  William  Foley,  was  born  in 
(  (hio,  ami  was  one  nf  the  extensive  farmers 
of  thai  state  ami  was  nnc  n\  the  pioneer  set 
tiers  in  Logan  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
died  at  an  advanced  age. 

Isaac  Franklin  Swisher  was  bereft  nf 
his  parents  at  an  early  age,  and  was  reared 
by  his  grandparents  ami  uncles.  His  educa- 
tion was  secured  in  the  primitive  log  school- 
houses  of  that  period  with  slab  benches  and 
a  hole  in  the  wall  for  light.     At  the  age  of 


ISAAC   F.   SWISHER 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


47  5 


twenty  years  he  began  to  support  himself 
and  was  employed  by  his  uncle,  Isaac  Swish- 
er. He  subsequently  began  to  farm  for 
himself  on  land  left  him  by  his  father, 
which  he  operated  until  1 880,  when  he  pur- 
chased eight)  acres  in  Clintonia  township 
where  he  resided  until  a  few  years  prior  to 
his  death. 

The  war  record  of  Mr.  Swisher  was  such 
to  reflect  credit  upon  any  man.  He  en 
listed  in  August,  1862,  in  Company  D.,  One 
Hundred  ami  Seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, ami  toOk  an  active  part  in  several 
important  battles.  He  fought  at  Huff's 
Ferry  and  Campbell's  Station,  and  was  pro- 
cm  at  the  siege  of  Knoxville.  He  faced  the 
ichels  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Georgia,  and 
met  the  enemy  at  Resaca,  the  same  state, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  the  battles  and 
skirmishes  after  the  battle  of  Resaca.  Dur- 
ing this  time  his  regiment  was  detailed  to 
guard  duty.  He  took  part  in  the  battle 
Ww  Hope  Church,  and  then  moved  around 
the  Kenesaw  mountains  and  skirmished 
the  right  flank  of  the  enemy.  At  Marietta. 
Georgia,  he  was  in  the  hospital  for  a  month 
and  joined  his  regiment  at  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee, in  time  to  take  part  in  the  battle  at 
that  place,  and  from  there  went  east  to 
Washington  City  and  then  southward  to 
Fort  Anderson,  Xorth  Carolina,  and  met 
Sherman  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  where 
they  were  when  peace  was  declared.  He 
was  mustered  out  June  21.    [865 

Mr.  Swisher  was  a  strong  Republican 
in  politics  and  was  a  member  of  the  Frank 
1.. .wry  Post,  No.  157.  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  at  Clinton.  He  departed  this  life 
on  August  14.  M/OO.  and  is  interred  in 
VVoodlawn  cemetery  in  Clinton.  Mr.  Swish- 
er wa-  also  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  and  was  a  faithful  member 
of   the    Methodist    church,    as    i?    also   his 


widow.  He  left  a  line  farm  and  a  beautiful 
home  on  South  Madison  street,  Clinton, 
where  Mis.  Swisher  now  resides,  lie  was 
universally  respected  and  beloved  for  his 
public-spirit  and  his  high  moral  character, 
and  his  loss  was  deeply  mounted. 

Mr.    Swisher    was    married    on    July    S. 

j.  to  Miss  Elnora  Piatt,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  August  i.  1842.  Five  children  were 
horn  to  this  marriage,  namely:  (i)  Eva 
Alice,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  William 
Xeble  and  they  reside  in  DeWitt  county: 
1  _' I  William  Sherman  married  Lena  Light 
hall  and  they  now  reside  at  Wapella: 
(3)  Anna  Dell  married  Claude  Long- 
brake  and  they  live  in  Clinton;  (4)  Alonzo 
Franklin  married  Ida  Hume.  They  are 
residents  of  Wapella:  (5)  Nellie  died  at 
the  age  of  eight  years.  Mrs.  Swisher  died 
in   May.   1 895. 

Our  subject  was  married  again  in  Jan- 
uary. iSiji),  to  Mrs.  Eliza  (Lem.en)  Fisher, 
who  was  bom  in  Clark  county.  Ohio,  in 
1849.  She  is  a  daughter  of  John  R.  and 
Lucinda  J.  (Hummer)  Lemen.  both 
natives  of  Ohio.  The  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lemen  occurred  in  1S40  and 
they  had  eleven  children,  three  of  whom  died 
in  infancy,  and  five  are  now  living.  Mr. 
Lemen  was  a  farmer  and  later  studied  med- 
icine and  practiced  in  Indiana  and  Missouri, 
but  died  in  the  latter  state  on  February  <>. 
(892,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  having 
been  born  on  August  ,}  1 .  1816.  The  live 
living  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mis.  I. emeu 
are  as  follows:  1  1  I  Milton:  1  _• )  Eliza, 
the  willow  of  our  subject;  (3)  lames;  14) 
Lucinda:  and  1  5  I  Edward,  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  Mrs.  Swisher  made  her  home 
with  her  uncle.  Dr.  J.  A.  Lemen.  in  Mis- 
souri, fnnn  whence  they  removed  to  Clin- 
ton, DeWitt  county.  Illinois,  in  [866,  and 
she  here  met  and  married  Joseph  Fisher,  a 


476 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  the  United 

Slates  when  only  fifteen  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Fisher  owned  a  farm  in  Clintonia  township. 
To  this  union  were  horn  two  children: 
George  \\ ..  who  resides  in  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska; Anna,  who  married  Charles  Hen- 
dricks and  resides  in  Clinton,  where  he  is 
manager  of  the  Clinton  ice  plant.  They 
have  one  child:  Lucile.  Mr.  Fisher  died 
October  29,  [895,  and  is  interred  in  Wo<  d 
lawn  cemetery   in   Clinton. 

Mrs.  Swisher  is  a  lady  of  high  attain 
ments  and  many  excellent  qualities  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed 
ladies  of  Clinton. 


KIA     WILLI  \M  M.  MURRAY. 

Rev.  William  M.  Murray  is  the  presenl 
pastor  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church  al  DeWitt,  Illinois,  but  makes  his 
home  111  lua-.Mii.  Logan  county,  where  he  is 
successfully  engaged  in  but  i<  s  as  a  dealer 
in  buggies,  farm  implements,  etc.  He  was 
born  on  the  i  st  of  June.  1S44.  in  Bond 
comity.  Illinois,  ami  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Amanda  J.  1  Harris)  Murray,  the  former  a 
native  of  Virginia,  the  latter  ol  Kentucky. 
The  mother  died  in  Illinois.  <  >ur  subject's 
grandfather,  Morgan  Murray,  made  his 
home  in  the  old  Dominion,  where  he  died 
on  his  return  from  the  Revolutionary  war 
fnun  womids  received  in  the  service. 

Mr.  Murray,  of  this  review,  acquired  bill 
a  limited  education  in  the  schools  of  Bond 
and  Fayette  counties  as  he  was  obliged  to 
help  in  the  support  of  the  family  during  his 
early  life.  On  reaching  inanh 1  he  en- 
gaged in  the  stock  business  and  took  con 
tracts  for  getting  ou1  railroad  ties,  being 
thus  employed  until  he  was  ordained  a  min- 


ister of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church 
by  the  Rev.  M.  A.  Marlow,  of  Fairfield,  Illi- 
nois. September  27 .  1875.  Immediately 
thereafter  he  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Fairfield,  where  he  remained  in 
charge  of  the  congregation  tor  twelve  years. 
Subsequently  he  filled  one  or  two  minor  po- 
sitions, and  in  [889  was  called  to  the  church 
at  I  Iwensville,  Indiana,  where  he  was  pastor 
until  May,  [897.  Vs  a  preacher  he  has 
1  en  wr\  successful,  being  a  man  of  pleas- 
ing presence  and  commanding  ways,  as  well 
as  a  good  orator,  and  his  loss  to  the  congre- 
gation at  Owensville  has  been  greatly  re- 
gretted, lie  came  to  Beason  to  accept  the 
pastorate  of  a  much  larger  congregation, 
where  he  believed  he  could  do  more  good. 
Here  he  continued  as  pastor  until  April  1. 
[901,  w  hen  he  resigned.  I  le  has  been  iden- 
tified with  the  DeWitt  church  since  the  _'nd 
of  May,  1901.  The  congregation  numbers 
'wo  hundred  and  fifty  families,  and  here 
Mr.   Murray  has  done  an  excellent   work. 

(in  November  30,  [865,  Mr.  Murray 
married  Anna  <  Ireen,  a  daughter  of  Edmond 
Green,  of  Tennessee,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  six  sur- 
vive, namely:  Maggie  I..:  Roy  W.,  who 
married  Miss  [_.  Keys,  daughter  of  J.  J. 
Ke\s,  deceased;  Florence;  Loretta;  Anna; 
and  Carrie.  The  children  have  been  reared 
in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  belief,  and 
are  a  family  of  which  any  parents  might 
w  i  11   he-  pr<  'lid. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Murray  is  a  Royal  Arch 
Mas, ,11.  and  is  alsi>a  member  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  was  one  of  the  defenders  of  the  old 
flag  and  the  cause  it  represented,  being  a 
member  of  Companj  I  >.  Ninet)  eighth  Illi- 
nois Mounted  tnfantry,  under  command  oi 
Captain   flood,  and  served   with  distinction 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


47? 


until  hostilities  ceased,  being  honorably  dis- 
charged September  18,  1865.  He  enlisted 
in  March,  18  .  Politically  he  affiliates 
with  tlu*  Republican  party.  He  has  been  a 
ite  to  the  genera]  assembly  of  his 
church,  four  different  times  and  since  enter- 
ing the  ministry  has  given  m< «st  of  his  time 
to  his  pastoral  duties.  In  the  pulpit  he  is 
especially  gifted  1  n  account  of  his  1  ratori- 
cal  ability  and  h\-  pleasing  delivery.  His 
discourses  arc  scholarly  and  effective  in 
their  appeals  to  follows  the  Master,  and  lit- 
is held  in  high  esteem  not  only  by  the  people 
of  his  own  congregation,  but  by  the  resi- 
dents of  DeWitt  and  Beason  generally. 


EUGENE   EDWIN   McINT  »SH. 

Among  the  representative  business  men 
of  Clinton,  Illinois,  is  Eugene  E.  Mcintosh, 

a  well-known  jeweler,  who  own  the  largest 
Store  in  his  line  in  DeWitt  county.  Ik- 
carries  a  well  selected  stock  of  silverware. 
clocks,  jewelry,  diamond-,  etc..  and  enjoys 
and  excellent  trade.  A  native  of  New  York. 
he  was  bom  in  Sloansville, -August  22, 
and  is  a  son  of  Hiram  and  Anna  M. 
(Childs)  Mcintosh.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  Wiliam  Mcintosh,  a  native  of 
Connecticut.  1 1  is  father  was  l>orn  in  Sara- 
New  York,  and  in  early  life  received 
an  excellent  education.  For  some  time  he 
was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  in  Cen- 
tral Bridge  and  Sloansville.  New  York,  but 
on  coming  to  Clinton.  Illinois,  in  1893,  he 
Opened  a  jewelry  store  under  the  firm  name 
of  Mcintosh  &  Son.  his  si in,  William  W.. 
being  associated  with  him.  He  purchased 
;.  lot  on  North  Center  street,  where  his 
widow  now  lives,  but  in  order  to  make  it  a 
desirable  piece  of  property  he  had  to  till  up 


a  creek  that  flowed  across  the  lot,  making 
it  very  low.  This  required  hundreds  of  I 
1  1  earth,  but  it  is  to  , lay  one  of  the  valu- 
able corners  of  the  city,  with  its  large  brick 
residence  and   beautiful   grounds,   shaded  by 
fruit    and   ornamental    trees.      Besides   this 
place  he  owned  other  property.     He  died 
m    1888,   at   the  age  of   sixtj  four  years, 
honorerd  and   respected  by  all   who  knew 
him.     He  commanded  the  confidence  of  all 
with    whom    he   came    in   contact,    either   in 
business   or   social    life,   and   his   circle  of 
friend   seemed   only   limited   by   his   circle 
of  acquaintances.     In  Clyde,  New   York,  he 
married   .Miss   Anna    M.   Child,  a  native  of 
New  York  city,  and  a  daughter  of  Sylves- 
ter and  Eliza  (Carpenter)  Child.     Her  fa- 
ther, who  was  a  shipbuilder,  spent  his  last 
days  in  Clyde,  where  he  died  when  he  was 
forty-tive  years  of  age,  and  his  wife  at  the 
of  fifty-five.     They  had  seven  children, 
namely:      Carrie,    Juliet,     Anna.     Eugene, 
William.   Edwin  and  Sylvester.     <  >ur  sub- 
ject   is   the  youngest    in  a   family   of  three 
children,  of  whom   Willie  died  in  infancy, 
and  William  W.  is  now  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business  in  Akron.  Ohio.     The  latter 
married    Grace    Bishop   and   they   have   two 
children,   Bishop  and   Margaret.     The  par- 
ents of  our  subject  were  both  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  the  fa- 
ther always   took   a   very   active   part    in   its 
work. 

Eugene  E.  Mcintosh  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  the  Empire  state,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  Central  Bridge,  .Yew  York,  and 
Jackson,  Michigan.     At  the  latter  place  he 

also  learned  the  jeweler's  trade  with  his 
uncle.  William  W.  Child,  who  was  a  very 
successful  man  in  that  business.  In  [886 
Mr.  Mcintosh  started  in  business  for  him- 
sell   at    \\  eldon.  this  county,  and   later  was 


478 


THE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


located  ;it  Gibson  City  and  Fairbury,  Il- 
linois. In  [89]  he  returned  to  Clinton  and 
purchased  his  brother's  store,  the  latter  hav- 
ing succeeded  the  father  in  business  here. 
He  has  since  bought  the  Burroughs  prop- 
erty mi  the  north  side  of  the  square  and 
lias  remodeled  it,  putting  in  the  first 
beveled  plate  glass,  and  also  laying  the  first 
concrete  sidewalk  on  the  square.  He  now 
has  an  elegant  store,  well  stocked,  and  also 
owns  two  cottages,  besides  other  propertj 
here,  and  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising 


business  men  of  the  place.  Keen  discrim- 
ination, unflagging  industry  and  resolute 
pu-rpose  are  numbered  among  his  salient 
characteristics,  and  thus  he  has  won  the  suc- 
cess which  is  the  merited  reward  of  honest 
effort.  Mr.  Mcintosh  is  a  prominent  Ma- 
sun,  belonging  t"  the  Consistory  and  Mys- 
tic Shrine,  and  in  religious  belief  is  a  Pres- 
byterian. In  [892  he  married  Miss  Belle 
M .  Wade,  of  Fairbury,  Illinois,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  two  children,  Ella  Child 
and  Wade  I  >onald. 


PART   II 


COMPENDIUM 


<  >F 


BIOGRAPHY 


. 


COMPENDIUM  OF  BIOGRAPHY 


.  OF 


Celebrated  Americans 


^v^v^v^ 


WASHINGTON, 
the  first  president  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  called  the  "Father 
of  his  Country,"  was  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  characters 
"^Tt.T"  in  history.  He  was  born  Feb- 
*  ruary    22,     [732,    in   Washing- 

ton Parish,  Westmoreland  county,  Virginia. 
His  father,  Augustine  Washington,  first 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bcre  him  four 
children,  and  March  i,  .,"3°.  he  married 
Mary  Ball.  Of  six  children  by  his  second 
marriage,  George  was  the  eldest. 

Little  is  known  of  the  eariy  years  of 
Washington,  beyond  the  fact  that  the  house 
in  which  he  was  born  was  burned  during  his 
early  childhood,  and  that  his  father  there- 
upon moved  to  another  farm,  inherited  from 
hu  paternal  ancestors,  situated  in  Stafford 
county,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappahan- 
nock, and  died  there  in  1743.  From  earliest 
childhood  George  developed  a  noble  charac- 
ter. His  education  was  somewhat  defective, 
being  confined  to  the  elementary  branches 
taught  him  by  his  mother  and  at  a  neighbor- 
ing school.  On  leaving  school  he  resided 
•  •  time  at   Mount    Vernon   with   his  half 


~>  V 


brother,  Lawrence,  who  acted  as  his  guar 
di .111.      George's  inclinations  were  for  a  sea- 
faring career,   and  a  midshipman's  warrant 
was  procured  for  him;  but  through  the  oppo- 
sition of  his  mother  the  project   was  aban- 
doned, and  at  the  ag?  of  sixteen   he   was 
appointed  survivor  to  the   immense  estates 
of  the  eccentric  Lord  Fairfax.     Three  years 
were  passed  by  Washington  in  a  rough  fron- 
tier life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards 
proved    very    essential  to  him.      In    175 1, 
when   the    Virginia  militia   were   put  under 
training  with  a  view  to  active  service  against 
France,  Washington,  though  only  nineteen 
years  of  age,  was  appointed  adjutant,  with 
the    rank   of    major.       In    1752    Lawrence 
Washington  died,  leaving  his  large  property 
to  an  infant  daughter.      In  his  will  George 
was  named  one  of  the  executors  and   as  an 
eventual   heir  to  Mount  Vernon,  and  by  the 
death  of  the  infant  niece,  soon  succeeded  to 
that  estate.     In    j 7 5 3  George  was  commis- 
sioned   adjutant-general    of     the    Virginia 
militia,   and  performed  important   work  at 
the    outbreak    of    the    French    and    Indian 
war,  was  rapidly  promoted,  and  at  the  close  of 
that  war  we  rind  him  commander-in-chief  of 


&H«;M  \W..  I,  On.  A.  <>,U  1  .V 


18 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


all  the  forces  raised  in  Virginia.  A  cessation 
of  Indian  hostilities  on  the  frontier  having 
followed  the  expulsion  of  the  French  from 
the  Ohio,  he  resigned  his  commission  as 
commander-in-chief  of  the  Virginia  forces, 
and  then  proceeded  to  Williamsburg  to  take 
his  seat  in  the  Virginia  Assembly,  of  which 
he  had  been  elected  a  member. 

January  17,  1759,  Washington  married 
Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Curtis,  a  young 
and  beautiful  widow  of  great  wealth,  and 
devoted  himself  for  the  ensuing  fifteen  years 
to  the  quiet  pursuits  of  agriculture,  inter 
rupted  only  by  the  annual  attendance  in 
winter  upon  the  colonial  legislature  at 
Williamsburg,  until  summoned  by  his  coun- 
try to  iMiter  upon  that  other  arena  in  which 
his  fame  was  to  become  world-wide.  The 
war  for  independence  called  Washington 
into  service  again,  ami  he  was  made  com- 
mander-in-chief oi  the  colonial  forces,  and 
was  the  most  gallant  and  conspicuous  I 
in  that  bloody  struggle,  serving  until  Eng- 
land acknowledged  the  independence  of 
each  of  the  thirteen  Mates,  ami  negotiated 
with  them  jointly,  as  separate  sovereignties. 
December  4,  1783,  the  great  commander 
took  leave  of  his  officers  in  most. affection- 
ate and  patriotic  terms,  and  went  to  An- 
napolis, Maryland,  where  the  congress  of 
the  States  was  in  session,  and  to  that  body, 
when  peace  and  order  prevailed  everywhere, 
resigned  his  commission  and  retired  to 
Mount  Vernon. 

It  was  in  1789  that  Washington  was 
called  to  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  na- 
tion. The  inauguration  took  place  April 
30,  in  the  presence  of  an  immense  multi- 
tude which  had  assembled  to  witness  the  new 
and  imposing  ceremony.  In  the  manifold  de- 
tails of  his  civil  administration  Washington 
proved  himself  fully  equal  to  the  requirements 
of  his  position.      In  1792,  at  the  second  presi- 


dential election,  Washington  was  desirous 
to  retire;  but  he  yielded  to  the  general  wish 
of  the  country,  and  was  again  chosen  presi- 
dent. At  the  third  election,  in  1796,  he 
was  again  most  urgently  entreated  to  con- 
sent to  remain  in  the  executive  chair.  This 
he  positively  refused,  and  after  March  4, 
1797,  he  again  retired  to  Mount  Vernon 
for  peace,  quiet,  and  repose. 

Of  the  call  again  made  on  this  illustrious 
chief  to  quit  his  repose  at  Mount  Ver- 
non and  take  command  of  all  the  United 
States  forces,  with  rank  of  lieutenant-gen- 
eral, when  war  was  threatened  with  France 
in  1798,  nothing  iued  here  be  stated,  ex- 
cept to  note  the  fact  as  an  unmistakable 
testimonial  of  the  high  regard  in  which  lie 
was  still  held  by  his  countrymen  of  all 
shades  of  political  opinion.  He  patriotic- 
ally accepted  this  trust,  but  a  treaty  of 
peace  put  a  stop  to  all  action  under  it.  He 
again  retired  to  Mount  Vernon,  where  he 
died  December  14,  1799,  in  the  sixty -eighth 
year  of  his  age.  His  remains  were  depos- 
ited in  a  family  vault  on  the  banks  of  the 
I'.iomm,  ,  at  Mount  Vernon,  where  they  still 
lie  entombed. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN,  an  eminent 
American  statesman  and  scientist,  was 
born  of  poor  parentage,  January  17,  1706, 
in  Boston,  Massachusetts.  He  was  appren- 
ticed to  his  brother  James  to  learn  the  print- 
er's trade  to  prevent  his  running  away  and 
going  to  sea,  and  also  because  of  the  numer- 
ous family  his  parents  had  to  support  (there 
being  seventeen  children,  Benjamin  being 
the  fifteenth).  He  was  a  great  reader,  and 
soon  developed  a  taste  for  writing,  and  pre- 
pared a  number  of  articles  and  had  them 
published  in  the  paper  without  his  brother's 
knowledge,  and  when  the  authorship  be- 
came known  it  resulted  in  difficulty  for  the 


MPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHl 


young  apprentice,  although  his  articles  had 
ived  with  favor  by  the  public. 
James  was  afterwards  thrown  into  prison  for 
political  reasons,  and  young  Benjamin  con- 
ducted the  paper  alone  during  the  time.  In 
however,  he  determined  to  endure  his 
bonds  no  longer,  and  ran  away,  going  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  arrived  with  only 
three  pence  as  his  store  of  wealth.  With 
these  he  purchased  three  rolls,  and  ate  them 
as  he  walked  along  the  streets.  He  soon 
found  employment  as  a  journeyman  printer. 
Two  years  later  he  was  sent  to  England  by 
the  governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
promised  the  public  printing,  but  did  not  get 
it.  On  his  return  to  Philadelphia  he  estab- 
lished the  ••Pennsylvania  Gazette,"  and 
soon  found  himself  a  person  of  great  popu- 
larity in  the  province,  his  ability  as  a  writer, 
philosopher,  and  politician  having  reached 
the  neighboring  colonies.  He  rapidly  grew 
in  prominence,  founded  the  Philadelphia  Li- 
brary in  1S42,  and  two  years  later  the 
American  Philosophical  Society  and  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  made 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  in  London  in 
1775.  His  world-famous  investigations  in 
electricity  and  lightning  began  in  1746.  He 
became  postmaster-general  of  the  colonies 
in  1753,  having  devised  an  inter-colonial 
postal  system.  He  advocated  the  rights  of 
the  colonies  at  all  times,  and  procured  the 
repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  in  1766.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Continental  congress  of  1775, 
and  in  1776  was  a  signer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  being  one  of  the  commit- 
tee appointed  to  draft  that  paper.  He  rep- 
resented the  new  nation  in  the  courts  of 
Europe,  especially  at  Paris,  where  his  simple 
dignity  and  homely  wisdom  won  him  the 
admiration  of  the  court  and  the  favor  of  the 
people.  He  was  governor  of  Pennsylvania 
ears;  was  also  a  member  of    the  con- 


vention in  17S7  that  drafted  the  constitution 
of  the  I  Dited  States. 

His  writings  upon  political  topics,  anti- 
slavery,  finance,  and  economics,  stamp  him 
as  one  of  the  greatest  statesmen  of  his  time, 
while  his  "Autobiography"  and  "Poor 
Richard's  Almanac"  give  him  precedence  in 
the  literary  iield.  In  early  life  he  was  an 
avowed  skeptic  in  religious  matters,  but 
later  in  life  his  utterances  on  this  subject 
were  less  extreme,  though  he  never  ex- 
pressed approval  of  any  sect  or  creed.  He 
died  in  Philadelphia  April  17,  1790. 


DANIEL  WEBSTER.— Of  world  wide 
reputation  for  statesmanship,  diplo- 
macy, and  oratory,  there  is  perhaps  no  more 
prominent  figure  in  the  history  of  our  coun- 
try in  the  interval  between  181  5  and  1 861, 
than  Daniel  Webster.  He  was  born  ar 
Salisbury  (now  Franklin),  New  Hampshire, 
January  18,  1782,  and  was  the  second  son 
of  Ebenezer  and  Abigail  (Eastman)  Webster. 
He  enjoyed  but  limited  educational  advan- 
tages in  childhood,  but  spent  a  few  months 
in  1797,  at  Phillip  Exeter  Academy.  He 
completed  his  preparation  for  college  in  the 
family  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wood,  at  Boscawen, 
and  entered  Dartmouth  College  in  the  fall 
of  1797.  He  supported  himself  most  of  the 
time  during  these  years  by  teaching  school 
and  graduated  in  1801,  having  the  credit  of 
being  the  foremost  scholar  of  his  class.  He 
entered  the  law  office  of  Hon.  Thomas  W. 
Thompson,  at  Salisbury.  In  1S02  he  con- 
tinued his  legal  studies  at  Fryeburg,  Maine, 
where  he  was  principal  of  the  academy  and 
copyist  in  the  office  of  the  register  of 
deeds.  In  the  office  of  Christopher  Gore, 
at  Boston,  he  completed  his  studies  in 
1804-5,  ar,d  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the 
latter  year,  and  at  Boscawen  and  at  Ports- 
mouth soon  rose  to  eminence   in    his  proles- 


£  ) 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


siun.  ile  became  known  as  a  federalist 
but  die!  not  court  political  honors;  but,  at- 
tracting attention  by  his  eloquence  in  oppos- 
ing the  war  with  England,  he  was  elected 
to  congress  in  [8l2.  During  the  special 
session  of  May,  1813,  he  was  appointed  on 
the  committee  on  foreign  affairs  and  made 
his  maiden  speech  June  10,  1813.  Through- 
out this  session  (as  afterwards)  he  showed 
his  mastery  of  the  great  economic  questions 
of  the  day.  He  was  re-elected  in  1814.  In 
18 16  he  removed  to  Boston  and  for  seven 
years  devoted  himself  to  his  profession, 
sarning  by  his  arguments  in  the  celebrated 
"  Dartmouth  College  Case"  rank  among 
ihe  most  distinguished  jurists  of  the  country. 
In  1820  Mr.  Webster  was  chosen  a  member 
of  the  state  convention  of  Massachusetts,  to 
e  the  constitution.  The  same  year  he 
delivered  the  famous  discourse  on  the  "  Pil 
grim  fathers,"  which  laid  the  fouiidati.ni  foi 
his  fame  as  an  orator.  Declining  a  nomi- 
nation for  United  States  senator,  in  1822  he 
was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  congress 
and  was  re-elected  in  1N24  and  1826,  but  in 
[827  was  transferred  to  the  senate.  He 
retained  his  seat  in  the  latter  chamber  until 
1841.  During  this  time  his  voice  was  ever 
lifted  in  defence  of  the  national  life  and 
honor  and  although  politically  opposed  to 
him  he  gave  his  support  to  the  administra- 
tion of  President  Jackson  in  the  hitter's  con- 
test with  nullification.  Through  all  these 
/ears  he  was  ever  found  upon  the  side  of 
i'ight  and  justice  and  his  speeches  upon  all 
the  great  questions  of  the  day  have  be- 
come household  words  in  almost  every 
I  iiiuly.  In  1841  Mr.  \\  >l>ster  was  appointed 
secretary  of  state  by  President  Harrison 
and  was  continued  in  the  same  office  by 
President  Tyler.  While  an  incumbent  of 
this  office  he  showed  consummate  ability  as 
a  diplomat  in  the  negotiation  of  the  "Ash- 


burton  treaty  "  of  August  9,  1849,  which 
settled  many  points  of  dispute  between  the 
United  States  and  England.  In  May,  1843. 
he  resigned  his  post  and  resumed  his  pro- 
fession, and  in  December,  1845,  took  his 
place  again  in  the  senate.  He  contributed 
in  an  unofficial  way  to  the  solution  of  the 
Oregon  question  with  Great  Britain  in  1847. 
He  was  disappointed  in  1848  in  not  receiv- 
ing the  nomination  for  the  presidency.  He 
ee  secretary  of  state  under  President 
Fillmore  in  1S50  and  in  dealing  with  all  the 
complicated  questions  of  the  day  showed  a 
wonderful  mastery  of  the  arts  of  diplomacy. 
Being  hurt  in  an  accident  he  retired  to  his 
home  at  Marshfield,  where  he  died  Octo- 
ber 24,   1852. 

HORACE  GREELEY.— As  journalist, 
author,  statesman  and  political  leader, 
there  is  none  mote  widely  known  than  the 
man  whose  name  heads  this  article.  He 
was  born  in  Amherst,  New  Hampshire,  Feb- 
ruary 3,  181  1,  and  was  reared  upon  a  farm. 
At  an  early  age  he  evinced  a  remarkable 
intelligence  and  love  of  learning,  and  at 
the  age  of  ten  had  read  every  book  he  could 
borrow  for  miles  around.  About  1^21  the 
family  removed  to  Westhaven,  Vermont, 
and  for  some  years  young  Greeley  assisted 
in  carrying  on  the  farm.  In  1  826  heentered 
the  office  of  a  weekly  newspaper  at  East 
Poultney,  Vermont,  where  he  remained 
about  four  years.  On  the  discontinuance 
of  this  paper  he  followed  his  father's 
family  to  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
whither  they  had  moved,  and  for  a  time 
worked  at  the  printer's  trade  in  that  neigh- 
borhood. In  1 83 1  Horace  went  to  New 
York  City,  and  for  a  time  found  employ- 
ment as  journeyman  printer.  January, 
1833,  in  partnership  with  Francis  Story,  he 
published  the  Morning  Post,  the  first  penny 


\;r i:\mr.\i  OF   BIOGRAPHr. 


21 


paper  ever  printed.  This  proved  a  failure 
and  was  discontinued  ;ifter  three  weeks. 
The  business  of  job  printing  wascarrii 
however,  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Story  in 
July  following.  In  company  with  Jonas 
Winchester,  March  22,  1834,  Mr.  Greeley 
commenced  the  publication  of  the  New 
Yorker,  a  weekly  paper  of  a  high  character. 
financial  5,    at    the    same  time, 

Greeley  wrote  leaders  for  other  papers,  and, 
in  1838,  took  editorial  charge  of  the 
soman,  a  Whig  paper  published  at  Albany. 
In  1 S40,  on  the  discontinuance  of  that  sheet, 
he  devoted  his  energies  to  the  Log  Cabin,  a 
campaign  paper  in  the  interests  of  the  Whig 
party.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the  latter  paper 
was  consolidated  with  the  New  Yorker,  un- 
der the  name  of  the  Tribune,  the  first  num- 
ber  of  which  was  issued  April  10,  1S41.  At 
the  head  of  this  paper  Mr.  Greeley  remained 
until  the  day  of  his  death. 

In  [848  Horace  Greeley  was  elected  to 
the  national  house  of  representatives  to 
fill  a  vacancy,  and  was  a  member  of  that 
body  until  March  4,  1  S49.  In  1S51  he  went 
to  Europe  and  served  as  a  juror  at  the 
World's  Fair  at  the  Crystal  Palace,  Lon- 
don. In  1855,  he  made  a  second  visit  to 
the  old  world.  In  1 S 59  he  crossed  the 
plains  and  received  a  public  reception  at 
San  Francisco  and  Sacramento.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Republican  national  con- 
vention, at  Chicago  in  i860,  and  assisted  in 
the  nomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln  for 
President.  The  same  year  he  was  a  presi- 
dential elector  for  the  state  of  New  York, 
and  a  delegate  to  the  Loyalist  convention 
at  Philadelphia. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  in  1865,  Mr. 
Greeley  became  a  strong  advocate  of  uni- 
versal amnesty  and  complete  pacification, 
and  in  pursuance  of  this  consented  to  be- 
come one    of  the    bondsmen   for   Jefferson  I 


Davis,  who  was  imprisoned  for  treason.     In 

lie     was     a     delegate     to    tile    New   York 

state  convention  for  the  revision  of  the 
constitution.  In  1S70  he  was  defeated  for 
congress  in  the  Sixth  New  York  district. 
At  the  Liberal  convention,  which  met  in 
Cincinnati,  in  May,  1  S 7 j ,  on  the  fifth  ballot 
Horace  Greeley  was  nominated  for  presi- 
dent and  July  following  was  nominated  for 
the  same  office  by  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion at  Baltimore.  He  was  defeated  by  a 
large  majority.  The  large  amount  of  work 
done  by  him  during  the  campaign,  together 
with  the  loss  of  his  wife  about  the  same 
time,  undermined  his  strong  constitution, 
and  he  was  seized  with  inflammation  of  the 
brain,  and  died  November  29,   1872. 

In  addition  to  his  journalistic  work,  Mr. 
Greeley  was  the  author  of  several  meritori- 
ous works,  among  which  were:  "Hints- 
toward  reform,"  "Glances  at  Europe," 
"  History  of  the  struggle  for  slavery  exten 
sion,"  "Overland  journey  to  San  Francis- 
co," "The  American  conflict,"  and  "  Rec- 
ollections of  a  busy  life." 


HENRY  CLAY.— In  writing  of  this  em- 
inent American,  Horace  Greeley  once 
said:  "He  was  a  matchless  party  chief,  an 
admirable  orator,  a  skillful  legislator,  wield- 
ing unequaled  influence,  not  only  over  his 
friends,  but  even  over  those  of  his  political 
antagonists  who  were  subjected  to  the  magic 
of  his  conversation  and  manners.  "  A  law- 
yer, legislator,  orator,  and  statesman,  few 
men  in  history  have  wielded  greater  influ- 
ence, or  occupied  so  prominent  a  plai 
the  hearts  of  the  generation  in  which  they 
lived. 

Henry  Clay  was  born  near  Richmond, 
in  Hanover  county,  Virginia,  April  12, 
1777,  the  son  of  a  poor  Baptist  preacher 
who  died  when    Henry  was   but   five  years 


22 


COMPEXD1CM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


old.  The  mother  married  again  about  ten 
years  later  and  :emoved  to  Kentucky  leav- 
ing Henry  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  Richmond. 
Soon  afterward  Henry  Clay  secured  a  posi- 
tion as  copyist  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the 
high  court  of  chancery,  and  four  years  later 
entered  the  law  office  of  Robert  Brooke, 
then  attorney  general  and  later  governor  of 
his  native  state.  In  1797  Henry  Clay  was 
licensed  as  a  lawyer  and  followed  his  mother 
to  Kentucky,  opening  an  office  at  Lexington 
and  soon  built  up  a  profitable  practice. 
Soon  afterward  Kentucky,  in  separating  from 
Virginia,  called  a  state  convention  for  the 
purpose  of  framing  a  constitution,  and  Clay 
at  that  time  took  a  prominent  part,  publicly 
urging  the  adoption  of  a  clause  providing 
for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  but  in  this  he 
was  overruled,  as  he  was  fifty  years  later, 
when  in  the  height  of  his  fame  he  again  ad- 
vised the  same  course  when  the  state  con- 
stitution was  revised  in  1850.  Young  Clay 
took  a  very  active  and  conspicuous  part  in 
the  presidential  campaign  in  1800,  favoring 
the  election  of  Jefferson;  and  in  1803  was 
choson  to  represent  Fayette  county  in  the 
state  'egislature.  In  1S06  General  John 
Adair,  then  United  States  senator  from 
Kentucky,  resigned  and  Henry  Clay  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  by  the  legislature 
and  served  through  one  session  in  which  he 
at  once  assumed  a  prominent  place.  In 
1807  he  was  again  a  representative  in  the 
legislature  and  was  elected  speaker  of  the 
house.  At  this  time  originated  his  trouble 
with  Humphrey  Marshall.  Clay  proposed 
that  each  member  clothe  himself  and  family 
wholly  in  American  fabrics,  which  Marshall 
characterized  as  the  "  language  of  a  dema- 
gogue." This  led  to  a  duel  in  which  both 
parties  were  slightly  injured.  In  1809 
Henry  Clay  was  again  elected  to  fill  a  va- 
cancy m  the  United  States   senate,  and  two 


years  later  elected  representative  inttie  low- 
er house  of  congress,  being  chosen  speaker 
of  the  house.  About  this  time  warwas  de- 
clared against  Great  Britain,  and  Clay  took 
a  prominent  public  place  during  this  strug- 
gle and  was  later  one  of  the  commissioners 
sent  to  Europe  by  President  Madison  to  ne- 
gotiate peace,  returning  in  September,  1815. 
having  been  re-elected  speaker  of  the 
house  during  his  absence,  and  was  re-elect- 
ed unanimously.  He  was  afterward  re- 
elected to  congress  and  then  became  secre- 
tary of  state  under  John  Quincy  Adams. 
In  1  83  1  he  was  again  elected  senator  from 
Kentucky  and  remained  in  the  senate  most 
of  the  time  until  his  death. 

Henry  Clay  was  three  times  a  candidate 
for  the  presidency,  and  once  very  nearly 
elected.  He  was  the  unanimous  choice  of 
the  Whig  party  in  1*44  for  the  presidency, 
and  a  great  effort  was  made  to  elect  him 
but  without  success,  his  opponent,  James  K. 
Polk,  carrying  both  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York  by  a  very  slender  margin,  while  either 
of  them  alone  would  have  elected  Clay. 
Henry  Clay  died  at  Washington  June  29, 
1  S5  j. 

JAMES  GILLESPIE  BLAINE  was  one 
of  the  most  distinguished  of  American 
statesmen  and  legislators.  He  was  born 
January  31,  1830,  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  received  a  thorough  edu- 
cation, graduating  at  Washington  College  in 
1847.  In  early  life  he  removed  to  Maine 
and  engaged  in  newspaper  work,  becoming 
editor  of  the  Portland  "Advertiser."  While 
yet  a  young  man  he  gained  distinction  as  a 
debater  and  became  a  conspicuous  figure  in 
political  and  public  affairs.  In  1862  he  was 
elected  to  congress  on  the  Republican  ticket 
in  Maine  and  was  re-elected  five  times.  In 
March,   1869,  he  was  chosen  speaker  of  the 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


house  of  representatives  and  was  re-elected 
in  1871  and  again  in  1873.  In  1876  he  was 
a  representative  in  the  lower  house  of  con- 
gress and  daring  that  year  was  appointed 
United  States  senator  by  the  Governor  to 
fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
Senator  Morrill,  who  had  been  appointed 
secretary  of  the  treasury.  Mr.  Blaine 
served  in  the  senate  until  March  5,  1881, 
when  President  Garfield  appointed  him  sec- 
retary of  state,  which  position  he-resigned 
in  December,  1881.  Mr.  Blaine  was  nom- 
inated for  the  presidency  by  the  Republic- 
ans, at  Chicago  in  June,  1884,  but  was  de- 
feated by  Grover  Cleveland  after  an  exciting 
and  spirited  campaign.  During  the  later 
years  of  his  life  Mr.  Blaine  devoted  most  of 
his  time  to  the  completion  of  his  work 
"Twenty  Years  in  Congress,"  which  had  a 
remarkably  large  sale  throughout  the  United 
States.  Blaine  was  a  man  of  great  mental 
ability  and  force  of  character  and  during  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  was  one  of  the  most 
noted  men  of  his  time.  He  was  the  origina- 
tor of  what  is  termed  the  "  reciprocity  idea" 
in  tariff  matters,  and  outlined  the  plato  of 
carrying  it  into  practical  effect.  In  1876 
Robert  G.  Ingersoll  in  making  a  nominating 
speech  placing  Blaine's  name  as  a  candidate 
for  president  before  the  national  Republican 
convention  at  Cincinnati,  referred  to  Blaine 
as  the  "  Plumed  Knight "  and  this  title  clung 
to  him  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His 
death  occurred  at  Washington,  January  27, 
1893-  

JOHN  CALDWELL  CALHOUN,  a  dis- 
tinguished American  statesman,  was  a 
native  of  South  Carolina,  born  in  Abbeville 
district,  March  iS,  1782.  He  was  given 
the  advantages  of  a  thorough  education, 
graduating  at  Yaie  College  in  1804,  and 
adopted  the  caiiing  of  a  lawyer.     A  Demo- 


crat politically,  at  that  time,  he  took  a  fore- 
most part  in   the  councils  of  his    party  and 
was  elected  to  congress  in  [Si  I,  supporting 
the   tariff  of    1816   and   the  establishing   of 
the  United  States  Bank.      In    1 S  1 7  be   be- 
came secretary  of  war  in  President  Monroe's 
cabinet,  and  in  1  824  was  elected  vice-president 
of  the  United  States,  on  the  ticket  with  John 
Quincy  Adams,  and  re-elected  in  1828,  on  the 
ticket  with  General  Jackson.      Shortly  after 
this  Mr.  Calhoun  became  one  of  the  strongest 
advocates  of  free  trade  and  the  principle  of 
sovereignty  of  the  states  and   was    one  of 
the  originators  of  the  doctrine  that    "  any 
state  could  nullify    unconstitutional    laws  of 
congress."      Meanwhile    Calhoun    had   be- 
come an  aspirant    for   the   presidency,  and 
the  fact  that  General  Jackson  advanced  the 
interests  of  his  opponent.  Van    Buren,   led 
to  a  quarrel,  and  Calhoun  resigned  the  vice- 
presidency  in  1832  and  was  elected  United 
States  senator  from  South  Carolina.      It  was 
during  the  same  year  that  a  convention  was 
held  in  South  Carolina  at  which  the  "  Nul- 
lification ordinance  "  was  adopted,  the    >b- 
ject  of  which  was  to    test   the  constitution- 
ality of  the  protective  tariff  measures,  and 
to  prevent  if  possible  the   collection   of   im- 
port duties  in  that    state   which  had    been 
levied  more  for  the  purpose  of   "protection  " 
than   revenue.      This  ordinance    was   to  go 
into  effect  in  February,  1  S 3 3 ,  and  created  a 
great    deal    of    uneasiness    throughout    the 
country  as  it  was  feared    there    would  be  a 
clash  between  the  state  and  federal  authori- 
ties.     It  was    in   this    serious    condition    ot 
public  affairs  that  Henry  Clay  came  forward 
with  the  the   famous    "tariff  compromise 
of    1833,    to    which    measure    Calhoun    and 
must  of  his  followers  gave  their  support  and 
the  crisis   was    averted.      In  [843    Mr.   Cal- 
houn   was   appointed    secretary    oi   state   in 
President  Tyier's  cabinet,  and   it  was  under 


24 


COMPEXDUM    O/--    BIOGRAPHT. 


his  administration  that  the  treaty  concern- 
ing the  annexation  of  Texas  was  negotiated 
In  1845  he  was  re-elected  to  the  United 
States  senate  and  continued  in  the  senate 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  March, 
1 850.  He  occupied  a  high  rank  as  a  scholar, 
student  and  orator,  and  it  is  conceded  that 
he  was  one  of  the  greatest  debaters  America 
has  produced.  The  famous  debate  between 
Calhoun  and  Webster,  in  1833,  is  regarded 
as  the  most  noted  for  ability  and  eloquence 
in  the  history  of  the  country. 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  BUTLER,  one 
of  America's  most  brilliant  and  pro- 
found lawyers  and  noted  public  nun.  was 
a  native  of  New  England,  born  at  Deer- 
field,  New  Hampshire,  November  5,  1 8 1 8. 
His  father,  Captain  John  Butler,  was  a 
prominent  man  in  his  day,  commanded  a 
company  during  the  war  of  1812,  and 
1  under  Jackson  at  New  Orleans. 
Benjamin  F.  Butler  was  given  an  excellent 
education,  graduated  at  Waterville  Col 
Maine,  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  tin 
bar  in  1S40,  at  Lowell,  Massachu 
where  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  and  gained  a  wide  reputation  for 
his  ability  at  the  bar,  acquiring  an  extensive 
practice  and  a  fortune.  Early  in  life  he 
began  taking  an  active  interest  in  military 
affairs  and  served  in  the  state  militia  through 
all  grades  from  private  to  brigadier-general. 
In  1853  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legisla- 
ture on  the  Democratic  ticket  in  Lowell, 
and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  passage  of 
legislation  in  the  interests  of  labor.  Dur- 
ing the  same  year  he  was  a  member  of  the 
constitutional  convention,  and  in  1859  rep- 
resented his  district  in  the  Massachusetts 
senate.  When  the  Civil  war  broke  out 
General  Butler  took  the  field  and  remained 
at   the   front   most  of  the  time  during  that 


bloody  struggle.  Part  of  the  time  he  had 
charge  of  Fortress  Monroe,  and  in  Febru- 
ary, 1862,  took  command  of  troops  forming 
part  of  the  expedition  against  New  Orleans, 
and  later  had  charge  of  the  department  of 
the  Gulf.  He  was  a  conspicuous  figure  dur- 
ing the  continuance  of  the  war.  After  the 
close  of  hostilities  General  Butler  resumed 
his  law  practice  in  Massachusetts  and  in 
1866  was  elected  to  congress  from  the  Es- 
sex district.  In  1882  he  was  elected  gov- 
ernor, of  Massachusetts,  and  in  1SS4  was  the 
nominee  of  the  "Greenback"  party  for 
president  of  the  United  States.  He  con- 
tinued his  legal  practice,  and  maintained  his 
place  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in 
New  England  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  January  10,  1893. 


JEFFERSON  DAVIS,  an  officer,  states- 
man and  legislator  of  prominence  in 
America,  gained  the  greater  part  of  his  fame 
from  the  fact  that  he  was  president  of  the 
southern  confederacy.  Mr.  Davis  was  born 
in  Christian  county,  Kentucky,  June  3, 
1S0S,  and  his  early  education  and  surround- 
ings were  such  that  his  sympathies  and  in- 
clinations were  wholly  with  the  southern 
people.  He  received  a  thorough  education, 
graduated  at  West  Point  in  1828.  and  for  a 
number  of  years  served  in  the  army  at  west- 
ern posts  and  in  frontier  service,  first  as 
lieutenant  and  later  as  adjutant.  In  1835 
he  resigned  and  became  a  cotton  planter  in 
Warren  county,  Mississippi,  where  he  took 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs  and  be- 
came a  conspicuous  figure  in  politics.  In 
1S44  he  was  a  presidential  elector  from 
Mississippi  and  during  the  two  following 
years  served  as  congressman  from  his  d;s- 
trict.  He  then  became  colonel  of  a  Missis- 
sippi regiment  in  the  war  with  Mexico  ana 
participated  in  some  of  the  most  severe  out- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


25 


ties,  being  seriously  wounded  at  Buena 
Vista.  Upon  his  return  to  private  life  he 
again  took  a  prominent  part  in  political  af- 
fairs and  represented  his  state  in  the  United 
States  senate  from  I S47  to  1851.  Hethen 
entered  President  Pierce's  cabinet  as  secre- 
tary of  war,  after  which  he  again  entered 
the  United  States  senate,  remaining  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  Hethen  be- 
came president  of  the  southern  confederacy 
and  served  as  such  until  captured  in  May, 
.  at  Irwinville,  Georgia.  He  was  held 
as  prisoner  of  war  at  Fortress  Monroe,  until 
.  when  he  was  released  on  bail  and 
finally  set  free  in  1868.  His  death  occurred 
December  6,  1889. 

Jefferson  Davis  was  a  man  of  excellent 
abilities  and  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
best  organizers  of  his  day.  He  was  a 
forceful  and  fluent  speaker  and  a  ready 
writer.  He  wrote  and  published  the  "  Rise 
and  Fall  of  the  Southern  Confederacy,"  a 
work  which  is  considered  as  authority  by 
the  southern  people 


JOHN"  ADAMS,  the  second  president  of 
the  United  States,  and  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  figures  in  the  early  struggles  of 
his  country  for  independence,  was  born  in 
the  present  town  of  Quincy,  then  a  portion 
of  Braintree,  Massachusetts,  October  30, 
1735.  He  received  a  thorough  education, 
dilating  at  Harvard  College  in  1755. 
studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
175.S.  He  was  well  adapted  for  this  profes- 
sion and  after  opening  an  office  in  his  native 
town  rapidly  grew  in  prominence  and  public 
favor  and  soon  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
leading  lawyers  of  the  country.  His  atten- 
tion was  called  to  political  affairs  by  the 
passage  of  the  S'.amp  Act,  in  1765,  and  he 
drew  up  a  set  of  resolutions  on  the  Fubject 
^vhich  were  very  popular.      In    1,768  he  re- 


moved to  Boston  and  became  one  of  the 
most  courageous  and  prominent  advocates 
of  the  popular  cause  and  was  chosen  a 
member  of  the  Colonial  legislature  from 
Boston.  1  le  was  one  of  the  delegates  that 
represented  Massachusetts  in  the  first  C.on^ 
tinental  congress,  which  met  in  September, 
1774.  In  a  letter  written  at  this  crisis  he 
uttered  the  famous  words:  "The  die  is  now 
cast;  I  have  passed  the  Rubicon.  Sink  or 
swim,  live  or  die,  survive  or  perish  with  my 
country,  is  my  unalterable  determination." 
He  was  a  prominent  figure  in  congress  and 
advocated  the  movement  for  independence 
when  a  majority  of  the  members  were  in- 
clined to  temporize  and  to  petition  the  King. 
In  May,  1776,  he  presented  a  resolution  in 
congress  that  the  colonies  should  assume 
the  duty  of  self-government,  which  was 
passed.  In  June,  of  the  same  year,  a  reso- 
lution that  the  United  States  "are,  and  oi 
right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent,' 
was  moved  by  Richard  H.  Lee,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Adams  and  adopted  by  a  small  majority. 
Mr.  Adams  was  a  member  of  the  committee 
of  five  appointed  June  1  1  to  prepare  a 
declaration  of  independence,  in  support  of 
which  he  made  an  eloquent  speech.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  War  in  1776  and 
in  t  778  was  sent  as  commissioner  to  France, 
but  returned  the  following  year.  In  17S0 
he  went  to  Europe,  having  been  appointed 
as  minister  to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace 
and  commerce  with  Great  Britain.  Con- 
jointly with  Franklin  and  Jay  he  negotiated 
a  treaty  in  1782.  He  was  employed  as  a 
minister  to  the  Court  of  St.  James  from 
17.S5  to  1788,  and  during  that  period  wrote 
Ins  famous  "Defence  of  the  American  Con- 
stitutions." In  1 7S9  he  became  vice-presi- 
de nt  of  the  United  States  and  was  re-elected 
in   1792. 

In  1796    Mr.    Adams  was  chosen   presi- 


20 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


dent  of  the  United  States,  his  competitor 
being  Thomas  Jefferson,  who  became  vice- 
president.  In  1800  he  was  the  Federal 
candidate  for  president,  but  he  was  not 
cordially  supported  by  Gen.  Hamilton,  the 
favorite  leader  of  his  party,  and  was  de- 
feated by  Thomas  Jefferson. 

Mr.  Adams  then  retired  from  public  life 
to  his  large  estate  at  Quincy,  Mass.,  where 
he  died  July  4,  1826,  on  the  same  day  that 
witnessed  the  death  of  Thomas  Jefferson. 
Though  his  physical  frame  began  to  give  way 
many  years  before  his  death,  his  mental 
powers  retained  their  strength  and  vigor  to 
the  last.  In  his  ninetieth  year  he  wasglad- 
dened  by  .the  elevation  of  his  son,  John 
Quincy  Adams,  to  the  presidential  office. 


HENRY  WARD  Ml  (  HER,  one  of  the 
most  celebrated  American  preachers 
and  authors,  was  bornat-Litchheld,  Connec- 
ticut, June  24, 1813.  His  father  was  Dr.  Ly- 
man Beecher,  also  an  eminent  divine.  At 
an  early  age  Henry  Ward  Beecher  had  a 
strong  predilection  for  a  sea-faring  life,  and 
it  wis  practically  decided  that  he  would  fol- 
low this  inclination,  but  about  this  time,  in 
consequence  of  deep  religious  impressions 
which  he  experienced  during  a  revival,  he 
renounced  his  former  intention  and  decided 
to  enter  the  ministry.  After  having 
uated  at  Amherst  College,  in  1834,  he  stud- 
ied theology  at  Lane  Seminary  under  the 
tuition  of  his  father,  who  was  then  presi 
of  that  institution.  In  18.47  be  became  pas- 
tor of  the  Plymouth  Congregational  church 
in  Brooklyn,  where  his  oratorical  ability  and 
original  eloquence  attracted  one  of  the  larg- 
est congregations  in  the  country.  He  con- 
tinued to  served  this  church  until  the  time 
of  his  death.  March  8,  1887.  Mr.  Beecher 
;.lsi  ♦ound  time  for  a  great  amount  of  liter- 
ary work-      For  a  number  of  years  he  was 


editor  of  the  "Independent"  and  also  the 
"Christian  Union."  He  also  produced  many 
works  which  are  widely  known.  Among  his 
principal  productions  are  "Lectures  to  Young 
Men,"  "  Star  Papers, "  "Life  of  Christ," 
"Life  Thoughts,"  "Royal  Truths"  (a 
novel),  "Norwood,"  "  Evolution  and  Rev- 
olution," and  "  Sermons  on  Evolution  and 
Religion. "  Mr.  Beecher  was  also  long  a 
prominent  advocate  of  anti-slavery  princi- 
ples and  temperance  reform,  and,  at  a  later 
period,  of  the  rights  of  women. 

JOHN  A.  LOGAN,  the  illustrious  states- 
man and  general,  was  born  in  Jackson 
count},  Illinois,  February  9,  1824.  In  his 
boyhood  days  he  received  but  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  native  county. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Mexico 
he  enlisted  in  the  First  Illinois  Volunteers 
and  became  its  quartermaster.  At  the  close 
of  hostilities  he  returned  home  and  was 
elected  clerk  ol  the  courts  of  Jackson  county 
in  1849.  Determining  to  supplement  his 
education  Logan  entered  the  Louisville  Uni- 
versity, from  which  he  graduated  in  1 S 5 j 
and  taking  up  the  study  of  law  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  He  attained  popularity  and  suc- 
cess in  his  chosen  profession  and  was  elected 
to  the  legislature  in  1852,  1853,  1856  and 
[857.  He  was  prosecuting  attorney  from 
[853  to  1X57.  He  was  elected  to  congress 
in  1858  to  fill  a  vacancy  and  again  in  i860. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  Logan  re- 
signed his  office  and  entered  the  arms,  and 
in  September,  [861,  was  appointed  colonel 
of  the  Thirty-first  Illinois  Infantry,  which  he 
led  in  the  battles  of  Belmont  and  Fort  Don- 
elson.  In  the  latter  engagement  he  was 
wounded.  In  March,  1862,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  be  brigadier-general  and  in  the 
Wowing  month  participated  in  the  battles 
of  pitisburg  Landing.      In  November,  1862, 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


t  illant  conduct  he  was  made  major- 
eral.  Throughout  the  Vicksburg  campaign 
he  was  in  command  of  a  division  of  the  Sev- 
enteenth Corps  and  was  distinguished  at 
Port  Gibson,  Champion  Hills  and  in  the 
siege  and  capture  of  Vicksburg.  In  Octob<  r 
he  w.is  placed  in  command  of  the 
Fifteenth  Corps,  which  he  led  with  great 
credit.  During  the  terrible  conflict  before 
Atlanta,  July  22,  [864,  on  the  death  of 
General  McPherson,  Logan,  assuming  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  led  it 
on  to  victory,  saving  the  day  by  his  energy 
and  ability.  He  was  shortly  after  succeeded 
b)  General  O.  O.  Howard  and  returned  to 
the  command  of  his  corps.  He  remained 
in  command  until  the  presidential  election, 
when,  feeling  that  his  influence  was  needed 
at  home  he  returned  thither  and  there  re- 
mained until  the  arrival  of  Sherman  at  Sa- 
vannah, when  General  Logan  rejoined  his 
command.  In  May,  1865,  he  succeeded 
General  Howard  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee.  He  resigned  from  the  army 
in  August,  the  same  year,  and  in  November 
was  appointed  minister  to  Mexico,  but  de- 
clined the  honor.  He  served  in  the  lower 
house  of  the  fortieth  and  forty-first  con- 
gresses, and  was  elected  United  States  sena- 
tor from  his  native  state  in  1870,  1878  and 
i  He  was  nominated  for  the  vice-presi- 

dency in  1884  on  the  ticket  with  Blaine,  but 
was  defeated.  General  Logan  was  the 
author  of  "'The  Great  Conspiracy,  its  origin 
and  history,"  published  in  1885.  He  died 
at  Washington,  December  26,  1886. 


JOHN  CHARLES  FREMONT,  the  first 
Republican  can  !  nt,  was  i 

born    in    Savannah.    Georgia,   January  2 1 
1813.     He  graduated  from  Charleston  Col- 
lege South  Carolina  1  in  1 830,  and  turned  his 
attention  t  « civil  engineering.  He  was  shortly 


afterward  employed  in  the  department  of 
government  surveys  on  the  Mississippi,  and 
constructing  maps  of  that  region.     He  was 

mule  lieutenant  of  engineers,  and  laii 
fore  the  war  department  a  plan  for  pene- 
trating the  Rocky  Mountain  regions,  which 
was  accepted,  and  in  1  s 4  J  be  set  out  upon 
his  first  famous  exploring  expedition  and  ex- 
plored the  South  Pass.  He  also  planned  an 
expedition  to  Oregon  by  a  new  route  further 
south,  but  afterward  joined  his  expedition 
with  that  of  Wilkes  in  the  region  of  the 
Great  Salt  Lake.  He  made  a  later  expedi- 
tion which  penetrated  the  Sierra  W-vadas, 
and  the  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento  river 
valleys,  making  maps  of  all  regions  explored. 
In  1 845  he  conducted  the  great  expedi- 
tion which  resulted  in  the  acquisition  of 
California,  which  it  was  believed  the  Mexi- 
can government  was  about  to  dispose  of  to 
England.  Learning  that  the  Mexican  gov- 
ernor was  preparing  to  attack  tne  American 
settlements  in  his  dominion,  Fremont  deter- 
mined to  forestall  him.  The  settlers  rallied 
to  his  camp,  and  in  June,  1846,  he  defeated 
the  Mexican  forces  at  Sonoma  Pass,  and  a 
month  later  completely  routed  the  governor 
and  his  entire  army.  The  Americans  at 
once  declared  their  independence  of  Mexico, 
and  Fremont  was  elected  governor  of  Cali- 
fornia. By  this  time  Commodore  Stockton 
had  reached  the  coast  with  instructions  from 
Washington  to  conquer  California.  Fre- 
mont at  once  joined  him  in  that  effort,  which 
resulted  in  the  annexation  of  California  with 
its  untold  mineral  wealth.  Later  Fremont 
became  involved  in  a  difficulty  with  fellow 
officers  which  resulted  in  a  court  martial, 
and  the  surrender  of  his  commission.  He 
declined  to  accept  reinstatement.  He  af- 
terward laid  out  a  great  road  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi ri\<r  to  San  Francisco,  and  became 
the  first  United  States  senator  from  ("alitor- 


30 


COMPENDIUM  OF    BIOGRAPHr. 


nia,  in  1849.  In  1856  he  was  nominated 
by  the  new  Republican  party  as  its  first  can- 
didate for  president  against  Buchanan,  and 
received  1 14  electoral  votes,  out  of  296. 

In  1861  he  was  made  major-general  and 
placed  in  charge  of  the  western  department. 
He  planned  the  reclaiming  of  the  entire 
Mississippi  valley,  and  gathered  an  army  of 
thirty  thousand  men,  with  plenty  of  artil- 
lery, and  was  ready  to  move  upon  the  con- 
federate General  Price,  when  he  was  de- 
prived of  his  command.  He  was  nominated 
for  the  presidency  at  Cincinnati  in  1864,  but 
withdrew.  He  was  governor  of  Arizona  in 
1878,  holding  the  position  four  years.  He 
was  interested  in  an  engineering  enterprise 
looking  toward  a  great  southern  trans-con 
tinental  railroad,  and  in  his  later  years  also 
practiced  law  in  New  Y<  >rk.  He  died  July  1 3, 
1890. 

WENDELL  PHILLIPS,  the  orator  and 
abolitionist,  and  a  conspicuous  figure 
in  American  history,  was  born  November 
29,  181 1,  at  Boston,  Massachusetts.  He 
received  a  good  education  at  Harvard 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1831, 
and  then  entered  the  Cambridge  1  .aw  School. 
After  completing  his  course  in  that  institu- 
tion, in  1833,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
in  1834,  at  Suffolk.  He  entered  the  arena 
of  life  at  the  time  when  the  forces  of  lib- 
erty and  slaver)'  had  already  begun  their 
struggle  that  was  to  culminate  in  the  Civil 
war.  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  by  his  clear- 
headed, courageous  declarations  of  the  anti- 
slavery  principles,  had  done  much  to  bring 
about  this  struggle.  Mr.  Phillips  was  not  a 
man  that  could  stand  aside  and  see  a  great 
struggle  being  carried  on  in  the  interest  of 
humanity  and  look  passively  on.  He  first 
attracted  attention  as  an  orator  in  1837,  at 
a  meeting  that  was  called  to  protest  against 


the  murder  of  the  Rev.  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy. 
The  meeting  would  have  ended  in  a  few 
perfunctory  resolutions  had  not  Mr.  Phillip? 
by  his  manly  eloquence  taken  the  meeting 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  few  that  were  in- 
clined to  temporize  and  avoid  radical  utter- 
ances. Having  once  started  out  in  this  ca- 
reer as  an  abolitionist  Phillips  never  swerved 
from  what  he  deemed  his  duty,  and  never 
turned  back.  He  gave  up  his  legal  practice 
and  launched  himself  heart  and  soul  in  the 
movement  for  the  liberation  of  the  slaves. 
He  was  an  orator  of  vi  ry  great  ability  and 
by  his  earnest  efforts  and  eloquence  he  did 
much  in  arousing  public  sentiment  in  behalf 
of  the  anti-slavery  cause — possibly  more 
than  any  one  man  of  his  time.  After  the 
abolition  of  slavery  Mr.  Phillips  was,  if  pos- 
sible, even  busier  than  before  in  the  literary 
and  lecture  field.  Besides  temperance  and 
women's  rights,  he  lectured  often  and  wrote 
much  on  finance,  and  the  relations  of  labor 
and  capital,  and  his  utterances  on  whatever 
subject  always  bore  the  stamp  of  having 
emanated  from  a  master  mind.  Eminent 
eiities  have  stated  that  it  might  fairly  be 
questioned  whether  there  has  ever  spoken 
in  America  an  orator  superior  to  Phillips. 
The  death  of  this  great  man  occurred  Feb- 
ruary 4,   1884. 


WILLIAM  TECUMSEH  SHERMAN 
was  one  of  the  greatest  generals  that 
the  world  has  ever  produced  and  won  im- 
mortal fame  by  that  strategic  and  famous 
"  march  to  the  sea,"  in  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion. He  was  born  February  8,.  1820,  at 
Lancaster,  Ohio,  and  was  reared  in  the 
family  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  Ewing,  as  his 
father  died  when  he  was  but  nine  years  of 
age.  He  entered  West  Point  in  1836,  was 
graduated  from  the  same  in  1840,  and  ap- 
pointed  a  second   lieutenant   in   the    Third 


UPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY, 


81 


Artillery.  He  passed  through  the  various 
grades  of  the  service  and  at  the  outbreak  of 
th"  Civil  war  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
Thirteenth  Regular  Infantry.  A  full  history 
i  Sherman's    conspicuous  services 

i  be  to  repeat  a  history  of  the  army. 
He  commanded  a  division  at  Shiloh,  and 

ostrumental  in  the  winning  of  that  bat- 
tle, and  was  also  present  at  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg.      On  July  4.    1863,  he  was  appointed 

lier-general  of  the  regular  army,  ami 
shared  with  Hooker  the  victory  of  Mission- 
ary Ridge.  He  was  commander  of  the  De- 
partment  of  the  Tennessee  from  October 
27th  until  the  appointment  of  General 
Grant    as  lieutenant-general,    by   whom    he 

ippointed  to  the  command  of  the  De- 
jartment  of  the  Mississippi,  which  he  as- 
sumed in  March,  1864.  He  at  once  I 
organizing  the  army  and  enlarging  his  com- 
munications preparatory  to  his  inarch  upon 
Atlanta,  which  he  started  the  same  time  of 
ung  of  the  Richmond  campaign  by 
Grant.  He  started  on  May  6,  and  was  op- 
posed by  Johnston,  who  had  fifty  thousand 
men,  but  by  consummate  generalship,  he 
captured  Atlanta,  on  September  2,  after 
several  months  of  hard  lighting  and  a  - 
loss  of  men.  General  Sherman  started  on 
his  famous  march  to  the  sea  November  15, 
and  by  December  10  he  was  before 
Savannah,  which  he  took  on  Decemb 
This  campaign  is  a  monument  to  the  genius 
of  General  Sherman  as  he  only  lost  567 
men  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea.  After  rest- 
ing his  army  he  moved  northward  and  occu- 
pied the  following  places:  Columbia, 
Cheraw,  Fayetteville,  Ayersboro,  Benton- 
ville,  Goldsboro,  Raleigh,  and  April  l8,  he 
accepted  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army 
on  a  basis  of  agreement   that  was  not  re- 

1  by  the  Government  with  favor,  but 
finally  accorded  Johnston  the  same  terms  as 


Lee  was  given  by  General  Grant.  He  was 
present  at  the  grand  review  at  Washington, 
and  after  the  close  of  the  war  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  military  division  of 
the  Mississippi;  later  was  appointed  lieu- 
tenant-general, and  assigned  to  the  military 
division  of  the  Missouri.  When  General 
Giant  was  elected  president  Sherman  became 
1,  March  4,  1869,  and  succeeded  to 
the  command  of  the  army.  His  death  oc- 
curred  February   14,  1891,  at  Washington. 


ALEXANDER  HAMILTON,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  of  the  early  American 
statesmen  and  financiers,  was  born  in  Nevis, 
an  island  of  the  West  Indies,  January  11, 
1757,  his  father  being  a  Scotchman  and  his 
motherof  Huguenot  descent.  Owing  tothe 
death  of  his  mother  and  business  reverses 
which  came  to  his  father,  young  Hamilton 
was  sent  to  his  mother's  relatives  in  Santa 
Cruz;  a  few  years  later  was  sent  to  a  gram- 
mar school  at  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey, 
and  in  1773  entered  what  is  now  known  as 
Columbia  College.  Even  at  that  time  he 
began  taking  an  active  part  in  public  affairs 
and  his  speeches,  pamphlets,  and  newspaper 
articles  on  political  affairs  of  the  day  at- 
tracted considerable  attention.  In  1776  he 
received  a  captain's  commission  and  served 
in  Washington's  army  with  credit,  becoming 
aide-de-camp  to  Washington  with  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel.  In  1 78 1  he  resigned  his 
commission  because  of  a  rebuke  from  Gen- 
eral Washington.  He  next  received  com- 
mand of  a  New  York  battalion  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Yorktown.  After 
this  Hamilton  studied  law,  served  several 
terms  in  congress  and  was  a  member  of  the 
convention  at  which  the  Federal  Constitu- 
tion was  drawn  up.  His  work  connected 
with  "The  Federalist''  at  about  this  time 
attracted   much    attention.      Mr.    Hamilton 


32 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRA  P II }'. 


was  chosen  as  the  first  secretary  of  the 
United  States  treasury  and  as  such  was  the 
author  of  the  funding  system  and  founder  of 
the  United  States  Bank.  In  1798  he  was 
made  inspector-general  of  the  army  with  the 
rank  of  major-general  and  was  also  for  a 
short  time  commander-in-chief.  In  1804 
Aaron  Burr,  then  candidate  for  governor  of 
New  York,  challenged  Alexander  Hamilton 
to  fight  a  duel,  Burr  attributing  his  defeat 
to  Hamilton's  opposition,  and  Hamilton, 
though  declaring  the  code  as  a  relic  of  bar- 
barism, accepted  the  challenge.  They  met 
at  Weehawken,  New  Jersey.  July  11,  1804. 
Hamilton  declined  to  fire  at  his  adversary, 
but  at  Burr's  first  (ire  was  fatally  wounded 
and  died  July  12,  1804. 


ALEXANDER  HAMILTON  STEPH- 
ENS, vice-president  of  the  southern 
confederacy,  a  former  I  nited  Mates  senator 
and  governor  of  Georgia,  ranks  among  the 
great  men  of  American  history.  He  was  born 
February  11,  iSij,  near  Crawfordsville, 
Georgia.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia,  and  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1834.  In  1837  he  made  his  debut  in 
political  life  as  a  member  of  the  state  house 
of  representatives,  and  in  1 841  declined  the 
nomination  for  the  same  office;  but  in  1842 
he  was  chosen  by  the  same  constituency  as 
state  senator.  Mr.  Stephens  was  one  of 
the  promoters  of  the  Western  and  Atlantic 
Railroad.  In  1S43  he  was  sent  by  his  dis- 
trict to  the  national  house  of  representatives, 
which  office  he  held  for  sixteen  consec- 
utive years.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
house  during  the  passing  of  the  Compromise 
Bill,  and  was  one  of  its  ablest  and  most 
active  supporters.  The  same  year  (1850) 
Mr.  Stephens  was  a  delegate  to  the  state 
•convention  that  framed  the  celebrated 
"  Georgia  Platform."  and  was  also   a  dele- 


gate to  the  convention  that  passed  the  ordi- 
nance of  secession,  though  he  bitterly  op- 
posed that  bill  by  voice  and  vote,  yet  he 
readily  acquiesced  in  their  decision  after 
it  received  the  votes  of  the  majority  of  the 
convention.  He  was  chosen  vice-president 
of  the  confederacy  without  opposition,  and 
in  1S65  he  was  the  head  of  the  commis- 
sion sent  by  the  south  to  the  Hampton 
Roads  conference.  He  was  arrested  after 
the  fall  of  the  confederacy  and  was  con- 
fined in  Fort  Warren  as  a  prisoner  of  state 
but  was  released  on  his  own  parole.  Mr. 
Stephens  was  elected  to  the  fort) -third, 
forty-fourth,  forty-fifth,  forty-sixth  and  for- 
ty-seventh congresses,  with  hardly  more  than 
nominal  opposition.  He  was  one  of  the 
Jeffersonian  school  of  American  politics. 
He  wrote  a  number  of  works,  principal 
among  which  are:  "Constitutional  View 
of  the  War  between  the  States,"  and  a 
"Compendium  of  the  History  of  the  United 
States."  He  was  inaugurated  as  governor 
of  Georgia  November  4th,  1882,  but  died 
March  4,  1883,  before  the  completion  of 
his  term. 

ROSCOE  CONKLING  was  one  of  the 
most  noted  and  famous  of  American 
statesmen.  He  was  among  the  most  fin- 
ished, fluent  and  eloquent  orators  that  have 
ever  graced  the  halls  of  the  American  con- 
gress; ever  ready,  witty  and  bitter  in  de- 
bate he  was  at  once  admired  and  feared  by 
his  political  opponents  and  revered  by  his 
followers.  True  to  his  friends,  loyal  to  the 
last  degree  to  those  with  whom  his  inter- 
ests were  associated,  he  was  unsparing  to  his 
foes  and  it  is  said  "never  forgot  an  injury." 
Roscoe  Conkling  was  born  at  Albany, 
New  York,  on  the  30th  of  October,  1829, 
being  a  son  of  Alfred  Conkling.  Alfred 
Conkling  was  also   a   native   of   New  York, 


\fPENDIVM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


88 


born  at  East   Hampton,    October  i- 

and  b  ne  of  the  most  eminent  law- 

yers in  the  Empire  state;  published  several 

I  a  tei  in  in  c<  ingress;  aft- 
erward as   United   States  district  judge  for 
hern  New  York,    and   in  iS;j  was  min- 
ister  to   Mexico.      Alfred    Conkling  died   in 

Roscoe  Conkling,  whose  name  heads 
this  article,  at  an  early  age  took  up  tin- 
study  of  law  and  soon  became  successful  and 
prominent  at  the  bar.  About  1S46  he  re- 
1  to  Utica  and  in  1858  was  elected 
mayor  of  that  city.  He  was  elected  repre- 
sentative in  congress   from  this  district  and 

-  re-elected  three  times.  In  1S67  he  v. 
elected  United  States  senator  from  the  state 
of  New  York  and  was  re-elected  in  1873 
and  1879.  In  May.  1881,  he  resigned  on 
account  of  differences  with  the  president. 
In  March.  1 882,  he  was  appointed  and  con- 
firmed as  associate  justice  of  the  United 
States  supreme  court  but  declined  to  serve. 
His  death  occurred  April  18,   1888. 


WASHINGTON  IRVING,  one  of  the 
most  eminent,  talented  and  popu- 
lar of  American  authors,  was  born  in  New 
York  City.  April  3.  1 7 s 3 .  His  father  was 
William  Irving,  a  merchant  and  a  native  of 
Scotland,  who  had  married  an  English  lady 
and  emigrated  to  America  some  twenty 
years  prior  to  the  birth  of  Washington. 
1  of  the  older  sons,  William  and  Peter, 
were  partially  occupied  with  newspaper 
work  and  literary  pursuits,  and  this  fact 
naturally  inclined  Washington  to  follow 
their  example.  Washington  Irving  was  given 
the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  until  about  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  he  began  studying  law,  but  continued 
to  acquire  his  literary  training  by  diligent 
perusal  at  home  of  the  older  English  writers. 


W'lun  nineteen   he   made  his  first  literary 
venture  by  printing  in  the  "  Morning Chroni- 

tlltll    edited   by  his  brother,    l)r.    i 

Irving,  a  series  of  local  sketches  under  the 
nom-de-plume  of  "Jonathan  Oldstyle."    In 

he  began  an  extensive  trip  th; 
Europe,  returned  in  1806,  quickly  com- 
.1  studies  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  but  never  practiced  the  profession. 
In  1807  he  began  the  amusing  serial  "  Sal- 
magundi," which  had  an  immediate  suc- 
cess, and  not  only  decided  his  future 
career  but  long  determined  the  charac- 
ter of  his  writings.  In  1808,  assisted  by 
his  brother  Peter,  he  wrote  "  Knickerbock- 
er's History  of  New  York,"  and  in  1810  an 
excellent  biography  of  Campbell,  the  poet. 
After  this,  for  some  time,  Irving's  attention 
was  occupied  by  mercantile  interests,  but 
the  commercial  house  in  which  he  was  a 
partner  failed  in  1817.  In  18 14  he  was 
editor  of  the  Philadelphia  "Analectic  Maga- 
zine." About  1 8 1 8  appeared  his  "Sketch- 
Book,  "  over  the  nom-de-plume  of  '  "Geoffrey 
Crayon,"  which  laid  the  foundation  of  Ir- 
ving's fortune  and  permanent  fame.  This 
was  soon  followed  by  the  legends  of 
"Sleepy  Hollow,"  an'd  "  Kip  Van  Winkle," 
which  at  once  took  high  rank  as  literary 
productions,  and  Irving's  reputation  was 
firmly  established  in  both  the  old  and  new 
worlds.  After  this  the  path  of  Irving  was 
smooth,  and  his  subsequent  writings  ap- 
peared with  rapidity,  including  "  Brace- 
bridge  Hall,"  "The  Tales  of  a  Traveler," 
"  History  of  the  Life  and  Voyages  of  Chris- 
topher Columbus,"  "The  Conquest  of 
Granada,"  "The  Alhambra,"  "Tour  on 
the  Prairies,"  "Astoria,''  "Adventures  of 
Captain  Bonneville,''  "  Wolfert's  Koost," 
"  Mahomet  and  his  Successors,"  and  "Life 
of  Washington,"  besides  other  works. 

Washington  Irving   was   never  married. 


34 


COMPEXDIIM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


He  resided  during  the  closing  years  of  his 
life  at  Sunnyside  (Tarrytown)  on  the  Hud- 
son, where  he  died  November  28,   1859. 


CHARLES  SUMNER.— Boldly  outlined 
on  the  pages  of  our  history  stands  out 
the  rugged  figure  of  Charles  Sumner,  states- 
man, lawyer  and  writer.  A  man  of  unim- 
peachable integrity,  indomitable  will  and 
with  the  power  of  tireless  toil,  he  was  a  fit 
leader  in  troublous  times.  First  in  rank  as 
an  anti-slavery  leader  in  the  halls  of  con- 
gress, he  has  stamped  his  image  upon  the 
annals  of  his  time.  As  an  orator  he  took 
front  rank  and,  in  wealth  of  illustration, 
rhetoric  and  loft}'  tone  his  eloquence  equals 
anything  to  be  found  in  history, 

Charles  Sumner  was  born  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  January  6,  [8ll,  and  was 
the  son  of  Charles  P.  and  Relief  J.  Sumner. 
The  family  had  long  been  prominent  in  that 
state.  Charles  was  educated  at  the  Boston 
Public  Latin  School;  entered  Harvard  Col- 
lege in  1826,  and  graduated  therefrom  in 
1830.  In  1  S3  1  he  joined  the  Harvard  Law 
School,  then   und  •■  of  Judge  Story, 

and  gave  himself  up  to  the  study  of  law 
with  enthusiasm.  His  leisure  was  devoted 
to  contributing  to  the  American  Jurist.  Ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1834  he  was  appointed 
reporter  to  the  circuit  court  by  Judge  Story. 
He  published  several  works  about  this  time, 
and  from  1835  to  1837  and  again  in  1843 
was  lecturer  in  the  law  school.  He  had 
planned  a  lawyer's  life,  but  in  1845  he  gave 
his  attention  to  politics,  speakingand  working 
against  the  admission  of  Texas  to  the  Union 
and  subsequently  against  the  Mexican  war. 
In  1848  he  was  defeated  for  congress  on  the 
Free  Soil  ticket.  His  stand  on  the  anti- 
slavery  question  at  that  time  alienated  both 
friends  and  clients,  but  he  never  swerved 
from  his  convictions.    In  1 8  5  1  he  was  elected 


to  the  United  States  senate  and  took  his 
seat  therein  December  1  of  that  year.  From 
this  time  his  life  became  the  history  of  the 
anti-slavery  cause  in  congress.  In  August, 
1S52,  he  began  his  attacks  on  slaver}'  by  a 
masterly  argument  for  the  repeal  of  the 
fugitive  slave  law.  On  May  22,  1856,  Pres- 
ton Brooks,  nephew  of  Senator  Butler,  of 
South  Carolina,  made  an  attack  upon  Mr. 
Sumner,  at  his  desk  in  the  senate,  striking 
him  over  the  head  with  a  heavy  cane.  The 
attack  was  quite  serious  in  its  effects  and 
kept  Mr.  Sunnier  absent  from  his  seat  in  the 
senate  for  about  four  years.  In  1857,  1863 
and  1  S09  he  was  re-elected  to  the  office  of 
senator,  passing  some  twenty-three  years  in 
that  position,  always  advocating  the  rights 
of  freedom  and  equity.     He  died  March  I  1, 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON,  the  third  pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was  bom 
near  Charlottesville,  Albemarle  count}-,  Vir- 
ginia, April  13,  1743,  and  was  the  son  of 
Peter  and  Jane  (Randolph)  Jefferson.  He 
received  the  elements  of  a  good  education, 
and  in  1760  entered  William  and  Mary  Col- 
lege. After  remaining  in  that  institution  for 
two  years  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  with 
George  Wythe,  of  Williamsburg,  Virginia, 
one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  of  his  day,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1767.  He  ob- 
tained a  large  and  profitable  practice,  which 
he  held  for  eight  years.  The  conflict  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies  then 
drew  him  into  public  life,  he  having  for 
some  time  given  his  attention  to  the  study 
of  the  sources  of  law,  the  origin  of  liberty 
and  equal  rights. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  the  Virginia 
hoiase  of  burgesses  in  1769,  and  served  in 
that  body  several  years,  a  firm  supporter  of 
liberal    measures,    and,    although    a    slave- 


MPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHr. 


85 


holder  himself,  an  opponent  of  slavery. 
With  others,  he  was  a  leader  among  the  op- 
position to  the  king.  He  took  his  place  as 
a  member  of  the  Continental  congress  June 
21,  1775,  and  after  serving  on  several  com- 
mittees  was  appointed  to  draught  a  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  which  he  did. 
corrections  being  suggested  by  Dr.  Franklin 
and  John  Adams.  This  document  was  pre- 
sented to  congress  June  28,  1776,  and  after 
six  days'  debate  was  passed  and  was  signed. 
In  the  following  September  Mr.  Jefferson 
resumed  his  seat  in  the  Virginia  legislature. 
and  gave  much  time  to  the  adapting  of  laws 
of  that  state  to  the  new  condition  of  things. 
He  drew  up  the  law,  the  first  ever  passed  by 
a  legislature  or  adopted  by  a  government, 
which  secured  perfect  religious  freedom. 
June  1,  1779,  he  succeeded  Patrick  Henry 
as  governor  of  Virginia,  an  office  which, 
after  co  operating  with  Washington  in  de- 
fending the  country,  he  resigned  two  years 
later.  One  of  his  own  estates  was  ravaged 
by  the  British,  and  his  house  at  Monticello 
was  held  by  Tarleton  for  several  days,  and 
Jefferson  narrowly  escaped  capture.  After 
the  death  of  his  wife,  in  17S2,  he  accepted 
the  position  of  plenipotentiary  to  France, 
which  he  had  declined  in  1776.  Before 
leaving  he  served  a  short  time  in  congress 
at  Annapolis,  and  succeeded  in  carrying  a 
bill  for  establishing  our  present  decimal  sys- 
tem of  currency,  one  of  his  most  useful  pub- 
lic services.  He  remained  in  an  official  ca- 
pacity until  October,  1789,  and  was  a  most 
active  and  vigilant  minister.  Besides  the 
onerous  duties  of  I  is  office,  during  this  time, 
he  published  "Notes  on  Virginia,"  sent  to 
the  United  States  seeds,  shrubs  and  plants, 
forwarded  literary  and  scientific  news  and 
gave  useful  advice  to  some  of  the  lead 
the  French  Revolution. 

Mr.  Jefferson  landed  in  Virginia  Novem- 


ber 18,  1789,  having  obtained  a  leave  of 
absence  from  his  post,  and  shortly  after  ac- 
cepted Washington's  offer  of  the  portfolio 
of  the  department  of  state  in  his  cabinet. 
He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  in 
March,  1 79 1 ,  and  held  it  until  January  I, 
1794,  when  he  tendered  his  resignation. 
About  this  time  he  and  Alexander  Hamilton 
became  decided  and  aggressive  political  op- 
ponents, Jefferson  being  in  warm  sympathy 
with  the  people  in  the  French  revolution 
and  strongly  democratic  in  his  feelings, 
while  Hamilton  took  the  opposite  side.  In 
1796  Jefferson  was  elected  vice-president  of 
the  United  States.  In  1S00  he  was  elected 
to  the  presidency  and  was  inaugurated 
March  4,  1801.  During  his  administration, 
which  lasted  for  eight  years,  he  having  been 
re-elected  in  1S04,  he  waged  a  successful 
war  against  the  Tripolitan  pirates;  purchased 
Louisiana  of  Napoleon;  reduced  the  public 
debt,  and  was  the  originator  of  many  wise 
measures.  Declining  a  nomination  for  a 
third  term  he  returned  to  Monticello,  where 
he  died  July  4,  1826,  but  a  few  hours  before 
the  death  of  his  friend,  John  Adams. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  married  January  1, 
1772,  to  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  young, 
beautiful,  and  wealthy  widow,  who  died 
September  6,  17S2,  leaving  three  children, 
three  more  having  died  previous  to  her 
demise. 

CORNELIUS  VANDERBILT  known  as 
' '  Commodore  "  Vanderbilt,  was  the 
founder  of  what  constitutes  the  present  im- 
mense fortune  of  the  Vanderbilt  family.  He 
was  born  May  27,  1794,  at  Port  Richmond. 
Staten  Island,  Richmond  county.  New 
York,  and  we  find  him  at  sixteen  years  run- 
ning a  small  vessel  between  his  home  and 
New  York  City.  The  fortification^  of  Sta- 
ten and  Long  Islands  were  just  in  course  of 


86 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


construction,  and  he  carried  the  laborers 
from  New  York  to  the  fortifications  in  his 
"  perianger,  "  as  it  was  called,  in  the  day, 
and  at  night  carried  supplies  to  the  fort  on 
the  Hudson.  Later  he  removed  to  New 
York,  where  he  added  to  his  little  fleet.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-three  he  was  free  from 
debt  and  was  worth  $9,000,  and  in  1S17, 
with  a  partner  he  built  the  first  steamboat 
that  was  run  between  New  York  and  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  and  became  her 
captain  at  a  salary  of  $1,000  a  year.  The 
next  year  he  took  command  of  .1  larger  and 
better  boat  and  by  1S24  he  was  in  complete 
control  of  the  Gibbon's  Line,  as  it  was 
called,  which  he  had  brought  up  to  a  point 
where  it  paid  $40,000  a  year.  Commodore 
Vanderbilt  acquired  the  ferry  between  New 
York  and  Elizabethport,  New  Jersey,  on  a 
f. >ui teen  years'  lease  and  conducted  this  on 
a  paying  basis.  He  severed  his  connections 
with  Gibbons  in  1829  and  engaged  in 
'business  alone  and  for  twenty  years  he  was 
•the  leading  steamboat  man  in  the  country, 
building  and  operating  steamboats  on  the 
Hudson  River,  Long  Island  Sound,  on  the 
Delaware  River  and  the  route  to  Boston, 
and  he  had  the  monopoly  of  trade  on  these 
routes.  In  1850  he  determined  to  broaden 
his  field  of  operation  and  accordingly  built 
the  steamship  Prometheus  and  sailed  for 
the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  where  he  desired  to 
make  a  personal  investigation  of  the  pros- 
pects of  the  American  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
Ship  Canal  Company,  in  which  he  had  pur- 
chased a  controlling  interest.  Commodore 
Vanderbilt  planned,  as  a  result  of  this  visit, 
a  transit  route  from  Greytown  on  the  At- 
lantic coast  to  San  Juan  del  Sud  on  the  Pa- 
cific coast,  which  was  a  saving  of  700  miles 
over  the  old  route.  In  185 1  he  placed  three 
steamers  on  the  Atlantic  side  and  four  on 
the  Pacific  side  to  accommodate  the  enor- 


mous traffic  occasioned  by  the  discovery  of 
gold  in  California.  The  following  year 
three  more  vessels  were  added  to  his  fleet 
and  a  branch  line  established  from  New 
Orleans  to  Greytown.  In  1853  the  Com- 
modore sold  out  hisNicarauguaTransit  Com- 
pany, which  had  netted  him  $1,000,000 
and  built  the  renowned  steam  yacht,  the 
"North  Star."  He  continued  in  the  ship- 
ping business  nine  years  longer  and  accu- 
mulated some  $10,000,000.  In  1S61  he 
presented  to  the  government  his  magnifi- 
cent steamer  "  Vanderbilt,  "  which  had  cost 
him  $800,000  and  for  which  he  received  the 
thanks  of  congress.  In  1844  he  became 
interested  in  the  railroad  business  which  he 
followed  in  later  years  and  became  one  of 
the  greatest  railroad  magnates  of  his  time. 
He  founded  the  Vanderbilt  University  at  a 
cost  of  $1,000,000.  He  died  January  4, 
1877,  leaving  a  fortune  estimated  at  over 
$100,000,000  to  his  children. 


DANIEL  BOONE  was  one  of  the  most 
famous  of  the  many  American  scouts, 
pioneers  and  hunters  which  the  early  settle- 
ment of  the  western  states  brought  into 
prominence.  Daniel  Boone  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1735,  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  while  yet  a  young  man  removed 
to  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  married. 
In  1769,  with  five  companions,  he  pene- 
trated into  the  forests  and  wilds  of  Kentucky 
— then  uninhabited  by  white  men.  He  had 
frequent  conflicts  with  the  Indians  and  was 
captured  by  them  but  escaped  and  continued 
to  hunt  in  and  explore  that  region  for  over 
a  year,  when,  in  177 1 ,  he  returned  to  his 
home.  In  the  summer  of  1773,  he  removed 
with  his  own  and  five  other  families  into 
what  was  then  the  wilderness  of  Kentucky, 
and  to  defend  his  colony  against  the  savages, 
he  built,  in  1775,  a  fort  at   Boonesborough, 


co.u/'/:x/>/r.u  of  biographt. 


I  7 


on  the  Kentucky  river.  This  fort  was  at- 
tacked by  the  Indians  several  times  in  i,"  ." 
but  they  were  repulsed.  The  following 
year,  however,  Boone  was  surprised  and 
captured  by  them.  They  took  him  to  De- 
troit and  treated  him  with  leniency,  but  he 
soon  escaped  and  returned  to  his  fort  which 
he  defended  with  success  against  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  Indians  in  August,  1778.  His 
son,  Enoch  Boone,  was  the  first  white  male 
child  born    in   the  state  of  Kentucky.      In 

Daniel  Boone  removed  with  his  family 
to  Missouri,  locating  about  forty-five  miles 

f  the  present  site  of  St.  Louis,  where 
he  found  fresh  fields  for  his  favorita  pursuits 
— adventure,  hunting,  and  pioneer  life.  His 
death  occurred  September  20,  1820. 


HENRY  WADSWORTH  LONGFEL- 
LOW, said  to  have  been  America's 
greatest  "poet  of  the  people,"  was  born  at 
Portland,  Maine,  February  27,  1807.  He 
entered  Bowdoin  College  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen, and  graduated  in  1825.  During  his 
college  days  he  distinguished  himself  in  mod- 
ern languages,  and  wrote  several  short 
poems,  one  of  the  best  known  of  which  was 
the  "  Hymn  of  the  Moravian  Nuis."  After 
his  graduation  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
his  father,  but  the  following  year  was  offered 
the  professorship  of  modern  languages  at 
Bowdoin,  with  the  privilege  of  three  years 
study  in  Europe  to  perfect  himself  in  French, 
Spanish,  Italian  and  German.  After  the 
three  years  were  passed  he  returned  to  the 
United  States  and  entered  upon  his  profes- 
sorship in  1829.  His  first  volume  was  a 
small  essay  on  the  "Moral  and  Devotional 
Poetry  of  Spain"  in  1833.  In  1835  he  pub- 
lished some  prose  sketches  of  travel  under 
the  title  of  "Outre  Mer,  a  Pilgrimage  be- 
yond the  Sea."  In  1835  he  was  elected  to 
the  chair  of  modern  languages  and  literature 


at  Harvard  University  and  spent  a  year  in 
Denmark,  Sweden  and  Switzerland,  culti- 
vating a  knowledge  of  early  Scandinavian 
literature  and  entered  upon  his  professor- 
ship in  1836.  Mr.  Longfellow  published  in 
1839  "  Hyperion,  a  Romance,"  and  "Voices 
of  the  Night, "  and  his  first  volume  of  original 
verse  comprising  the  selected  poems  of 
twenty  years  work,  procured  him  immediate 
recognition  as  a  poet.  "  Ballads  and  other 
poems"  appeared  in  1842,  the  "Spanish 
Student"  a  drama  in  three  acts,  in  1843, 
"The  Belfry  of  Bruges  "  in  1846,  "Evan- 
geline, a  Tale  of  Acadia,"  in  1847,  which 
was  considered  his  master  piece.  In  1845 
he  published  a  large  volume  of  the  "Poets 
and  Poetry  of  Europe,"  1849  "  Kavanagh, 
a  Tale,"  ''The  Seaside  and  Fireside"  in 
1850,  "The  Golden  Legend  "  in  185 1,  "The 
Song  of  Hiawatha  "  in  1855,  "  The  Court- 
ship of  Miles  Standish  "  in  1858,  "  Tales  of 
a  Wayside  Inn  "  in  1863;  "  Flower  de  Luce'' 
in  1866;"  "New  England  Tragedies"  in 
1869;  "The  Divine  Tragedy"  in  1871; 
"Three  Books  of  Song"  in  1872;  "The 
Hanging  of  the  Crane"  in  1874.  He  also 
published  a  masterly  translation  of  Dante 
in  1867-70  and  the  "  Morituri  Salutamus," 
a  poem  read  at  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
his  class  at  Bowdoin  College.  Prof.  Long- 
fellow resigned  his  chair  at  Harvard  Univer- 
sity in  iS54,but  continued  to  reside  at  Cam- 
bridge. Some  of  his  poetical  works  have 
been  translated  into  many  languages,  and 
their  popularity  rivals  that  of  the  best  mod- 
ern English  poetry.  He  died  March  24, 
1882,  but  has  left  an  imperishable  fame  as 
one  of  the  foremost  of  American  poets. 


PETER  COOPER  was  in  three  partic- 
ulars— as  a  capitalist  and  manufacturer, 
as  an  inventor,  and  as  a  philanthropist — 
connected  intimately  with  some  of  the  most 


88 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


important  and  useful  accessions  to  the  in- 
dustrial arts  uf  America,  its  progress  in  in- 
ve  ition  and  the  promotion  of  educational 
and  benexolent  institutions  intended  for  the 
benefit  of  people  at  large.  He  was  born 
in  New  York  city,  February  12,  1 791 .  His 
life  was  one  of  labor  and  struggle,  as  it  was 
with  most  of  America's  successful  men.  fn 
early  boyhood  he  commenced  to  help  his 
'ather  as  a  manufacturer  of  hats.  He  at- 
tended school  only  for  half  of  each  day  for 
a  single  year,  and  beyond  this  his  acquisi- 
tions were  all  his  own.  When  seventeen 
vears  old  he  was  placed  with  John  Wood- 
ward to  learn  the  trade  of  coach-making  and 
served  his  apprenticeship  so  satisfactorily 
that  his  master  oF~red  to  set  him  up  in  busi- 
ness, but  this  he  declined  because  of  the 
debt  and  obligation  it  would  involve. 

The  foundation  of  Mr.  Cooper's  fortune 
was  laid  in  the  invention  of  an  improvement 
in  machines  for  shearing  cloth.  This  was 
largely  called  into  use  during  the  war  ol 
18 1 2  with  England  when  all  importations 
of  cloth  from  that  country  were  stopped. 
The  machines  lost  their  value,  however,  on 
the  declaration  of  peace.  Mr.  Cooper  then 
turned  his  shop  into  the  manufacture  of 
cabinet  ware.  He  afterwards  went  into  the 
grocery  business  in  New  York  and  finally  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  glue  and  isin- 
glass which  he  carried  on  for  more  than 
fifty  years.  In  1830  he  erected  iron  works 
in  Canton,  near  Baltimore.  Subsequenily 
he  erected  a  rolling  and  a  wire  mill  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  in  which  he  first  success- 
fully applied  anthracite  to  the  puddling  of 
iron.  In  these  works,  he  was  the  first  to 
roll  wrought-iron  beams  for  fire-proof  build- 
ings. These  works  grew  to  be  very  exten- 
sive, including  mines,  blast  furnaces,  etc. 
While  in  Baltimore  Mr.  Cooper  built  in 
1830,  after  his  own   designs,  the   first  loco- 


motive engine  ever  constructed  on  this  con- 
tinent and  it  was  successfully  operated  on 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad.  He  also 
took  a  great  interest  and  invested  large  cap- 
ital in  the  extension  of  the  electric  telegraph, 
also  in  the  laying  of  the  first  Atlantic  cable; 
besides  interesting  himself  largely  in  the 
New  York  state  canals.  But  the  most 
cherished  object  of  Mr.  Cooper's  life  was 
the  establishment  of  an  institution  for  the 
instruction  of  the  industrial  classes,  which 
he  carried  out  on  a  magnificent  scale  in  New 
York  city,  where  the  "Cooper  Union" 
ranks  among  the  most  important  institu- 
tions. 

In  May,  1876,  the  Independent  party 
nominated  Mr.  Cooper  for  president  of  the 
United  States,  and  at  the  election  following 
he  received  nearly  100,000  votes.  His 
death  occurred  April  4,   1883. 


GNERAL  ROBERT  EDWARD  LEE, 
one  of  the  most  conspicuous  Confeder- 
ate generals  during  the  Civil  war,  and  one 
of  the  ablest  military  commanders  of  mod- 
ern times,  was  born  at  Stratford  House. 
Westmoreland  county,  Virginia,  January  19, 
1807.  In  1825  he  entered  the  West  Point 
academy  and  was  graduated  second  in  his 
class  in  1829,  and  attached  to  the  army  as 
second  lieutenant  of  engineers.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  was  thus  engaged  in  en- 
gineering work,  aiding  in  establishing  the 
boundary  line  between  Ohio  and  Michigan, 
and  superintended  various  river  and  harbor 
improvements,  becoming  captain  of  engi- 
neers in  1838.  He  first  saw  field  service  in 
the  Mexican  war,  and  under  General  Scott 
performed  valuable  and  efficient  service. 
In  that  brilliant  campaign  he  was  conspicu- 
ous for  professional  ability  as  well  as  gallant 
and  meritorious  conduct,  winning  in  quick 
succession  the  brevets  of  major,  lieutenant 


com r i:\niiM  of  biography. 


colonel,  and  colonel  for  his  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras,  Cherubusco, 
Chapultepec.  and  in  the  capture  of  the  city 
Mexico.  At  the  close  of  that  war  he  re- 
sumed his  engineering  work  in  connection 
with  defences  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  and 
from  i  S52  to  I S 3  5  was  superintendent  of 
the  Military  Academy,  a  position  which  he 
gave  up  to  become  lieutenant-colonel 
Second  Cavalry.  For  several  years  there- 
after he  served  on  the  Texas  border,  but 
happening  to  be  near  Washington  at  the 
time  of  John  Brown's  raid,  October  \~  to 
25,  1859,  Colonel  Lee  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  Federal  forces  employed  in  its 
repression.  He  soon  returned  to  his  regi- 
ment in  Texas  where  he  remained  the 
greater  part  of  1S60,  and  March  16,  1S61, 
became  colonel  of  his  regiment  by  regular 
promotion.  Three  weeks  later,  April  25,  he 
resigned  upon  the  secession  of  Virginia, 
went  at  once  to  Richmond  and  tendered  his 
services  to  the  governor  of  that  state,  being 
by  acclamation  appointed  commander-in- 
chief  of  its  military  and  naval  forces,  with 
the  rank  of  major-general. 

He  at  once  set  to  work  to  organize  and 
develop  the  defensive  resources  of  his  state 
and  within  a  month  directed  the  occupation 
in  force  of  Manassas  Junction.  Meanwhile 
Virginia  having  entered  the  confederacy  and 
Richmond  become  the  capitol,  Lee  became 
one  of  the  foremost  of  its  military  officers 
and  was  closely  connected  with  Jefferson 
Davis  in  planning  the  moves  of  that  tragic 
time.  Lee  participated  in  many  of  the 
hardest  fought  battles  of  the  war  among 
which  were  Fair  Oaks,  White  Lake  Swamps, 
Cold  Harbor,  and  the  Chickahominy,  Ma- 
nassas, Cedar  Run,  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville,  Malvern  Hill,  Get- 
tysburg, the  battles  of  the  Wilderness  cam- 
paign, all  the  campaigns  about  Richmond, 


Petersburg,  Five  Forks,  and  others.  Lee's 
surrender  at  Appomatox  brought  the  war  to 
a  close.  It  is  said  of  General  Lee  that  but 
few  commanders  in  history  have  been  so 
quick  to  detect  the  purposes  of  an  opponent 
or  so  quick  to  act  upon  it.  Never  surpassed. 
if  ever  equaled,  in  the  art  of  winning  the 
passionate,  personal  love  and  admiration  of 
his  troops,  he  acquired  and  held  an  influ- 
ence over  his  army  to  the  very  last,  founded 
upon  a  supreme  trust  in  his  judgment, 
science  and  skill,  coupled  with  his  cool, 
stable,  equable  courage.  A  great  writer  has' 
said  of  him:  "As  regards  the  proper  meas- 
ure of  General  Lee's  rank  among  the  sol- 
diers of  history,  seeing  what  he  wrought 
with  such  resources  as  he  had,  under  all  the 
disadvantages  that  ever  attended  his  oper- 
ations, it  is  impossible  to  measure  what  he 
might  have  achieved  in  campaigns  and  bat- 
tles with  resources  at  his  own  disposition 
I  equal  to  those  against  which  he  invariably 
contended." 

Left  at  the  close  of  the  war  without  es- 
tate or  profession,  he  accepted  the  presi- 
dency of  Washington  College  at  Lexington, 
Virginia,  where  he  died  October  12,  1870. 


JOHN  JAY,  first  chief-justice  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  New  York, 
December  12,  1745.  He  took  up  the  study 
of  law,  graduated  from  King's  College 
(Columbia  College),  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1768.  He  was  chosen  a  member 
of  the  committee  of  New  York  citizens  to 
protest  against  the  enforcement  by  the 
British  government  of  the  Boston  Port  Bill, 
was  elected  to  the  Continental  congress 
which  met  in  1774,  and  was  author  of  the 
addresses  to  the  people  of  Great  Britian  and 
of  Canada  adopted  by  that  and  the  suc- 
ceeding congress.  He  was  chosen  to  the 
provincial  assembly  of    his   own  state,  and 


to 


COMPEXD1UM   OF    BIOGRAPJI )\ 


resigned  from  the  Continental  congress  to 
serve  in  that  body,  wrote  most  of  its  public 
papers,  including  the  constitution  of  the  new 
state,  and  was  then  made  chief-justice.  He 
was  again  chosen  as  a  member  of  the  Con- 
tinental congress  in  1778,  and  became  presi- 
dent of  that  body.  He  was  sent  to  Spain 
as  minister  in  1780,  and  his  services  there 
resulted  in  substantial  and  moral  aid  for  the 
stru^ling  colonists.  Jay,  Franklin,  and 
Adams  negotiated  the  treaty  of  peace  with 
Great  Britain  in  1782,  and  Jay  was  ap- 
pointed secretary  of  foreign  affairs  in  1784. 
and  held  the  position  until  the  adoption  of 
the  Federal  constitution.  During  this  time 
he  had  contributed  strong  articles  to  the 
"Federalist"  in  favor  of  the  adoption  of 
the  constitution,  and  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  ratification  of  that 
instrument  by  his  state.  He  was  appointed 
by  Washington  as  first  chief-justice  of  the 
United  States  in  1789.  In  this  high  capac- 
ity the  great  interstate  and  international 
questions  that  arose  for  immediate  settle- 
ment came  before  him  for  treatment. 

In  1794,  at  a  time  when  the  people  in 
gratitude  for  the  aid  that  France  had  ex- 
tended to  us,  were  clamoring  for  the  privilege 
of  going  to  the  aid  of  that  nation  in  her 
struggle  with  Great  Britain  and  her  own  op- 
pressors, John  Jay  was  sent  to  England  as 
special  envoy  to  negotiate  a  treaty  with 
that  power.  The  instrument  known  as 
"Jay's  Treaty  "  was  the  result,  and  while 
in  many  of  its  features  it  favored  our  nation, 
yet  the  neutrality  clause  in  it  so  angered  the 
masses  that  it  was  denounced  throughout 
the  entire  country,  and  John  Jay  was  burned 
in  effigy  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The 
treaty  was  finally  ratified  by  Washington, 
and  approved,  in  August,  1795.  Having 
been  elected  governor  of  his  state  for  three 
consecutive  terms,    he    then    retired   from 


active  life,  declining  an  appointment  as 
chief-justice  of  the  supreme  court,  made  by 
John  Adams  and  confirmed  by  the  senate. 
He  died  in  New  York  in  1829. 


PHILLIP  HENRY  SHERIDAN  was 
one  of  the  greatest  American  cavalry 
generals.  He  was  born  March  6,  1831,  at 
Somerset,  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  United  States  Military  Acad- 
emy at  West  Point,  from  which  he  graduat- 
ed and  was  assigned  to  the  First  Infantry  as 
brevet  second  lieutenant  July  1,  1853. 
After  serving  in  Texas,  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
in  Washington  and  Oregon  territories  until 
the  fall  of  1 86 1,  he  was  recalled  to  the 
states  and  assigned  to  the  army  of  south- 
west Missouri  as  chief  quartermaster  from 
the  duties  of  which  he  was  soon  relieved. 
After  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  he  was  quar- 
termaster in  the  Corinth  campaign,  and  on 
May  25  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
Second  Michigan  Cavalry.  On  July  1,  in 
command  of  a  cavalry  brigade,  he  defeated 
a  superior  force  of  the  enemy  and  was  com- 
missioned brigadier-general  of  volunteers. 
General  Sheridan  was  then  transferred  to 
the  army  of  the  Ohio,  and  commanded  a 
division  in  the  battle  of  Perrysville  and  also 
did  good  service  at  the  battle  of  Murfrees- 
boro,  where  he  was  commissioned  major- 
general  of  volunteers.  He  fought  with 
great  gallantry  at  Chickamauga,  after  which 
Rosecrans  was  succeeded  by  General  Grant, 
under  whom  Sheridan  fought  the  battle  of 
Chattanooga  and  won  additional  renown. 
Upon  the  promotion  of  Grant  to  lieutenant- 
general,  he  applied  for  the  transfer  of  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  to  the  east,  and  appoint  d 
him  chief  of  cavalry  in  the  army  of  the 
Potomac.  During  the  campaign  of  1  864 
the  cavalry  covered  the  front  and  flanks  "I 
the  infa:.try  until  May  8,  when  it  was  \\u.. 


COMl'i:\  Pit    \f   OF    BIOGRAPHY, 


41 


drawn  and  General  Sheridan  started  on  a 
raid  against  the  Confederate  lints  of  com- 
munication with  Richmond  and  on  May  25 
he  rejoined  the  army,  having  destroyed  con- 
siderable of  the  confederate  stores  and  de- 
feated their  cavalry  under  General  Stuart  at 
Yellow  Tavern.  The  outer  line  of  defences 
around  Richmond  were  taken,  but  the  sec- 
ond line  was  too  strong  to  be  taken  by  as- 
sault, and  accordingly  Sheridan  crossed  the 
Chickahominy  at  Meadow  Bridge,  reaching 
James  River  May  14.  and  thence  by  White 
House  and  Hanover  Court  House  back  to 
the  army.  The  cavalry  occupied  Cold 
Harbor  May  31,  which  they  held  until  the 
arrival  of  the  infantry.  On  General  Sheri- 
dan's next  raid  he  routed  Wade  Hampton's 
cavalry,  and  August  7  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  Middle  Military  division, 
and  during  the  campaign  of  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley  he  performed  the  unheard  of 
feat  of  "  destroying  an  entire  army."  He 
was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  the  reg- 
ular army  and  for  his  victory  at  Cedar  Creek 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-gen- 
eral. General  Sheridan  started  out  Febru- 
ary 27,  1865,  with  ten  thousand  cavalry 
and  destroyed  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad 
and  the  James  River  Canal  and  joined  the 
army  again  at  Petersburg  March  27.  He 
commanded  at  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  the 
decisive  victory  which  compelled  Lee  to 
evacuate  Petersburg.  On  April  9,  Lee  tried 
to  break  through  Sheridan's  dismounted 
command  but  when  the  General  drew  aside 
his  cavalry  and  disclosed  the  deep  lines  of 
infantry  the  attempt  was  abandoned.  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  mounted  his  men  and  was  about 
tc  charge  when  a  white  flag  was  flown  at  the 
head  of  Lee's  column  which  betokened  the 
surrender  of  the  army.  After  the  war  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  had  command  of  the  armv  of 
the  southwest,  of  tne  gulf  and   the  depart- 


ment of  Missouri  until  he  was  appointed 
nant-general  and  assigned  to  the  di- 
vision of  Missouri  with  headquarters  at  Chi- 
cago, and  assumed  supreme  command  of 
the  army  November  1,  1883,  which  post  he 
held   until  his  death,  Augusts,   1888. 


PHINKAS  T.  BARNUM,  the  greatest 
showman  the  world  has  ever  seen,  was 
born  at  Danbury,  Connecticut,  July  5,  1810. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  began  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  He  opened  a  re- 
tail fruit  and  confectionery  house,  including 
a  barrel  of  ale,  in  one  part  of  an  old  car- 
riage house.  He  spent  fifty  dollars  in  fitting 
up  the  store  and  the  stock  cost  him  seventy 
dollars.  Three  years  later  he  put  in  a  lull 
stock,  such  as  is  generally  carried  in  a 
country  store,  and  the  same  year  he  started 
a  Democratic  newspaper,  known  as  the 
"Herald  of  Freedom."  He  soon  found 
himself  in  jail  under  a  sixty  days'  sentence 
for  libel.  During  the  winter  of  1834-5  he 
went  to  New  York  and  began  soliciting  busi- 
ness for  several  Chatham  street  houses.  In 
1835  he  embarked  in  the  show  business  at 
Niblo's  Garden,  having  purchased  the  cele- 
brated "  Joice  Heth"  for  one  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  afterward  engaged  the  celebrated 
athlete,  Sig.  Vivalia,  and  Barnum  made  his 
' '  first  appearance  on  any  stage, "  acting  as  a 
"super"  to  Sig.  Vivalia  on  his  opening 
night. .  He  became  ticket  seller,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  Aaron  Turner's  circus  in 
[836  and  traveled  with  it  about  the  country. 
His  next  venture  was  the  purchase  of  a 
steamboat  on  the  Mississippi,  and  engaged 
a  theatrical  company  to  show  in  the  princi- 
pal towns  along  that  river.  In  1S40  he 
opened  Yaux  Hall  Garden,  New  York,  with 
variety  performances,  and  introduced  Un- 
celebrated jig  dancer,  John  Diamond,  to  the 
public.      The    next  vear   he   quit   ihe   show 


42 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


business  and  settled  down  in  New  York  as 
agent  of  Sear's  Pictorial  Illustration  of  the 
Bible,  but  a  few  months  later  again  leased 
Vaux  Hall.  In  September  of  the  same  year 
he  again  left  the  business,  and  became 
' '  puff  "  writer  for  the  Bowery  Amphitheater. 
In  December  he  bought  the  Scudder  Museum, 
and  a  year  later  introduced  the  celebrated 
Tom  Thumb  to  the  world,  taking  him  to 
England  in  1844,  ar>d  remaining  there  three 
years.  He  then  returned  to  New  York,  and 
in  1849,  through  James  Hall  Wilson,  he  en- 
gaged the  "Swedish  Nightingale,"  Jenny 
Lind,  to  come  to  this  country  and  make  a 
tour  under  his  management.  He  also  had 
sent  the  Swiss  Bell  Ringers  to  America  in 
[844.  He  became  owner  of  the  Baltimore 
Museum  and  the  Lyceum  and  Museum  at 
Philadelphia.  In  iS 50  he  brought  a  dozen 
elephants  from  Ceylon  to  make  a  tourof  this 
country,  and  in  1851  sent  the  "  Bateman 
Children"  to  London.  During  1851  and 
[852  he  traveled  as  a  temperance  lecturer, 
and  became  president  of  a  bank  at  Pequon- 
nock,  Connecticut.  In  1852  he  started  a 
weekly  pictorial  paper  known  as  the  "  Illus- 
trated News  "  In  iS('5  his  Museum  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  he  immediately  leased 
the  Winter  Garden  Theatre,  where  he  played 
his  company  until  he  opened  his  own 
Museum.  This  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
.  and  he  then  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  George  Wood  Museum. 

After  dipping  into  politics  to  some  ex- 
tent, he  began  his  career  as  a  really  great 
showman  in  1871.  Three  years  later  he 
erected  an  immense  circular  building  in  New 
York,  in  which  he  produced  his  panoramas. 
He  has  frequently  appeared  as  a  lecturer, 
some  times  on  temperance,  and  some  times 
on  other  topics,  among  which  were  ''Hum- 
bugs of  the  World,"  "Struggles  and 
Triumphs,"  etc.      He  was  owner  of  the  im- 


mense menagerie  and  circus  known  as  the 
"Greatest  Show  on  Earth,"  and  his  fame 
extended  throughout  Europe  and  America. 
He  died  in  1891. 


JAMES  MADISON,  the  fourth  president 
of  the  United  States,  1809-17,  was 
born  at  Port  Conway,  Prince  George  coun- 
ty, Virginia,  March  r6,  1  ~ 5 1 .  He  was  the 
son  of  a  wealthy  planter,  who  lived  on  a  line 
estate  called  "  Montpelier, "  which  was  but 
twenty-five  miles  from  Monticello,  the  home 
of  Thomas  Jefferson.  Mr.  Madison  was  the 
eldest  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  all  of 
whom  attained  maturity.  He  received  his 
early  education  at  home  under  a  private 
tutor,  and  consecrated  himself  with  unusual 
vigor  to  study.  At  a  very  early  age  he  was 
a  proficient  scholar  in  Latin,  Creek,  French 
and  Spanish,  and  in  [ 769  he  entered  Prince- 
ton College,  New  Jersey.  He  graduated  in 
1771,  but  remained  for  several  months  after 
his  graduation  to  pursue  a  course  of  study 
under  the  guidance  of  Dr.  Witherspoon. 
He  permanently  injured  his  health  at  this 
time  and  returned  to  Virginia  in  177-,  and 
for  two  years  he  was  immersed  in  the  study 
of  law,  and  at  the  same  time  made  extend- 
ed researches  in  theology,  general  literature, 
and  philosophical  studies.  He  then  directed 
his  full  attention  to  the  impending  struggle 
of  the  colonies  for  indi  pendence,  and  also 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  religious  con- 
troversy at  that  time  regarding  so  called 
persecution  of  other  religious  denominations 
by  the  Church  of  England.  Mr.  Madison 
was  elected  to  the  Virginia  assembly  in  1776 
and  in  November,  1777,  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  council  of  state.  He  took 
his  seat  in  the  continental  congress  in 
March,  1780.  He  was  made  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  foreign  relations,  and 
drafted  an   able    memoranda   for  the  use  of 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


18 


the  American  ministers  to  the  French  and 
S  nish  governments,  that  established  the 
claims  of  the  republic  to  the  territories  be- 
tween the  Alleghany  Mountains  and  the 
Mississippi  River.  He  acted  as  chairman  of 
the  ways  and  means  committee  in  t  7S3  and 
as  a  member  of  the  Virginia  legislature  in 
[784— 86  be  rendered  important  services  to 
the  state.  Mr.  Madison  represented  Yir- 
giana  in  the  national  constitutional  conven- 
tion at  Philadelphia  in  1787,  and  was  one  of 
the  chief  framers  of  the  constitution.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  first  four  congresses, 
97,  and  gradually  became  identified 
with  the  anti-federalist  or  republican  party 
of  which  he  eventually  became  the  leader. 
He  remained  in  private  life  during  the  ad- 
ministration of  John  Adams,  and  was  secre- 
tary of  state  under  President  Jefferson.  Mr. 
Madison    administered  the    affairs   of    that 

with  such  great  ability  that  he  was  the 
natural  successor  of  the  chief  magistrate 
and  was  chosen  president  by  an  electoral 
vote  of  122  to  53.  He  was  inaugurated 
March  4,  1809,  at  that  critical  period  in  our 
history  when  the  feelings  of  the  people  were 
embittered  with  those  of  England,  and  his 
first  term  was  passed  in  diplomatic  quarrels, 
which  finally  resulted  in  the  declaration  of 
war,  June  18,  1S12.  In  the  autumn  of  that 
year  President  Madison  was  re-elected  by  a 
vote  of  128  to  89,  and  conducted  the  war 
for  three  years  with  varying  success  and 
defeat  in  Canada,  by  glorious  victories  at 
sea,  and  by  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  that 
was  fought  after  the  treaty  of  peace  had 
been  signed  at  Ghent,  December  24,  1814. 
During    this   war    the  national    capitol    at 

hington  was  burned,  and  many  valuable 
papers  were  destroyed,  but  the  declaration 
of  independence  was  saved  to  the  country 
!>>•  the  bravery  and  courage  of  Mr.  Madi- 
son's illustrious  wife.      A  commercial  treaty 


was  negotiated  with  Great  Britain  in  1815, 
and  in  April,  1S16,  a  national  bank  was  in- 
corporated by  congress.  Mr.  Madison  was 
succeeded,  March  4,  [817,  by  James  Monroe, 
and  retired  into  private  life  on  his  estate  at 
Montpelier,    where  he   died   June  28,    1836. 


FREDERICK  DOUGLASS,  a  noted 
American  character,  was  a  protege  of, 
the  great  abolitionist.  William  Lloyd  Garri- 
son, by  whom  he  was  aided  in  gaining  his 
education.  Mr.  Douglass  was  born  in  Tuck- 
ahoe  county,  Maryland,  in  February,  1817, 
his  mother  being  a  negro  woman  and  his 
father  a  white  man.  He  was  born  in  slav- 
ery and  belonged  to  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Lloyd,  under  which  name  he  went  until  he 
ran  away  from  his  master  and  changed  it  to 
Douglass.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  was 
sent  to  Baltimore  where  he  learned  to  read 
and  write,  and  later  his  owner  allowed  him 
to  hire  out  his  own  time  for  three  dollars  a 
week  in  a  shipyard.  In  September,  1838, 
he  fled  from  Baltimore  and  made  his  way  to 
New  York,  and  from  thence  went  to  New 
Bedford,  Massachusetts.  Here  he  was  mar- 
ried and  supported  himself  and  family  by 
working  at  the  wharves  and  in  various  work- 
shops. In  the  summer  of  1S41  he  attended 
an  anti-slavery  convention  at  Nantucket, 
and  made  a  speech  which  was  so  well  re- 
ceived that  he  was  offered  the  agency  of  the 
Massachusetts  Anti-slavery  Society.  In  this 
capacity  he  traveled  through  the  New  En- 
gland states,  and  about  the  same  time  he 
published  his  first  book  called  "Narrative 
of  my  Experience  in  Slavery."  Mr.  Doug- 
lass went  to  England  in  1845  and  lectured 
on  slavery  to  large  and  enthusiastic  audi- 
ences in  all  the  lar^-  towns  of  the  country, 
and  his  friends  made  up  a  purse  of  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  purchased  his 
freedom  in  due  form  of  law. 


44 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY, 


Mr.  Douglass  applied  himself  to  the  de- 
livery of  lyceum  lectures  after  the  abolition 
of  slavery,  and  in  1870  he  became  the  editor 
of  the  "  New  National  Era  "  in  Washington. 
In  1871  he  was  appointed  assistant  secretary 
of  the  commission  to  San  Domingo  and  on 
his  return  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  ter- 
ritorial council  for  the  District  of  Colorado 
by  President  Grant.  He  was  elected  presi- 
dential elector-at-large  for  the  state  of  New 
York  and  was  appointed  to  carry  the  elect- 
oral vote  to  Washington.  He  was  also 
United  States  marshal  for  the  District  of 
Columbia  in  1876,  and  later  was  recorder 
of  deeds  for  the  same,  from  which  position 
he  was  removed  by  President  Cleveland  in 
1886.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  visited 
England  to  inform  the  friends  that  he  had 
made  while  there,  of  the  progress  of  the 
colored  race  in  America,  and  on  his  return 
he  was  appointed  minister  to  Hayti,  by 
President  Harrison  in  1889.  His  career  as 
a  benefactor  of  his  race  was  closed  by  his 
death  in  February,    1895,  near  Washington. 


WILLIAM  CULLEN  BRYANT.— The 
ear  for  rhythm  ami  the  talent  for 
graceful  expression  are  the  gifts  of  nature, 
and  they  were  plentifully  endowed  on  the 
above  named  poet.  The  principal  charac- 
teristic of  his  poetry  is  the  thoughtfulness 
and  intellectual  process  by  which  his  ideas 
ripened  in  his  mind,  as  all  his  poems  are 
bright,  clear  and  sweet.  Mr.  Bryant  was 
born  November  3,  1794,  at  Cummington, 
Hampshire  county,  Massachusetts,  and  was 
educated  at  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated,  having  entered  it  in  18 10. 
He  took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  in  1815 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  but  after  practicing 
successfully  for  ten  years  at  Plainfield  and 
Great  Barrington,  he  removed  to  New  York 
in    1825.      The    following  year   he   became 


the  editor  of  the  "Evening  Post,"  which 
he  edited  until  his  death,  and  under  his  di- 
rection this  paper  maintained,  through  a 
long  series  of  years,  a  high  standing  by  the 
boldness  of  its  protests  against  slavery  be- 
fore the  war,  by  its  vigorous  support  of  the 
government  during  the  war,  and  by  the 
fidelity  and  ability  of  its  advocacy  of  the 
Democratic  freedom  in  trade.  Mr.  Bry- 
ant visited  Europe  in  1834,  1845,  1  849  and 
1857,  and  presented  to  the  literary  world 
the  fruit  of  his  travels  in  the  series  of  "Let- 
ters of  a  Traveler,"  and  "Letters  from 
Spain  and  Other  Countries."  In  the  world 
of  literature  he  is  known  chiefly  as  a  poet, 
and  here  Mr.  Bryant's  name  is  illustrious, 
both  at  home  and  abroad.  He  contributed 
verses  to  the  "Country  Gazette  "  before  he 
was  ten  years  of  age,  and  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen he  wrote  "  Thanatopsis,"  the  most  im- 
pressive and  widely  known  of  his  poems. 
The  later  outgrowth  of  his  genius  was  his 
translation  of  Homer's  "Iliad"  in  1870 
and  the  "Odyssey"  in  1S71.  He  also 
made  several  speeches  and  addresses  which 
have  been  collected  in  a  comprehensive  vol- 
ume called  "  Orations  and  Addresses."  He 
was  honored  in  many  ways  by  his  fellow 
citizens,  who  delighted  to  pay  tributes  of 
respect  to  his  literary  eminence,  the  breadth 
of  his  public  spirit,  the  faithfulness  of  his 
service,  and  the  worth  of  his  private  char- 
acter. Mr.  Bryant  died  in  New  York  City 
June  12,    1S78. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  SEWARD,  the 
secretary  of  state  during  one  of  the 
most  critical  times  in  the  history  of  our 
country,  and  the  right  hand  man  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  ranks  among  the  greatest 
statesmen  America  has  produced.  Mr. 
Seward  was  born  May  16,  1801,  at  Florida, 
Orange  county,    New  York,    and  with  such 


-//•)/  of  /;/<»(, A'. \riir 


17 


facilities  as  the  place  afforded  he  fitted  him- 
self   for    a    college   course.       He    attended 
Union  College   .it  Schenectady,  New  York, 
at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  took  his 
the  regular  course,  with  signs    of  promise  in 

after  which   he  diligently  addn 
himself  to  the  study  of  law  under  competent 
instructors,  and   started    in    the   practice  of 
his  profession  in  i  S  j 3 . 

Mr.  Seward  entered  the  political  arena 
and  in  1S2S  we  find  him  presiding  over  a 
convention  in  New  York,  its  purpose  being 
the  nomination  of  John  yuincy  Adams  for  a 
second  term.  He  was  married  in  1S24  and 
in  1830  was  elected  to  the  state  senate. 
From  1838  to  1S42  he  was  governor  of  the 
state  of  New  York.  Mr.  Seward's  next  im- 
portant position  was  that  of  United  States 
senator  from  New  York. 

W.  H.  Seward  was  chosen  by  President 
Lincoln  to  fill  the  important  office  of  the 
secretary  of  state,  and  by  his  firmness  and 
diplomacy  in  the  face  of  difficulties,  he  aided 
in  piloting  the  Union  through  that  period  of 
strife,  and  won  an  everlasting  fame.  This 
great  statesman  died  at  Auburn,  New  York, 
October  10,  1S72.  in  the  seventy-second 
year  of  his  eventful  life. 


J'  >SEPH  JEFFERSON,  a  name  as  dear 
as  it  is  familiar  to  the  theater-going 
world  in  America,  suggests  first  of  all  a  fun- 
loving,  drink-loving,  mellow  voiced,  good- 
natured  Dutchman,  and  the  name  of  "Rip 
Van  Winkle  "  suggests  the  pleasant  features 
of  Joe  Jefferson,  so  intimately  are  play  and 
player  associated  in  the  minds  of  th<>se  who 
have  had  ttie  good  fortune  to  shed  tears  of 
laughter  and  sympathy  as  a  tribute  to  the 
greatness  of  his  art.  Joseph  Jefferson  was 
born    in    Philadelphia,  February    20,   : 

enius  was  an   inheritance,    if   there  be 

such,     as    his    great-grandfather,     Thomas 
3 


Jefferson,  was  a  manager  and  actor  in  Eng 
land.  His  grandfather,  Joseph  Jefferson, 
was  the  most  popular  comedian  of  the  New 
York  Stage  1:1  his  time,  and  his  father,  |  - 
epfa  Jefferson,  the  second,  was  a  good  actor 
also,  but  the  third  Joseph  Jefferson  out- 
shone them  all. 

At  the  age  of  three  years  Joseph  Jeffer- 
son came  on  the  stage  as  the  child  in  l'i- 
zarro,  and  his  training  was  upon  the  stage 
from  childhood.  Later  on  he  lived  and 
acted  in  Chicago,  Mobile,  and  Texas.  After 
repeated  misfortunes  he  returned  to  New 
Orleans  from  Texas,  and  his  brother-m-law, 
Charles  Burke,  gave  him  money  to  reach 
Philadelphia,  where  he  joined  the  Burton 
theater  company.  Here  his  genius  soon  as- 
I  itself,  and  his  future  became  promis- 
ing and  brilliant.  His  engagements  through- 
out the  United  States  and  Australia  were 
generally  successful,  and  when  he  went  to 
England  in  1865  Mr.  Boucicault  consented 
to  make  some  important  changes  in  his 
dramatization  of  frving's  story  of  Rip  Van 
Winkle,  and  Mr.  Jefferson  at  once  placed 
it  in  the  front  rank  as  a  comedy.  He  made 
a  fortune  out  of  it,  and  played  nothing  else 
for  many  years.  In  later  years,  however, 
Mr.  Jefferson  acquitted  himself  of  the  charge 
of  being  a  one-part  actor,  and  the  parts  of 
"Bob  Acres,"  "Caleb  Plummer"  and 
"Golightly  "  all  testify  to  the  versatility  of 
his  genius. 

GEORGE  BRINTON  M  CLELLAN, 
a  noted  American  general,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  December  3,  1S26.  He 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  1846  from  West  Point,  and 
was  breveted  second  lieutenant  of  engii 
He  was  with  Scott  i:i  the  Mexican  war, 
taking  part  in  all  the  engagements  from 
Vera  Cruz  to  the  final  capture  of  the   Men- 


is 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


can  capital,  and  was  breveted  first  lieuten- 
ant and  captain  for  gallantry  displayed  on 
various  occasions.  In  1857  he  resigned  his 
commission  and  accepted  the  position  of 
chief  engineer  in  the  construction  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  became  presi- 
dent of  the  St.  Louis  &  Cincinnati  Railroad 
Company.  He  was  commissioned  major- 
general  by  the  state  of  Ohio  in  1861, 
placed  in  command  of  the  department  of 
the  Ohio,  and  organized  the  first  volunteers 
called  for  from  that  state.  In  May  he  was 
appointed  major-general  in  the  United 
States  army,  and  ordered  to  disperse  the 
confederates  overrunning  West  Virginia. 
He  accomplished  this  task  promptly,  and 
received  the  thanks  of  congress.  After  the 
first  disaster  at  Bull  Run  he  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  department  of  Wash- 
ington, and  a  few  weeks  later  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  Upon  retirement 
of  General  Scott  the  command  of  the  en- 
tire United  States  army  devolved  upon  Mc- 
Clellan,  but  he  was  relieved  of  it  within  a 
few  months.  In  March,  1862,  after  elabor- 
ate preparation,  he  moved  upon  Manassas, 
only  to  find  it  deserted  by  the  Confederate 
army,  which  had  been  withdrawn  to  im- 
pregnable defenses  prepared  nearer  Rich- 
mond. He  then  embarked  his  armies  for 
Fortress  Monroe  and  after  a  long  delay  at 
Yorktown,  began  the  disastrous  Peninsular 
campaign,  which  resulted  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  being  cooped  up  on  the  James 
River  below  Richmond.  His  forces  were 
then  called  to  the  support  of  General  Pope, 
near  Washington,  and  he  was  left  without  an 
army.  After  Pope's  defeat  McClellan  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  troops  for  the  de- 
fense of  the  capital,  and  after  a  thorough  or- 
ganization he  followed  Lee  into  Maryland 
and  the  battles  of  Antietam  and  South  Moun- 
tain   ensued.     The    delay    which    followed 


caused  general  dissatisfaction,  and  he  was  re- 
lieved of  his  command, and  retired  from  active 
service. 

In  1864  McClellan  was  nominated  for 
the  presidency  by  the  Democrats,  and  over- 
whelmingly defeated  by  Lincoln,  three 
states  only  casting  their  electoral  votes  for 
McClellan.  On  election  day  he  resigned 
his  commission  and  a  few  months  later  went 
to  Europe  where  he  spent  several  years. 
He  wrote  a  number  of  military  textbooks 
and  reports.  His  death  occurred  October 
29,  1885. 

SAMUEL  J.  TILDEN. — Among  the  great 
statesmen  whose  names  adorn  the  pages 
of  American  history  may  be  found  that  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Known  as  a 
lawyer  of  highest  ability,  his  greatest  claim 
to  immortality  will  ever  lie  in  his  successful 
battle  against  the  corrupt  rings  of  his  native 
state  and  the  elevation  of  the  standard  of 
official  life. 

Samuel  J.  Tilden  was  born  in  New  Leb- 
anon, New  York,  February  9,  1S14.  He 
pursued  his  academic  studies  at  Yale  Col- 
lege and  the  University  of  New  York,  tak- 
ing the  course  of  law  at  the  latter.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1S41.  His  rare 
ability  as  a  thinker  and  writer  upon  public 
topics  attracted  the  attention  of  President 
Van  Buren,  of  whose  policy  and  adminis- 
tration he  became  an  active  and  efficient 
champion.  He  made  for  himself  a  high 
place  in  his  profession  and  amassed  quite  a 
fortune  as  the  result  of  his  industry  and 
judgment.  During  the  days  of  his  greatest 
professional  labor  he  was  ever  one  of  the 
leaders  and  trusted  counsellors  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
conventions  to  revise  the  state  constitution, 
both  in  1846  and  1S67,  and  served  two 
terms  in  the  lower  branch  of  the  state  leg- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


I'.' 


islature.  He  was  one  of  the  controlling 
spirits  in  the  overthrow  of  the  notorious 
"Tweed  ring"  and  the  reformation  of  the 
government  of  the  city  of  New  York.  In 
he  was  elected  governor  of  the  state 
of  New  York.  While  in  this  position  he 
assailed  corruption  in  high  places,  success- 
fully battling  with  the  iniquitous  "canal 
ring  "  and  crushed  its  sway  over  all  depart- 
ments of  the  government.  Recognizing  his 
character  and  executive  ability  Mr.  Tilden 
was  nominated  for  president  by  the  na- 
tional Democratic  convention  in  [876.  At 
the  (.lection  he  received  a  much  larger  popu- 
lar vote  than  his  opponent,  and  184  uncon- 
tested electoral  votes.  There  being  some 
electoral  votes  contested,  a  commission  ap- 
pointed by  congress  decided  in  favor  of  the 
Republican  electors  and  Mr.  Hayes,  the  can- 
didate of  that  party  was  declared  elected. 
In  1SS0,  the  Democratic  party,  feeling  that 
Mr.  Tilden  had  been  lawfully  elected  to  the 
presidency  tendered  the  nomination  for  the 
same  office  to  Mr.  Tilden,  but  he  declined, 
retiring  from  all  public  functions,  owing  to 
failing  health.  He  died  August  4,  1886. 
By  will  he  bequeathed  several  millions  of 
dollars  toward  the  founding  of  public  libra- 
ries in  New  York  City,  Yonkers,  etc. 


NOAH  WEBSTER.— As  a  scholar,  law- 
yer, author  and  journalist,  there  is  no 
one  who  stands  on  a  higher  plane,  or  whose 
reputation  is  better  established  than  the 
honored  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch.  He  was  a  native  of  West  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  and  was  born  October  17, 
1758.  He  came  of  an  old  New  England 
family,  his  mother  being  a  descendant  of 
Governor  William  Bradford,  of  the  Ply- 
mouth colony.  After  acquiring  a  solid  edu- 
cation in  early  life  I  >r.  Webster  entered 
Yale  College,  from  which   he  graduated  in 


1778.  For  a  while  he  taught  school  in 
Hartford,  at  the  same  time  studying  law, 
ami  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  17X1.  He 
taught  a  classical  school  at  Goshen,  Orange 
county,  New  York,  in  1782-83,  and  while 
there  prepared  his  spelling  book,  grammar 
and  reader,  which  was  issued  under  the  title 
of  "A  Grammatical  Institute  of  the  English 
Language,"  in  three  parts, — so  successful  a 
work  that  up  to  1S76  something  like  forty 
million  of  the  spelling  books  had  been 
sold.  In  1786  he  delivered  a  course  of  lec- 
tures on  the  English  language  in  the  seaboard 
cities  and  the  following  year  taught  an 
academy  at  Philadelphia.  From  December 
17,  1787.  until  November.  17S8,  he  edited 
the  "American  Magazine, "a  periodical  that 
proved  unsuccessful.  In  17S9-93  he  prac- 
ticed law  in  Hartford  having  in  the  former 
year  married  the  daughter  of  William  Green- 
leaf,  of  Boston.  He  returned  to  New  York 
and  November,  1793,  founded  a  daily  paper, 
the  "Minerva,"  to  which  was  soon  added  a 
semi-weekly  edition  under  the  name  of  the 
"  Herald."  The  former  is  still  in  existence 
under  the  name  of  the  "Commercial  Adver- 
tiser." In  this  paper,  over  the  signature  of 
"Curtius,"  he  published  a  lengthy  and  schol- 
arly defense  of   "John  Jay's  treaty." 

In  1798,  Dr.  Webster  moved  to  New 
Haven  and  in  1807  commenced  the  prepar- 
ation of  his  great  work,  the  "American  Dic- 
tionary of  the  English  Language,"  which 
was  not  completed  and  published  until  1828. 
He  made  his  home  in  Amherst,  Massachu- 
setts, for  the  ten  years  succeeding  181 2,  and 
was  instrumental  in  the  establishment  of 
Amherst  College,  of  which  institution  he  was 
the  first  president  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
During  1824-5  he  resided  in  Europe,  pursu- 
ing his  philological  studies  in  Paris.  He 
completed  his  dictionary  from  the  libraries 
of  Cambridge  University  in   1825,  and  de- 


.-,11 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


voted  his  leisure  for  the  remainder  of  his 
life  to  the  revision  of  that  and  his  school 
books. 

Dr.  Webster  was  a  member  of  the  legis- 
latures of  both  Connecticut  and  Massachu- 
setts, was  judge  of  one  of  the  courts  of  the 
former  state  and  was  identified  with  nearly 
all  the  literary  and  scientific  societies  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Amherst  College.  He  died 
in  New  Haven,  May  28,  1843. 

Among  the  more  prominent  works  ema- 
nating from  the  fecund  pen  of  Dr.  Noah 
Webster  besides  those  mentioned  above  are 
the  following:  "Sketches  of  American 
Policy,"  "  Winthrop's  Journal,"  "  A  Brief 
History  of  Epidemics,"  "  Rights  of  Neutral 
Nations  in  time  of  War,"  "  A  Philosophical 
and  Practical  Grammar  of  the  English  Lan- 
guage," "Dissertations  on  the  English 
Language,"  "A  Collection  of  Essays," 
"The  Revolution  in  France,"  "Political 
Progress  of  Britain,"  "Origin,  History,  and 
Connection  of  the  Languages  of  Western 
Asia  and  of  Europe,"  and  many  others. 


WILLIAM  LLOYD  GARRISON,  the 
great  anti-slavery  pioneer  and  leader, 
was  born  in  Newburyport,  Massachusetts, 
December  12,  1804.  He  was  apprenticed 
to  the  printing  business,  and  in  1828  was  in- 
duced to  take  charge  of  the  "Journal  of  the 
Times"  at  Bennington,  Vermont.  While 
supporting  John  Quincy  Adams  for  the  presi- 
dency he  took  occasion  in  that  paper  to  give 
expression  of  his  views  on  slavery.  These 
articles  attracted  notice,  and  a  Quaker 
named  Lundy,  editor  of  the  "Genius  of 
Emancipation,"  published  in  Baltimore,  in- 
duced him  to  enter  a  partnership  with  him 
for  the  conduct  of  his  paper.  It  soon 
transpired  that  the  views  of  the  partners 
were  not  in  harmony,  Lundy  favoring  grad- 
,uai  emancipation,    while    Garrison  favored 


immediate  freedom.  In  1850  Mr.  Garrison 
was  thrown  into  prison  for  libel,  not  being 
able  to  pay  a  fine  of  fifty  dollars  and  costs. 
In  his  cell  he  wrote  a  number  of  poems 
which  stirred  the  entire  north,  and  a  mer- 
chant, Mr.  Tappan,  of  New  York,  paid  his 
fine  and  liberated  him,  after  seven  weeks  of 
confinement.  He  at  once  began  a  lecture 
tour  of  the  northern  cities,  denouncing 
slavery  as  a  sin  before  God,  and  demanding 
its  immediate  abolition  in  the  name  of  re- 
ligion and  humanity.  He  opposed  the  col- 
onization scheme  of  President  Monroe  and 
other  leaders,  and  declared  the  right  of 
every  slave  to  immediate  freedom. 

In  1 83 1  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Isaac  Ivnapp,  and  began  the  publication  of 
the  "Liberator"  at  Boston.  The  "  imme- 
diate abolition  "  idea  began  to  gather  power 
in  the  north,  while  the  south  became 
alarmed  at  the  bold  utterance  of  this  jour- 
nal. The  mayor  of  Boston  was  besought 
by  southern  influence  to  interfere,  and  upon 
investigation,  reported  upon  the  insignifi- 
cance, obscurity,  and  poverty  of  the  editor 
and  his  staff,  which  report  was  widely 
published  throughout  the  country.  Re- 
wards were  offered  by  the  southern  states 
for  his  arrest  and  conviction.  Later  Garri- 
son brought  from  England,  where  an  eman- 
cipation measure  had  just  been  passed, 
some  of  the  great  advocates  to  work  for  the 
cause  in  this  country.  In  1835  a  mob 
broke  into  his  office,  broke  up  a  meeting  of 
women,  dragged  Garrison  through  the  streei 
with  a  rope  around  his  body,  and  his  liie 
was  saved  only  by  the  interference  of  the 
police,  who  lodged  him  in  jail.  Garrison 
declined  to  sit  in  the  World's  Anti-Slaverv 
convention  at  London  in  1840,  because 
that  body  had  refused  women  representa- 
tion. He  opposed  the  formation  of  a  po- 
litical party  with  emancipation  as  its  basis. 


VfPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


51 


He  favored  a  dissolution  of  the  union,  and 
declared  the  constitution  which  bound  the 
free  states  to  the  slave  states  "  A  covenant 
with  death  and  an  agreement  with  hell." 
In  i  843  he  became  president  of  the  Amer- 
ican Anti-Slavery  society,  which  position  he 
held  until  1865,  when  slavery  was  no  more. 
During  all  this  time  the  "  Liberator"  had 
continued  to  promulgate  anti-slavery  doc- 
trines, but  in  1S65  Garrison  resigned  his 
position,  and  declared  his  work  was  com- 
pleted.     He  died  May  24,   1S79. 


JOHN  BROWN"  ("Brown  of  Ossawato- 
mie"),  a  noted  character  in  American 
history,  wasbornatTorrington,  Connecticut, 
May  9,  1800.  In  his  childhood  he  removed 
to  Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  tanner's 
trade.  He  married  there,  and  in  1S55  set- 
tled in  Kansas.  He  lived  at  the  village  of 
Ossawatomie  in  that  state,  and  there  began 
his  fiqht  against  slavery.  He  advocated  im- 
mediate emancipation,  and  held  that  the 
negroes  of  the  slave  states  merely  waited 
for  a  leader  in  an  insurrection  that  would  re- 
sult in  their  freedom.  He  attended  the 
convention  called  at  Chatham,  Canada,  in 
1S59,  and  was  the  leading  spirit  in  organiz- 
ing a  raid  upon  the  United  States  arsenal  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  Virginia.  His  plans  were 
well  laid,  and  carried  out  in  great  secrecy. 
He  renfed  a  farm  house  near  Harper's  Ferry 
in  the  summer  of  1859,  and  on  October 
16th  of  that  year,  with  about  twenty  follow- 
ers, he  surprised  and  captured  the  United 
States  arsenal,  with  all  its  supplies  and 
arms.  To*his  surprise,  the  negroes  did  not 
come  to  his  support,  and  the  next  day  he 
was  attacked  by  the  Virginia  state  militia, 
wounded  and  captured.  He  was  tried  in 
the  courts  of  the  state,  convicted,  and  was 
hanged  at  Charlestown,  December  2,  1859. 
The  raid  and  its   results   had  a  tremendous 


effect,  and  hastened  the  culmination  of  the 
troubles  between  the  north  and  south.  The 
south  had  the  advantage  in  discussing  tlii^ 
event,  claiming  that  the  sentiment  which 
inspired  this  act  of  violence  was  shared  by 
the  anti-slavery  element  of  the  country. 


EDWIN  BOOTH  had  no  peer  upon  the 
American  stage  during  his  long  career 
as  a  star  actor.  He  was  the  son  of  a  famous 
actor,  Junius  Brutus  Booth,  and  was  born 
in  1833  at  his  father's  home  at  Belair,  near 
Baltimore.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  made  his 
first  appearance  on  the  stage,  at  the  Boston 
Museum,  in  a  minor  part  in  "  Richard  III." 
It  was  while  playing  in  California  in  1851 
that  an  eminent  critic  called  general  atten- 
tion to  the  young  actor's  unusual  talent. 
However,  it  was  not  until  1863,  at  the  great 
Shakspearian  revival  at  the  Winter  Garden 
Theatre,  New  York,  that  the  brilliancy  ol 
his  career  began.  His  Hamlet  held  the 
boards  for  100  nights  in  succession,  and 
from  that  time  forth  Booth's  reputation  was 
established.  In  1868  he  opened  his  own 
theatre  (Booth's  Theater)  in  New  York. 
Mr.  Booth  never  succeeded  as  a  manager, 
however,  but  as  an  actor  he  was  undoubted- 
ly the  most  popular  man  on  the  American 
stage,  and  perhaps  the  most  eminent  one  in 
the  world.  In  England  he  also  won  the 
greatest  applause. 

Mr.  Booth's  work  was  confined  mostly 
to  Shakspearean  roles,  and  his  art  was 
characterized  by  intellectual  acuteness, 
fervor,  and  poetic  feeling.  His  Hamlet, 
Richard  II,  Richard  III,  and  Richelieu  gave 
play  to  his  greatest  powers.  In  1865, 
when  his  brother,  John  Wilkes  Booth, 
enacted  his  great  crime,  Edwin  Booth  re- 
solved to  retire  from  the  stage,  but  was  pur- 
suaded  to  reconsider  that  decision.  The 
odium  did    not  in    any  way  attach  to    the 


52 


COMPEXD/CM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


great  actor,  and  his  popularity  was  not 
affected.  In  all  his  work  Mr.  Booth  clung 
closely  to  the  legitimate  and  the  traditional 
in  drama,  making  no  experiments,  and  offer- 
ing little  encouragement  to  new  dramatic 
authors.  His  death  occurred  in  New  York, 
June  7,   1894. 


JOSEPH  HOOKER,  a  noted  American 
officer,  was  born  at  Hadley,  Massachu- 
setts. November  13,  18 14.  He  graduated 
from  West  Point  Military  Academy  in  1837, 
and  was  appointed  lieutenant  of  artillery. 
He  served  in  Florida  in  the  Seminole  war, 
and  in  garrison  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
Mexican  war.  During  the  latter  he  saw 
service  as  a  staff  officer  and  was  breveted 
capt;'i"  major  and  lieutenant-colonel  for 
gallantry  at  Monterey,  National  Bridge  and 
ChapulteDec.  Resigning  his  commission  in 
1  833  he  took  up  farming  in  California,  which 
he  followed  until  1861.  During  this  time 
he  acted  as  superintendent  of  military  roads 
in  Oregon.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebel- 
lion Hooker  tendered  his  services  to  the 
government,  and,  May  17,  1861,  was  ap- 
pointed brigadier-general  of  volunteers.  He 
served  in  the  defence  of  Washington  and  on 
the  lower  Potomac  until  his  appointment  to 
the  command  of  a  division  in  the  Third 
Corps,  in  March,  1862.  For  gallant  con- 
duct at  the  siege  of  Yorktown  and  in  the 
battles  of  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  Fra- 
zier's  Farm  and  Malvern  Hill  he  was  made 
major-general.  At  the  head  of  his  division 
he  participated  in  the  battles  of  Manassas 
and  Chantillv.  September  6.  1862,  he  was 
placed  at  the  head  of  the  First  Corps,  and 
in  the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and  An- 
tietam  acted  with  his  usual  gallantry,  being 
wounded  in  the  latter  engagement.  On  re- 
joining the  army  in  November  he  was  made 
brigadier-general  in  the  regular  army.      On 


General  Burnside  attaining  the  command  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  General  Hooker 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  center  grand 
division,  consisting  of  the  Second  and  Fifth 
Corps.  At  the  head  of  these  gallant  men 
he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Fred- 
ericksburg, December  13,  1862.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1863,  General  Hooker  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  in 
May  following  fought  the  battle  of  Chan- 
cellorsville.  At  the  time  of  the  invasion  of 
Pennsylvania,  owing  to  a  dispute  with  Gen- 
eral Halleck,  Hooker  requested  to  be  re- 
lieved of  his  command,  and  June  28  was 
succeeded  by  George  G.  Meade.  In  Sep- 
tember,  [863,  General  Hooker  was  given 
command  of  the  Twentieth  Corps  and  trans- 
ferred to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
distinguished  himself  at  the  battles  of  Look- 
out Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  and  Ring- 
gold. In  the  Atlanta  campaign  he  saw 
almost  daily  service  and  merited  his  well- 
known  nickname  of  "Fighting  Joe."  Jul}' 
30,  1 S64,  at  his  own  request,  he  was  re- 
lieved of  his  command.  He  subsequently 
was  in  command  of  several  military  depart- 
ments in  the  north,  and  in  October,  1868, 
was  retired  with  the  full  rank  of  major-gen- 
eral.     He  died  October  31,   1879. 


JAY  GOULD,  one  of  the  greatest  finan- 
ciers that  the  world  has  ever  produced, 
was  born  May  27,  1836,  at  Roxbury,  Dela- 
ware county,  New  York.  He  spent  his  early 
years  on  his  father's  farm  and  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  entered  Hobart  Academy,  New 
York,  and  kept  books  for  the  village  black- 
smith. He  acquired  a  taste  for  mathematics 
and  surveying  and  on  leaving  school  found 
employment  in  making  the  surveyors  map 
of  Ulster  county.  He  surveyed  very  exten- 
sively in  the  state  and  accumulated  five  thi  >u- 
sand  dollars  as  the  fruits  of  his  labor.      He 


\fPENDIUM   OF    /:/<><;/<.  i /'//}; 


,:; 


was  then  stric*r-i  with  typhoid  fever  but  re- 
covered  and  m»ae  the  acquaintance  of   one 

Zadock  Pr.itt,  who  sent  liim  into  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  state  to  locate  a  site  for  a 
tannery.  He  chose  a  fine  hemlock  grove, 
built  a  sawmill  and  blacksmith  shop  and 
was  soon  doing  a  large  lumber  business  with 
Mr.  Pratt.  Mr.  Gould  soon  secured  control 
of  the  entire  plant,  which  he  sold  out  just 
before  the  panic  of  1857  and  in  this  year  he 
became  the  largest  stockholderin  the  Strouds- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  bank.  Shortly  after  the 
crisis  he  bought  the  bonds  of  the  Rutland 
&  Washington  Railroad  at  ten  cents  on  the 
dollar,  and  put  all  his  money  into  railroad 
securities.  For  a  long  tinie  he  conducted 
this  road  which  he  consolidated  with  the 
Rensselaer  &  Saratoga  Railroad.  In  1 
he  removed  to  New  York  and  became  a 
heavy  investor  in  Erie  Railroad  stocks,  en- 
tered that  company  and  was  president  until 
its  reorganizat'on  in  [872.  In  December, 
1880,  Mr.  Gould  was  in  control  of  ten  thou- 
sand miles  of  railroad.  In  1887  he  pur- 
chased the  controlling  interest  in  the  St. 
Louis  &  San  Francisco  Railroad  Co.,  and 
was  a  joint  owner  with  the  Atchison,  Topeka 
&  Santa  Fe  Raiiroad  Co.  of  the  western 
portion  of  the  Southern  Pacific  line.  Other 
lines  soon  came  under  his  control,  aggregat- 
ing thousand  of  miles,  and  he  soon  was  rec- 
ognised as  one  of  the  world's  greatest  rail- 
road magnates.  He  continued  to  hold  his 
place  as  one  of  the  master  financiers  of  the 
century  until  the  time  of  his  death  which 
occurred  December  2.  1S92. 


THOMAS  HART  BENTON,  a  very 
prominent  United  States  senator  and 
statesman,  was  born  at  Hillsborough,  North 
Carolina,  Marcn  14.  1782.  He  removed  to 
Tennessee  in  pariv  life,  studied  law,  and  be- 
gan   to    practice   at    Nashville  about  18 10. 


During  the  war  of  1  N  1  2  [815  he  served  as 
colonel  of  a  Tennessee  re  giment  undei  <  ■<n- 
eral  Andrew  Jackson.  In  1  Si  5  he  rem* 
to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  in  1820  was 
chosen  United  States  senator  for  that  state. 
Having  been  re-elected  in  1S26,  he  sup- 
ported President  Jackson  in  his  opposition 
to  the  United  States  bank  and  advocated  a 
gold  and  silver  currency,  thus  gaining  the 
name  of  "  Old  Bullion,"  by  which  he  was 
familiarly  known.  For  many  years  he  was 
the  most  prominent  man  in  Missouri,  and 
took  rank  among  the  greatest  statesmen  of 
his  day.  He  was  a  member  of  the  senate 
for  thirty  years    and   opposed  the  extreme 

tes'  rights  policy  of  John  C.  Calhoun. 
In  1S52  he  was  elected  to  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives in  which  he  opposed  the  repeal 
of  the  Missouri  compromise.  He  was  op- 
posed  by  a  powerful  party  of  States'  Rights 
Democrats  in  Missouri,  who  defeated  him; 
candidate  for  governor  of  that  state  in  1856. 

Colonel  Benton  published  a  considerable 
work  in  two  volumes  in  1854-56,  entitled 
"Thirty  Years'  Yiew,  or  a  History  of  the 
Working  of  the  American  Government  for 
Thirty  Years,  1S20-50."  He  died  April  10, 
1858. 

STEPHEN  ARNOLD  DOUGLAS.— One 
of  the  most  prominent  figures  in  politic- 
al circles  during  the  intensely  exciting  days 
that  preceded  the  war,  and  a  leader  of  the 
Union  branch  of  the  Democratic  party  was 
the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch. 

He  was  born  at  Brandon,  Rutland  coun- 
ty, Vermont,  April  2$,  1  s  1  3 ,  of  poor  but 
respectable  parentage.  His  father,  a  prac- 
ticing physician,  died  while  our  subject  was 
but  an  infant,  and  his  mother,  with  two 
small  children  anil  but  small  means,  could 
give  him  but  the  rudiments  of  an  education. 


54 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT 


At  the  age  of  fifteen  youne  Douglas  engaged 
at  work  in  the  cabinet  making  business  to 
raise  funds  to  carry  him  through  college. 
After  a  few  years  of  labor  he  was  enabled  to 
pursue  an  academical  course,  first  at  Bran- 
don, and  later  at  Canandaieua,  New  York. 
In  the  latter  place  he  remained  until  1833, 
taking  up  the  study  of  law.  Belore  he  was 
twenty,  however,  his  iunas  running  low,  he 
abandoned  all  further  attempts  at  educa- 
tion, determining  to  enter  at  once  the  battle 
of  life.  After  some  wanderings  tnrough  the 
western  states  he  took  up  his  residence  at 
Jacksonville,  Illinois,  where,  after  teaching 
school  for  three  months,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  opened  an  office  in  1834. 
Within  a  year  from  that  time,  so  rapidly  had 
he  risen  in  his  profession,  he  was  chosen 
attorney  general  of  the  state,  and  warmly 
espoused  the  piinciples  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  soon  became  one  of  the  most 
popular  orators  in  Illinois.  It  was  at  this 
tim<  he  gained  the  name  of  the  "  Little 
Giant. "  In  1835  he  resigned  the  position 
of  attorney  general  having  been  elected  to 
the  legislature.  In  1S41  he  was  chosen 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Illinois  which 
he  resigned  two  years  later  to  take  a  seat  in 
congress.  It  was  during  this  period  of  his 
life,  while  a  member  of  the  lower  house, 
that  he  established  his  reputation  and  took 
the  side  of  those  who  contended  that  con- 
gress had  no  constitutional  right  to  restrict 
the  extension  of  slavery  further  than  the 
agreement  between  the  states  made  in  1820. 
This,  in  spite  of  his  being  opposed  to  slav- 
ery, and  only  on  grounds  which  he  believed 
to  be  right,  favored  what  was  called  the 
Missouri  compromise.  In  1847  Mr.  Doug- 
las was  chosen  United  States  senator  for 
six  years,  and  greatly  distinguished  himself. 
In  1852  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office. 
During  thL  latter    term,    under  his   leader- 


ship, the  "  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  "  was  car- 
ried in  the  senate.  In  1858,  nothwith- 
standing  the  fierce  contest  made  by  his  able 
competitor  for  the  position,  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, and  with  the  administration  of  Bu- 
chanan arrayed  against  him,  Mr.  Douglas 
was  re-elected  senator.  After  the  trouble 
in  the  Charleston  convention,  when  by  the 
withdrawal  of  several  state  delegates  with- 
out a  nomination,  the  Union  Democrats, 
in  convention  at  Baltimore,  in  i860,  nomi- 
nated Mr.  Douglas  as  their  candidate  for 
presidency.  The  results  of  this  election  are 
well  known  and  the  great  events  of  1861 
coming  on,  Mr.  Douglas  was  spared  their 
full  development,  dying  at  Chicago,  Illinois, 
June  3,  1 861,  after  a  short  illness.  His 
last  words  to  his  children  were,  "to  obey 
the  laws  and  support  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States." 


JAMES  MONKOL,  fifth  president  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land county,  Virginia,  April  28,  1758.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  William  and 
Mary  College,  but  two  years  later  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  having  been 
adopted,  he  left  college  and  hastened  to  New 
York  where  he  joined  Washington's  army  as 
a  military  cadet. 

At  the  battle  of  Trenton  Monroe  per- 
formed gallant  service  and  received  a  wound 
in  the  shoulder,  and  was  promoted  to  a 
captaincy.  He  acted  as  aide  to  Lord  Ster- 
ling at  the  battles  of  Brandywine,  German- 
town  and  Monmouth.  Washington  then 
sent  him  to  Virginia  to  raise  a  new  regiment 
of  which  he  was  to  be  colonel.  The  ex- 
hausted condition  of  Virginia  made  this  im  • 
possible,  but  he  received  his  commission. 
He  next  entered  the  law  office  of  Thomas 
Jefferson  to  study  law,  as  there  was  no  open- 
ing  for   him   as  an  officer  in  the  army,      in 


co.\iri-:xnii\\r  OF  n/ochw/'j/r. 


55 


[782  be  was  elected  to  the  Virginia  assem- 
bly, and  the  next  year  he  was  elected  to  the 
Continental  congress.  Realizing  the  inade- 
quacy of  the  old  articles  of  confederation, 
he  advocated  the  calling  of  a  convention  to 
consider  their  revision,  and  introduced  in 
congress  a  resolution  empowering  congress 
to  regulate  trade,  lay  import  duties,  etc. 
This  resolution  was  referred  to  a  committee, 
of  which  he  was  chairman,  and  the  report 
led  to  the  Annapolis  convention,  which 
called  a  general  convention  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia in  1787,  when  the  constitution  was 
drafted.  Mr.  Monroe  began  the  practice  of 
law  at  Fredericksburg,  Virginia,  and  was 
soon  after  elected  to  the  legislature,  and  ap- 
pointed as  one  of  the  committee  to  pass 
upon  the  adoption  of  the  constitution.  He 
opposed  it,  as  giving  too  much  power  to  the 
central  government.  He  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate  in  1789,  where  he 
allied  himself  with  the  Anti-Federalists  or 
"Republicans,"  as  they  were  sometimes 
called.  Although  his  views  as  to  neutrality 
between  France  and  England  were  directly 
opposed  to  those  of  the  president,  yet  Wash- 
ington appointed  him  minister  to  France. 
His  popularity  in  France  was  so  great  that 
the  antagonism  of  England  and  her  friends 
in  this  country  brought  about  his  recall.  He 
then  became  governor  of  Virginia.  He  was 
sent  as  envoy  to  France  in  1S02;  minister 
to  England  in  1803;  and  envoy  to  Spain  in 
1805.  The  next  year  he  returned  to  his 
estate  in  Virginia,  and  with  an  ample  in- 
heritance enjoyed  a  few  years  of  repose.  He 
was  again  called  to  be  governor  of  Virginia, 
and  was  then  appointed  secretary  of  state 
by  President  Madison.  The  war  with  Eng- 
land soon  resulted,  and  when  the  capital 
was  burned  by  the  British,  Mr.  Monroe  be- 
came secretary  of  war  also,  and  planned  the 
measures   for  the  defense  of  New  Orleans. 


The  treasury  being  exhausted  and  credit 
gone,  he  pledged  his  own  estate,  and  thereby 
made  possible  the  victory  of  Jackson  at  New 
Orleans. 

In  181 7  Mr.  Monroe  became  president 
of  the  United  States,  having  been  a  candi- 
date of  the  "Republican"  party,  which  at 
that  time  had  begun  to  be  called  the  "  Demo- 
cratic" party.  In  1820  he  was  re-elected, 
having  two  hundred  and  thirty-one  electoral 
votes  out  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-tw  ». 
His  administration  is  known  as  the  "Era of 
good-feeling, "  and  party  lines  were  almost 
wiped  out.  The  slavery  question  began  to 
assume  importance  at  this  time,  and  the 
Missouri  Compromise  was  passed.  The 
famous  "Monroe  Doctrine"  originated  in  a 
great  state  paper  of  President  Monroe  upon 
the  rumored  interference  of  the  Holy  Alli- 
ance to  prevent  the  formation  of  free  repub- 
lics in  South  America.  President  Monroe 
acknowledged  their  independence,  and  pro- 
mulgated his  great  "Doctrine,"  which  has 
been  held  in  reverence  since.  Mr.  Monroe's 
death  occurred  in  New  York  on  July  4,  1831. 


THOMAS  ALVA  EDISON,  the  master 
wizard  of  electrical  science  and  whose 
name  is  synonymous  with  the  subjugation 
of  electricity  to  the  service  of  man,  was 
born  in  1847  at  Milan,  Ohio,  and  it  was  at 
Port  Huron,  Michigan,  whither  his  parents 
had  moved  in  1854,  that  his  self-education 
began — for  he  never  attended  school  for 
more  than  two  months.  He  eagerly  de- 
voured every  book  he  could  lay  his  hands  on 
and  is  said  to  have  read  through  an  encyclo- 
pedia without  missing  a  word.  At  thirteen  he 
began  his  working  life  as  a  trainboy  upon  the 
Grand  Trunk  Railway  between  Port  Huron 
and  Detroit.  Much  of  his  time  was  now 
spent  in  Detroit,  where  he  found  increased 
\  facilities  for  reading  at  the    public  libraries. 


COMPEXD/r.U  OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


not  content  to  be  a  newsboy,  so  he 
got  cogetner  three  hundred  pounds  of  type 
and  started  the  issue  of  the  "Grand  Trunk 
Herald."  It  was  only  a  small  amateur 
wei  kly,  printed  on  one  side,  the  impression 
being  made  from  the  type  by  hand.  Chemi- 
cal research  was  his  next  undertaking  and 
a  laboratory  v  led  to  his  movable  pub- 

lishing house,  which,  by  the  way,  was  an 
old  freight  car.  One  day,  however,  as  lie 
was  experimenting  with  some  phosphorus, 
it  ignited  and  the  irate  conductor  threw  the 

:  seeker  after  the  truth,  chemicals  and 
all,  from  the  train.  His  office  and  laboratory 
were  then  removed  to  the  cellar  of  his  fa- 
ther's 1  iusi  A^  he  grew  to  manhood  he 
decided  to  become  an  operator.  He  won 
his  opportunity  by  saving  the  life  of  a  child, 
whose  father  was  an  old  operator,  and  out  of 
gratitude  he  gave  Mr.  Edison  lessons  in  teleg- 
raphy. Five  months  later  he  was  compe- 
tent to  fill  a  position  in  the  railroad  office 
at  Port  Huron.  Hence  he  peregrinated  to 
Stratford,  Ontario,  and  th  uccessively 

to  Adrian,  Fort  Wayne,  Indianapolis, 
cinnati,  Memphis,  Louisville  and  Boston, 
gradually  becoming  an  expert  operator  and 
gaining  experience  that  enabled  him  to 
evolve  many  ingenious  ideas  for  the  im- 
provement of  telegraphic  appliances.  At 
Memphis  he   constructed   an  automatic  re- 

r,  which  enabled  Louisville  and  New 
Orleans  to  communicate  direct,  and  received 
nothing  more  than  the  thanks  of  his  em- 
ployers. Mr.  Edison  came  to  New  York  in 
1870  in  search  of  an  opening  more  suitable 
to  his  capabilities  and  ambitions.  He  hap- 
pened to  be  in  the  office  of  the  Laws  Gold 
Reporting  Company  when  one  of  the  in- 
struments got  out  of  order,  and  even  the 
inventor  of  the  system  could  not  make  it 
work.  Edison  requested  to  be  allowed  to 
attempt  the  task,  and   in   a    few  minutes  he 


had  overcome  the  difficulty  and  secured  an 
advantageous  engagement.  For  several 
years  he  had  a  contract  with  the  Western 
Union  and  the  Gold  Stock  companies, 
whereby  he  received  a  large  salary,  besides 
a  special  price  for  all  telegraphic  improve- 
ments he  could  suggest.  Later,  as  the 
head  of  the  Edison  General  Electric  com- 
pany, with  its  numerous  subordinate  organ- 
izations and  connections  all  over  the  civil- 
ized world,  he  became  several  times  a 
millionaire.  Mr.  Edison  invented  the  pho- 
ph  and  kinetograph  which  bear  his 
name,  the  carbon  telephone,  the  tasimeter, 
and  the  duplex  and  quadruples  systems  of 
•raphy. 

JAMES  LONGSTREET,  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  of  the  Confederate  generals 
during  the  Civil  war,  was  born  in  [820,  in 
South  Carolina,  but  was  early  taken  by  his 
ts  to  Alabama  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  received  his  early  education.  He 
graduated  at  the  United  States  military 
academy  in  1842,  entering  the  arm 
lieutenant  and  spent  a  few  years  in  the  lion- 
tier  service.  Winn  the  Mexican  war 
out  he  was  called  to  the  front  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  principal  battles  of  that  war 
up  to  tin-  storming  of  Chapultepec,  where 
he   rei  severe    wounds.      For   gallant 

conduct  at  Contreras,  Cherubusco,  and  Mo- 
lino  del  Rey  he  received  the  brevets  of  cap- 
tain and  major.  After  the  close  of  the 
Mexican  war  Longstreet  served  as  adjutant 
and  captain  on  frontier  service  in  Texas  un- 
til 1S58  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  staff 
as  paymaster  with  rank  of  major.  In  June, 
1 86 1,  he  resigned  to  join  the  Confederacy 
and  immediately  went  to  the  front,  com- 
manding a  brigade  at  Bull  Run  the  follow- 
ing month.  Promoted  to  be  major-general 
in    1862   he  thereafter  bore   a  conspicuous 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


part  and  rendered  valuable  Service  to  tin- 
Confederate  cause.  He  participated  in 
many  of  the  most  severe  battles  of  the  Civil 
war  including  Bull  Run  (first  and  second), 
Seven  Pines,  Gaines'  Mill.  Fraziers  Farm, 
Malvern  Hill.  Antietam,  Frederic! 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Chickamauga, 
the  WilJerness,  Petersburg  and  most  of  the 
fighting  about  Richmond. 

When  the  war  closed  General  Long- 
street  accepted  the  result,  renewed  his  alle- 
giance to  the  government,  and  thereafter 
lab>  .red  earnestly  to  obliterate  all  traces  of 
war  and  promote  an  era  of  good  feeling  be- 
tween all  sections  of  the  country.  He  took 
up  his  residence  in  New  Orleans,  and  took 
an  active  interest  and  prominent  part  in 
public  affairs,  served  as  surveyor  of  that 
port  for  several  years;  was  commissioner  of 
engineers  for  Louisiana,  served  four  years 
as  school  commissioner,  etc.  In  i  S7  5  he 
was  appointed  supervisor  of  internal  revenue 
and  settled  in  Georgia.  After  that  time  he 
served  four  years  as  United  States  minister 
to  Turkey,  and  also  for  a  number  of 
was  United  States  marshal  of  Georgia,  be- 
sides having  held  other  important  official 
positions. 

JOHN  RUTLEDGE,  the  second  chief- 
justice  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  1739. 
He  was  a  son  of  John  Rutledge,  who  had 
left  Ireland  for  America  about  five  years 
prior  to  the  birth  of  our  subject,  and  a 
brother  of  Edward  Rutledge,  a  signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  John  Rut- 
ledge  received  his  legal  education  at  the 
Temple,  London,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Charleston  and  soon  won  distinction  at 
the  bar.  He  was  elected  to  the  old  Colonial 
congress  in  1765  to  protest  against  1 1 1  •  - 
"Stamp  Act,"  and   was   a    member  of   the 


South  Carolina  convention  of  1774,  and  of 
the  Continental  congress  of  that  and  the 
succeeding  year.  In  1770  he  was  chairman 
of  the  committee  that  draughted  the  con- 
stitution of  his  state,  and  was  president  of 
the  congress  of  that  state.  He  was  not 
pleased  with  the  state  constitution,  how- 
ever, and  resigned.  In  1770  he  was  again 
chosen  governor  of  the  state,  and  granted 
extraordinary  powers,  and  he  at  once  took 
the  field  to  repel  the  British.  He  joined 
the  army  of  General  Gates  in  1782,  and  the 
same  year  was  elected  to  congress.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention which  framed  our  present  constitu- 
tion. In  1  ;S<j  he  was  appointed  an  associate 
justice  of  the  first  supreme  court  of  the 
United  States.  He  resigned  to  accept  the 
position  of  chief-justice  of  his  own  state. 
Upon  the  resignation  of  Judge  Jay,  he  was 
appointed  chief-justice  of  the  United  States 
in  1795.  The  appointment  was  never  con- 
firmed, for,  after  presiding  at  one  session, 
his  mind  became  deranged,  and  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Judge  Ellsworth.  He  died  at 
Charleston,  July  23,   1S00. 


RALPH  WALDO  EMERSON  was  one 
of  the  most  noted  literary  men  of  his 
time.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, May  25,  1S03.  Hehada  minister  for 
an  ancestor,  either  on  the  paternal  or  ma- 
ternal side,  in  every  generation  for  eight 
generations  back.  His  father,  Rev.  Will- 
iam Emerson,  was  a  native  of  Concord, 
Massachusetts,  born  Mayo,  [769,  graduated 
at  Harvard,  in  17S9,  became  a  Unitarian 
minister;  was  a  tine  writer  and  one  of  the 
best  orators  of  his  day;  died  in  [8ll. 

Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  was  fitted  for 
college  at  the  public  schools  of  Boston,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1S21,  win- 
ning about    this  time  several   prizes  for  es- 


58 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


says.  For  five  years  he  taught  school  in 
Boston;  in  1826  was  licensed  to  preach,  and 
in  1829  was  ordained  as  a  colleague  to  Rev. 
Henry  Ware  of  the  Second  Unitarian  church 
in  Boston.  In  1832  he  resigned,  making 
the  announcement  in  a  sermon  of  his  un- 
willingness longer  to  administer  the  rite  of 
whe  Lord's  Supper,  after  which  he  spent 
about  a  year  in  Europe.  Upon  his  return 
he  began  his  career  as  a  lecturer  before  the 
Boston  Mechanics  Institute,  his  subject  be- 
ing "Water."  His  early  lectures  on  "  Italy" 
and  "Relation  of  Man  to  the  Globe"  also 
attracted  considerable  attention;  as  did  also 
his  biographical  lectures  on  Michael  Angelo, 
Milton,  Luther,  George  Fox,  and  Edmund 
Burke.  After  that  time  he  gave  many 
courses  of  lectures  in  Boston  and  became 
one  of  the  best  known  lecturers  in  America. 
But  very  few  men  have  rendered  such  con- 
tinued service  in  this  field.  He  lectured  for 
forty  successive  seasons  before  the  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  Lyceum  and  also  made  re- 
peated lecturing  tours  in  this  country  and  in 
England.  In  1835  Mr.  Emerson  took  up 
his  residence  at  Concord,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  continued  to  make  his  home  until 
his  death  which  occurred  April  27,   1882. 

Mr.  Emerson's  literary  work  covered  a 
wide  scope.  He  wrote  and  published  many 
works,  essays  and  poems,  which  rank  high 
among  the  works  of  American  literary  men. 
A  few  of  the  many  which  he  produced  are 
the  following:  "Nature;"  "The  Method 
of  Nature;"  "  Man  Thinking;"  "The  Dial;" 
"Essays;"  "Poems;"  "English  Traits;" 
"The  Conduct  of  Life;"  "May-Day  and 
other  Poems  "  and  "  Society  and  Solitude;" 
besides  many  others.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts 
and  Sciences,  of  the  American  Philosophical 
Society,  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society 
and  other  kindred  associations. 


ALEXANDER  T.  STEWART,  one  of 
the  famous  merchant  princes  of  New 
York,  was  born  near  the  city  of  Belfast,  Ire- 
land, in  1803,  and  before  he  was  eight  years 
of  age  was  left  an  orphan  without  any  near 
relatives,  save  an  aged  grandfather.  The 
grandfather  being  a  pious  Methodist  wanted 
to  make  a  minister  of  young  Stewart,  and 
accordingly  put  him  in  a  school  with  that 
end  in  view  and  he  graduated  at  Trinity  Col- 
lege, in  Dublin.  When  scarcely  twenty 
years  of  age  he  came  to  New  York.  His 
first  employment  was  that  of  a  teacher,  but 
accident  soon  made  him  a  merchant.  En- 
tering into  business  relations  with  an  ex- 
perienced man  of  his  acquaintance  he  soon 
found  himself  with  the  rent  of  a  store  on 
his  hands  and  alone  in  a  new  enterprise. 
Mr.  Stewart's  business  grew  rapidly  in  all 
directions,  but  its  founder  had  executive 
ability  sufficient  for  any  and  all  emergencies, 
and  in  time  his  house  became  one  of  the 
greatest  mercantile  establishments  of  mod- 
ern times,  and  the  name  of  Stewart  famous. 
Mr.  Stewart's  death  occurred  April  10, 
1876.  

JAMES  FEXIMOKE  COOPER.  —  In 
speaking  of  this  noted  American  nov- 
elist, William  Cullen  Bryant  said:  "  He 
wrote  for  mankind  at  large,  hence  it  is  that 
he  has  earned  a  fame  wider  than  any  Amer- 
ican author  of  modern  times.  The  crea- 
tions of  his  genius  shall  survive  through 
centuries  to  come,  and  only  perish  with  our 
language."  Another  eminent  writer  (Pres- 
cott)  said  of  Cooper:  "  In  his  productions 
every  American  must  take  an  honest  pride; 
for  surely  no  one  has  succeeded  like  Cooper 
in  the  portraiture  of  American  character,  or 
has  given  such  glowing  and  eminently  truth- 
ful pictures  of  American  scenery." 

James  Fenimore  Cooper  was  born  Sep- 


com  r  expii .1/  of  biography. 


59 


tember  15,  1789,  at  Burlington,  New  Jer- 
sey, and  was  a  son  of  Judge  William  Cooper. 
About  a  year  after  the  birth  of  our  subject 
the  family  removed  to  Otsego  county,  New 
York,  and  founded  the  town  called  "  Coop- 
erstown."  James  Fenimore  Cooper  spent 
his  childhood  there  and  in  1802  entered 
Yale  College,  and  four  years  later  became  a 
midshipman  in  the  United  States  navy.  In 
181 1  he  was  married,  quit  the  seafaring  life, 
and  began  devoting  more  or  less  time  to  lit- 
erary pursuits.  His  first  work  was  "  Pre- 
caution," a  novel  published  in  18 19,  and 
three  years  later  he  produced  ' '  The  Spy,  a 
Tale  of  Neutral  Ground,"  which  met  with 
great  favor  and  was  a  universal  success. 
This  was  followed  by  many  other  works, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  follow- 
ing: '  •  The  Pioneers, "  ' '  The  Pilot, "  ' '  Last 
of  the  Mohicans,"  "The  Prairie,"  "The 
Red  Rover,"  "The  Manikins,"  "Home- 
ward Bound,"  "Home  as  Found,"  "History 
of  the  United  States  Navy,"  "The  Path- 
finder," "Wing  and  Wing."  "Afloat  and 
Ashore,"  "The  Chain-  Bearer, "  "Oak- 
Openings,"  etc.  J.  Fenimore  Cooper  died 
at  Cooperstown,  New  York,  September  14, 
1851. 

MARSHALL  FIELD,  one  of  the  mer- 
chant princes  of  America,  ranks  among 
the  most  successful  business  men  of  the  cen- 
tury. He  was  born  in  1835  at  Conway, 
Massachusetts.  He  spent  his  early  life  on 
a  farm  and  secured  a  fair  education  in  the 
common  schools,  supplementing  this  with  a 
course  at  the  Conway  Academy.  His 
natural  bent  ran  in  the  channels  of  commer- 
cial life,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was 
given  a  position  in  a  store  at  Pittsfield, 
Massachusetts.  Mr.  Field  remained  there 
four  years  and  removed  to  Chicago  in  1856. 
He  began  his  career  in  Chicago  as   a  clerk 


in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  house  of  Cooley, 
Wadsworth  &  Company,  which  later  be- 
came Cooley,  Farwell  &  Company,  and  still 
later  John  V.  Farwell  &  Company.  He 
remained  with  them  four  years  and  exhibit- 
ed marked  ability,  in  recognition  of  which 
he  was  given  a  partnership.  In  1S65  Mr. 
Field  and  L.  Z.  Leiter,  who  was  also  a 
member  of  the  firm,  withdrew  and  formed 
the  firm  of  Field,  Palmer  &  Leiter,  the 
third  partner  being  Potter  Palmer,  and  they 
continued  in  business  until  1867,  when  Mr. 
Palmer  retired  and  the  firm  became  Field, 
Leiter  &  Company.  They  ran  under  the 
latter  name  until  1881,  when  Mr.  Leiter  re- 
tired and  the  house  has  since  continued  un- 
der the  name  of  Marshall  Field  &  Company. 
The  phenomenal  success  accredited  to  the 
]  house  is  largely  due  to  the  marked  ability 
of  Mr.  Field,  the  house  had  become  one  of 
the  foremost  in  the  west,  with  an  annual 
sale  of  $8,000,000  in  1870.  The  total  loss 
of  the  firm  during  the  Chicago  fire  was 
$3,500,000  of  which  $2,500,000  was  re- 
covered through  the  insurance  companies. 
It  rapidly  recovered  from  the  effects  of  this 
and  to-day  the  annual  sales  amount  to  over 
$40,000,000.  Mr.  Field's  real  estate  hold- 
ings amounted  to  $10,000,000.  He  was 
one  of  the  heaviest  subscribers  to  the  Bap- 
tist University  fund  although  he  is  a  Presby- 
terian, and  gave  $1,000,000  for  the  endow- 
ment of  the  Field  Columbian  Museum — 
one  of  the  greatest  institutions  of  the  kind 
in  the  world. 

EDGAR  WILSON  NYE,  who  won  an  im- 
mense popularity  under  the  pen  name 
of  "  Bill  Nye,"  was  one  of  the  most  eccen- 
tric humorists  of  his  day.  He  was  born  Au- 
gust 25,  1850,  at  Shirley,  Piscataqua  coun- 
ts, Maine,  "at  a  very  early  age"  as  he  ex- 
presses it.      He  took  an  academic  course  in 


60 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


River  Falls,  Wisconsin,  from  whence,  after 
his  graduation,  he  removed  to  Wyoming 
Territory.  He  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1876.  He  began  when 
quite  young  to  contribute  humorous  sketches 
to  the  newspapers,  became  connected  with 
various  western  journals  and  achieved  a 
brilliant  success  as  a  humorist.  Mr.  Nye 
settled  later  in  New  York  City  where  he 
devoted  his  time  to  writing  funny  articles  for 
the  big  newspaper  syndicates.  He  wrote  for 
publication  in  book  form  the  following  : 
"•Bill  Nye  and  the  Boomerang."  "The 
Forty  Liars,"  "Baled  Hay,"  "Bill  Nye's 
Blossom  Rock,"  "Remarks,"  etc.  His 
death  occurred  February  21,  1896,  at  Ashe- 
ville,  North  Carolina. 


THOMAS  DE  WITT  TALMAGE,  one  of 
the  most  celebrated  American  preach- 
irs,  was  born  January  7,  1S32,  and  was  the 
youngest  of  twelve  children.  He  made  his 
preliminary  studies  at  the  grammar  school 
in  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  joined  the  church  and  entered 
the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  and 
graduated  in  May,  1853.  The  exercises 
were  held  in  Niblo's  Garden  and  his  speech 
aroused  the  audience  to  a  high  pitch  of  en- 
thusiasm. At  the  close  of  his  college  duties 
he  imagined  himself  interested  in  the  law 
and  for  three  years  studied  law.  Dr.  Tal- 
mage  then  perceived  his  mistake  and  pre- 
pared himself  for  the  ministry  at  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  Just 
after  his  ordination  the  young  minister  re- 
ceived two  calls,  one  from  Piermont,  New 
York,  and  the  other  from  Belleville,  New 
Jersey.  Dr.  Talmage  accepted  the  latter 
and  for  three  years  filled  that  charge,  when 
he  was  called  to  Syracuse,  New  York.  Here 
it    was    that    his    sermons    first   drew  large 


crowds  of  people  to  his  church,  and  from 
thence  dates  his  popularity.  Afterward  he 
became  the  pastor  of  the  Second  Reformed 
Dutch  church,  of  Philadelphia,  remaining 
seven  years,  during  which  period  he  first 
entered  upon  the  lecture  platform  and  laid 
the  foundation  for  his  future  reputation.  At 
the  end  of  this  time  he  received  three  calls, 
one  from  Chicago,  one  from  San  Francisco, 
and  one  from  the  Central  Presbyi 
church  of  Brooklyn,  which  latter  at  that 
time  consisted  of  only  nineteen  members 
with  a  congregation  of  about  thirty-five. 
This  church  offered  him  a  salary  of  seven 
thousand  dollars  and  he  accepted  the  call. 
He  soon  induced  the  trustees  to  sell  the  old 
church  and  build  a  new  one.  They  did  so 
and  erei  ted  the  Brooklyn  Tal  ,  but 

it  burned  down  shortly  after  it  was  finished. 
By  prompt  sympathy  and  general  liberality 
.1  new  church  was  built  and  formally  opened 
in  February,  1874.  It  contained  seats  for 
four  thousand,  six  hundred  and  fifty,  but  if 
necessary  seven  thousand  could  be  accom- 
modated. In  October,  [878,  his  salary  was 
raised  from  seven  thousand  dollars  to  twelve 
and  dollars,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1  889 
id  tabernacle  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
A  third  tabernacle  was  built  and  it  was  for- 
mally dedicated  on  Easter  Sunday,    1891. 


JOHN  PHILIP  SO  USA,  conceded  as 
being  one  of  the  greatest  band  leaders 
in  the  world,  won  his  fame  while  leader  of 
the  United  States  Marine  Band  at  Washing- 
ton, District  of  Columbia.  He  was  not 
originally  a  band  player  but  was  a  violinist, 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was  conduc- 
tor of  an  opera  company,  a  profession  which 
he  followed  for  several  years,  until  he  was 
offered  the  leadership  of  the  Marine  Band 
at  Washington.  The  proposition  was  re- 
pugnant to  him  at  first  but  he  accepted  the 


MPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHr. 


61 


offer  and  then  ensued  ten  years  of  brilliant 
success  with  that  organisation.  When  he 
first  took  the  Marine  Band  he  began  to 
gather  the  national  airs  of  all  the  nations 
that  have  representatives  in  Washington, 
and  compiled  a  comprehensive  volume  in- 
clading  nearly  all  the  national  songs  of  the 
different  nations.  He  composed  a  number 
of  marches,  waltzes  and  two-steps,  promi- 
nent among  which  are  the  "Washington 
Post,"  "Directorate,"  "King  Cotton," 
"High  School  Cadets."  "Belle  of  Chica- 
go," "Liberty  Bell  March,"  "Manhattan 
Beach,"  "On  Parade  March,"  "  Thunderer 
March,"  "Gladiator  March,"  "  El  Capitan 
March,"  etc.  He  became  a  very  extensive 
composer  of  this  class  of  music. 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  sixth  president 
of  the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Braintree,  Massachusetts,  July  11,  1767, 
the  sou  of  John  Adams.  At  the  age  of 
eleven  he  was  sent  to  school  at  Paris,  and 
ears  later  to  Leyden,  where  he  entered 
that  great  university.  He  returned  to  the 
United  States  in  1785,  and  graduated  from 
Harvard  in  1788.  He  then  studied  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1791.  His 
practice  brought  no  income  the  first  two 
years,  but  he  won  distinction  in  literary 
fields,  and  was  appointed  minister  to  The 
Hague  in  1794.  He  married  in  1797,  and 
went  as  minister  to  Berlin  the  same 
serving  until  1801,  when  Jefferson  became 
president.  He  was  elected  to  the  senate  in 
1803  by  the  Federalists,  but  was  condemned 
by  that  party  for  advocating  the  Embargo 
Act  and  other  Anti-Federalist  measures.  He 
was  appointed  as  professor  of  rhetoric  at 
Harvard  in  1805.  and  in  1809  was  sent  as 
minister  to  Russia.  He  assisted  in  negotiat- 
ing the  treaty  of  peace  with  England  in 
i,  and   became   minister  to  that  power 


the  next  year.  He  served  during  Monroe's 
administration  two  terms  as  secretary  of 
during  which  time  party  lines  were 
obliterated,  and  in  1824  four  candidates  for 
president  appeared,  all  of  whom  were  iden- 
tified to  some  extent  with  the  new  "  Demo- 
cratic" party.  Mr.  A. lams  received  84  elec- 
toral votes,  Jackson  99,  Crawford  41,  and 
Clay  37,  As  no  candidate  had  a  majority 
of  all  votes,  the  election  went  to  the  house 
of  representatives,  which  elected  Mr.  Adams. 
As  Clay  had  thrown  his  influence  to  Mr. 
Adams,  Clay  became  secretary  of  state,  and 
this  caused  bitter  feeling  on  the  part  of  the 
Jackson  Democrats,  who  were  joined  by 
Mr.  Crawford  and  his  following,  and  op- 
posed every  measure  of  the  administration. 
In  the  election  of  1S28  Jackson  was  elected 
over  Mr.  Adams  by  a  great  majority. 

Mr.  Adams  entered  the  lower  house  of 
congress  in  1S30,  elected  from  the  district 
in  which  he  was  born  and  continued  to  rep- 
resent it  for  seventeen  years.  He  was 
known  as  "  the  old  man  eloquent."  and  his 
work  in  congress  was  independent  of  parts'. 
He  opposed  slavery  extension  and  insisted 
upon  presenting  to  congress,  one  at  a  time, 
the  hundreds  of  petitions  against  the  slave 
r.  One  of  these  petitions,  presented  in 
jned  by  forty-five  citizens  of 
ichusetts,  and  prayed  congress  for  a 
peaceful  dissolution  of  the  Union.  His 
enemies  seized  upon  this  as  an  opportunity 
to  crush  their  powerful  foe,  and  in  a  caucus 
meeting  determined  upon  his  expulsion  from 
congress.  Finding  they  would  not  be  able 
to  command  enough  votes  for  this,  they  de- 
cided, upon  a  course  that  would  bring  equal 
disgrace.  They  formulated  a  resolution  to 
the  effect  that  while  he  merited  expulsion, 
the  bouse  would,  in  great  mercy,  substitute 
•crest  censure.  When  it  was  read  in  the 
house  the  old  man,  then  in  his  seventy-fifth 


62 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


year,  arose  and  demanded  that  the  first  para- 
graph of  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
be  read  as  his  defense.  It  embraced  the 
famous  sentence,  "that  whenever  any  form 
of  government  becomes  destructive  to  those 
ends,  it  is  the  right  of  the  people  to  alter  or 
abolish  it,  and  to  institute  new  government, 
etc.,  etc."  After  eleven  days  of  hard  fight- 
ing his  opponents  were  defeated.  On  Febru- 
ary 21,  1848,  he  rose  to  address  the  speaker 
on  the  Oregon  question,  when  he  suddenly 
fell  from  a  stroke  of  paralysis.  He  died 
soon  after  in  the  rotunda  of  the  capitol, 
where  he  had  been  conveyed  by  his  col- 
leagues. 

SUSAN  B.  ANTHONY  was  one  of  the 
most  famous  women  of  America.  She 
was  born  at  South  Adams,  Massachusetts, 
February  15,  1820,  the  daughter  of  a 
Quaker.  She  received  a  good  education 
and  became  a  school  teacher,  following  that 
profession  for  fifteen  years  in  New  York. 
Beginning  with  about  1852  she  became  the 
active  leader  of  the  woman's  rights  move- 
ment and  won  a  wide  reputation  for  her 
zeal  and  ability.  She  also  distinguished 
herself  for  her  zeal  and  eloquence  in  the 
temperance  and  anti-slavery  causes,  and 
became  a  conspicuous  figure  during  the  war. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  she  gave  most  of 
her  labors  to  the  cause  of  woman's  suffrage. 


PHILIP  D.  ARMOUR,  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  figures  in  the  mercantile 
history  of  America,  was  born  May  16,  1832, 
on  a  farm  at  Stockbridge,  Madison  county, 
New  York,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  that  county.  He 
was  apprenticed  to  a  farmer  and  worked 
faithfully  and  well,  being  very  ambitious  and 
desiring  to  start  out  for  himself.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  he  secured  a  release  from  his 


indentures    and    set    out   overland    for    the 
gold    fields  of    California.       After    a   great 
deal  of  hard  work  he  accumulated  a  little 
money    and    then   came  east    and    settled 
in    Milwaukee,    Wisconsin.       He   went  into 
the   grain    receiving    and   warehouse    busi- 
ness and  was  fairly  successful,  and  later  on 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  John  Plankin- 
ton  in  the  pork  packing  line,  the  style  of  the 
firm  being  Plankinton  &  Armour.      Mr.  Ar- 
mour made  his  first  great  ' '  deal  "  in  selling 
pork  "short"  on  the  New  York  market  in 
the  anticipation  of  the  fall  of  the  Confed- 
eracy, and  Mr.  Armour  is  said  to  have  made 
through  this  deal  a  million  dollars.     He  then 
established  packing  houses  in  Chicago  and 
Kansas  City,  and   in    1875   he  removed  to 
Chicago.      He  increased  his  business  by  add- 
ing to  it  the  shipment  of  dressed   beef  to 
the  European  markets,  and  many  other  lines 
of  trade  and  manufacturing,  and  it  rapidly 
assumed    vast    proportions,    employing    an 
army  of  men  in  different  lines  of  the  busi- 
ness.     Mr.  Armour  successfully  conducted  a 
great   many  speculative   deals  in    pork   and 
grain  of  immense  proportions  and  also  erected 
many  large   warehouses  for  the   storage  of 
grain.      He  became  one  of  the  representative 
business  men  of  Chicago,  where  he  became 
closely  identified    with   all    enterprises   of  a 
public   nature,  but  his  fame  as  a  great  busi- 
ness man  extended  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 
He  founded  the  "Armour  Institute  "  at  Chi- 
cago and  also  contributed  largely  to  benevo- 
lent and  charitable  institutions. 


ROBERT  FULTON.— Although  Fulton 
is  best  known  as  the  inventor  of  the 
first  successful  steamboat,  yet  his  claims  to 
distinction  do  not  rest  alone  upon  that,  for 
he  was  an  inventor  along  other  lines,  a 
painter  and  an  author.  He  was  born  at 
Little   Britain,  Lancaster   county,  Pennsy! 


Mrr.xmru  <>/■    iuoc,n.\riiy. 


65 


vania,  in  1765,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  removed  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  there  and  in  New  York  en- 
gaged in  miniature  painting  with  success 
both  from  a  pecuniar)-  and  artistic  point  of 
view.  With  the  results  of  his  labors  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  for  the  support  of  his  mother. 
He  went  to  London  and  studied  under  the 
great  painter,  Benjamin  West,  and  all 
through  life  retained  his  fondness  for  art 
and  gave  evidence  of  much  ability  in  that 
line.  While  in  England  he  was  brought  in 
contact  with  the  Duke  of  Bridgewater,  the 
father  of  the  English  canal  system;  Lord 
Stanhope,  an  eminent  mechanician,  and 
James  Watt,  the  inventor  of  the  steam  en- 
gine. Their  influence  turned  his  mind  to  its 
true  field  of  labor,  that  of  mechanical  in- 
vention. Machines  for  flax  spinning, 
marble  sawing,  rope  making,  and  for  remov- 
ing earth  from  excavations,  are  among  his 
earliest  ventures.  His  "Treatise  on  the 
Improvement  of  Canal  Navigation,"  issued 
in  1 796,  and  a  series  of  essays  on  canals 
were  soon  followed  by  an  English  patent 
for  canal  improvements.  In  1797  he  went 
to  Paris,  where  he  resided  until  1806,  and 
there  invented  a  submarine  torpedo  boat  for 
maritime  defense,  but  which  was  rejected 
by  the  governments  of  France,  England  and 
the  United  States.  In  1803  he  offered  to  con- 
struct for  the  Emperor  Napoleon  a  steam- 
boat that  would  assist  in  carrying  out  the 
plan  of  invading  Great  Britain  then  medi- 
tated by  that  great  captain  In  pursuance 
he  constructed  his  first  steamboat  on  the 
Seine,  but  it  did  not  prove  a  full  success 
and  the  idea  was  abandoned  by  the  French 
government.  By  the  aid  of  Livingston, 
then  United  States  minister  to  France, 
Fulton  purchased,  in  1806,  an  engine  which 
he  brought  to  this  country.  After  studying 
the  defects  of  his  own  and  other  attempts  in 


this  line  he  built  and  launched  in  1807  the 
Clermont,  the  first  successful  steamboat. 
This  craft  only  attained  a  speed  of  five 
miles  an  hour  while  going  up  North  river. 
His  first  patent  not  fully  covering  his  in- 
vention, Fulton  was  engaged  in  many  law 
suits  for  infringement.  He  constructed 
many  steamboats,  ferryboats,  etc.,  among 
these  being  the  United  States  steamer 
'•  Fulton  the  First,"  built  in  1814,  the  first 
war  steamer  ever  built.  This  craft  never 
attained  any  great  speed  owing  to  some  de- 
fects in  construction  and  accidentally  blew 
up  in  1829.  Fulton  died  in  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary 21,   l8l  5. 


SALMON  PORTLAND  CHASE,  sixth 
chief-justice  of  the  United  States,  and 
one  of  the  most  eminent  of  American  jurists, 
was  born  in  Cornish,  New  Hampshire,  Jan- 
uary 13,  1808.  At  the  age  of  nine  he  was 
left  in  poverty  by  the  death  of  his  father, 
but  means  were  found  to  educate  him.  He 
was  sent  to  his  uncle,  a  bishop,  who  con- 
ducted an  academy  near  Columbus.  Ohio, 
and  here  young  Chase  worked  on  the  farm 
and  attended  school.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
he  returned  to  his  native  state  and  entered 
Dartmouth  College,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1 826.  He  then  went  to  Washington, 
and  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  study- 
ing law  under  the  instruction  of  William 
Wirt.  He  was  licensed  to  practice  in  1S29, 
and  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  had  a 
hard  struggle  for  several  years  following. 
He  had  in  the  meantime  prepared  notes  on 
the  statutes  of  Ohio,  which,  when  published, 
brought  him  into  prominence  locally.  He 
was  soon  after  appointed  solicitor  of  the 
United  States  Bank.  In  1837  he  appeared 
as  counsel  for  a  fugitive  slave  woman,  Ma- 
tilda, and  sought  by  all  the  powers  of  his 
learning  and  eloquence  to  prevent  her  owner 


66 


COMPEXDICM    OF    BIOG RA  />// T. 


from  reclaiming  her.  He  acted  in  many 
other  cases,  and  devolved  the  trite  expres- 
sion, "Slavery  is  sectional,  freedom  is  na- 
tional." He  was  employed  to  defend  Van 
Zandt  before  the  supreme  court  of  the  United 
States  in  1846,  which  was  one  of  the  most 
noted  cases  connected  with  the  great  strug- 
gle against  slavery.  By  this  time  Mr.  Chase 
had  become  the  recognized  leader  of  that 
element  known  as  "  free-soilers."  He  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate  in  1849, 
and  was  chosen  governor  of  Ohio  in  1855 
and  re-elected  in  1857.  He  was  chosen  to 
the  United  States  senate  from  Ohio  in  1861, 
but  was  made  secretary  of  the  treasury  by 
Lincoln  and  accepted.  He  inaugurated  a 
financial  system  to  replenish  the  exhausted 
treasury  and  meet  the  demands  of  the  great- 
est war  in  history  and  at  tin-  same  time  to 
revive  the  industries  of  the  country.  One 
of  the  measures  which  afterward  called  for 
his  judicial  attention  was  the  issuance  of 
currency  notes  which  were  made  a  legal 
tender  in  payment  of  debts.  When  this 
question  came  before  him  as  chief-justice 
of  the  United  States  he  reversed  his  former 
n  ami  declared  the  measure  unconstitu- 
tional. The  national  banking  system,  by 
which  all  notes  issued  were  to  be  based  on 
funded  gov<  rnment  bonds  of  equal  or  greater 
amounts,  had  its  direct  origin  with  Mr.  Chase. 
Mr.  Chase  resigned  the  treasury  port- 
folio in  1864,  and  was  appointed  the  same 
year  as  chief-justice  of  the  United  States 
supreme  court.  The  great  questions  that 
came  up  before  him  at  this  crisis  in  the  life 
of  the  nation  were  no  less  than  those  which 
confronted  the  first  chief-justice  at  the  for- 
mation of  our  government.  Reconstruction, 
private,  state  and  national  interests,  the 
constitutionality  of  the  acts  of  congress 
passed  in  times  of  great  excitement,  the 
construction  and  interpretation  to  be  placed 


upon  the  several  amendments  to  the  national 
constitution, — these  were  among  the  vital 
questions  requiring  prompt  decision.  He 
received  a  paralytic  stroke  in  1870,  which 
impaired  his  health,  thcugh  his  mental 
powers  were  not  affected.  He  continued  to 
pn  Mile  at  the  opening  terms  for  two  years 
following  and  died  May  7,    1S73. 


HARRIET  ELIZABETH  BEECHER 
STOWE,  a  celebrated  American  writ- 
er, was  born  June  14,  l8l2,  at  Litchfield, 
Connecticut.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Lyman 
Beecher  and  a  sister  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher, 
two  noted  divines;  was  carefully  educated, 
and  taught  school  for  several  years  at  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut.  In  1832  Miss  Beecher 
married  Professor  Stowe,  then  of  Lane  Semi- 
nar}', Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  afterwards  at 
Bowdoin  College  and  Andover  Seminary. 
Mrs.  Stowe  published  in  1 S49  "The  May- 
Bower,  or  sketches  of  the  descendants  of  the 
Pilgrims,"  and  in  1851  commenced  in  the 
"National  Era  "of  Washington,  a  serial  story 
which  was  published  separately  in  1  S52  under 
the  title  of  "Uncle  Tom's  Cabin."  This 
book  attained  almost  unparalleled  su< 
both  at  home  and  abroad,  and  within  ten  years 
it  had  been  translated  in  almost  every  lan- 
guage  of  the  civilized  world.  Mis  Stowe  pub- 
lished in  1853  a  "Key  to  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin" 
in  winch  the  data  that  she  used  was  published 
and  its  truthfulness  was  corroborated.  In 
1853  she  accompanied  her  husband  and 
brother  to  Europe,  and  on  her  return  pub- 
lished "Sunny  Memories  of  Foreign  Lands" 
in  1854.  Mrs.  Stowe  was  for  some  time 
one  of  the  editors  of  the  "  Atlantic  Monthly  " 
and  the  "  Hearth  and  Home,"  for  which 
she  had  written  a  number  of  articles. 
Among  these,  also  published  separately,  are 
' '  Dred,  a  tale  of  the  Great  Dismal  Swamp  " 
(later  published  under  the  title  of   "Nina 


\fPENDIUM  OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


67 


Gord.  The  Minister's  Wooing;"  "The 

Pearl  of  Orr's  Island;"  "Af  nto;" 

•■Old:  ks;""My  Wife  and  I 

nes,"   and  "A    1'  g's   Mission."      Mrs. 
h   occurred    July    i,    1S96,   at 
Hartford,  Conne.ticut. 


THOMAS    JONATHAN  JACKSON,  bet- 
ter   known  as    "Si   newall"    Jackson, 
was  one  of  the  m  1  of  the  Confeder- 

ate gene-als  of  the  Civil  war.  \ 
soldier  by  nature,  an  incomparable  lieuten- 
ant, sure  to  execute  any  operation  entrusted 
to  him  with  marvellous  precis 
and  courage,  and  all  his  individual  cam- 
paigns and  combats  bore  the  stamp  of  a 
masterly  capacity  for  war.  He  was  born 
January  21,  1S24.  at  Clarksburg,  Hai 
county.  West  Virginia.  He  was  early  in 
life  imbued  with  the  desire  to  be  a  soldier 
and  it  is  said  walked  from  the  mountains  of 
Virginia  to  Washington,  secured  the  aid  of 
his  congressman,  and  was  appointed  cadet 
at  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at 
-  Point  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1846.  Attached  to  the  army  as  brevet  sec- 
ond lieutenant  of  the  First  Artillery,  his 
service  was  as  a  subaltern  with  Magruder's 
battery  of  light  artillery  in  the  Mexican  war. 
He  participated  at  the  reduction  of 
Cruz,  and  was  noticed  for  gallantry  in  the 
battles  of  Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras,  Moline 
del  Rey,  Chapultepec,  and  the  capture  of 
the  city  of  Mexico,  receiving  the  brevets  of 
captain  for  conduct  at  Contreras  and  Cher- 
ubusco  and  of  major  at  Chapultepec.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  been  advanced  by 
regular  promotion  to  be  first  lieutenant  in 
-2.  the  war  having  closed,  he 
ied  and  became  professor  of  natural 
and  experimental  philosophy  and  artillery 
instructor  at  the  Virginia  State  Military 
Institute   at   Lexington.  Virginia,  where  he 


remained  until  Virginia  decla: 

he  becoming  chiefly  noted  for  intense 

us  sentiment   coupled   with  pei 
eccentricities.      Upon    the   breaking  0 
the  war  he  was  made  colonel   and   placed  in 
command  of  a  force  sent  to  sieze  Harper's 

.  which  he  accomplished  Ma\ 
Relieved  by  General  J.  E.  Johnston,  May 
23,  he  took  command  of  the  brigade  of 
Valley  Virginians,  whom  be  moulded  into 
that  brave  corps,  baptized  at  the  first 
Manassas,    and    ev«r    after   famous    as    the 

newall  Brigade."  After  this  "Stone- 
wall "  Jackson  was  made  a  n  leral, 
1,  and  participated  until  his  death  in 
all  the  famous  campaigns  about  Richmond 
and  in  Virginia,  and  was  a  conspicuoi: 
ure  in  the  memorable  battles  of  that  time. 
May  2.  1863,  at  Chancellorsville,  he  was 
wounded  severely  by  his  own  troops,  two 
balls  shattering  his  left  arm  and  another 
passing  through  the  palm  of  his  right  hand. 
The  left  arm  was  amputated,  but  pneumonia 
intervened,  and,  weakened  by  the  great  loss 
of  blood,  he  died  May  10.  1863.  The  more 
his  operations  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  in 
1862  are  studied  the  more  striking  must  the 
merits  of  this  great  soldier  appear. 


JOHN 

J    Near 


GREENLEAF  WHITTIER.— 
:ar  to  the  heart  of  the  people  of  the 
Anglo-Saxon  race  will  ever  lie  the  verses  of 
this,  the  "Quaker  Poet."  The  author  of 
"Barclay  of  Ury,"  "Maud  Muller"  and 
"Barbara  Frietchie,"  always  pure,  fervid 
and  direct,  will  be  remembered  when  many 
a  more  ambitious  writer  has  been  forgotten. 
John  G.  Whittier  was  born  at  Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts,  December  7,  1807.  of 
Ouaker  parentage.  He  had  but  a  common- 
school  education  and  passed  his  boyhood 
days  upon  a  farm.  In  early  life  he  learned 
the  trade    of    shoemaker       At    the   age   of 


63 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


eighteen  he  began  to  write  verses  for  the 
Haverhill  "  Gazette."  He  spent  two  years 
after  that  at  the  Haverhill  academy,  after 
which,  in  1829,  he  became  editor  of  the 
"American  Manufacturer,"  at  Boston.  In 
1830  he  succeeded  George  D.  Prentice  as 
editor  of  the  "New  England  Weekly  Re- 
view," but  the  following  year  returned  to 
Haverhill  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1832 
and  in  1836  he  edited  the  "Gazette."  In 
1835  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature, serving  two  years.  In  1836  he  became 
secretary  of  the  Anti-slavery  Society  of  Phil- 
adelphia. In  1S38  and  1839  he  edited  the 
"  Pennsylvania  Freeman,"  but  in  the  latter 
year  the  office  was  sacked  and  burned  by  a 
mob.  In  1840  Whittier  settled  at  Ames- 
bury,  Massachusetts.  In  1847  he  became 
corresponding  editor  of  the  "  National  Era," 
an  anti-slavery  paper  published  at  Washing- 
ton, and  contributed  to  its  columns  many  of 
his  anti-slavery  and  other  favorite  lyrics. 
Mr.  Whittier  lived  for  many  years  in  retire- 
ment of  Quaker  simplicity,  publishing  several 
volumes  of  poetry  which  have  raised  him  to 
a  high  place  among  American  authors  and 
brought  to  him  the  love  and  admiration  of 
his  countrymen.  In  the  electoral  colleges 
of  iS6oand  1864  Whittier  was  a  member. 
Much  of  his  time  after  18/6  was  spent  at 
Oak  Knoll,  Danvers,  Massachusetts,  but 
still  retained  his  residence  at  Amesbury. 
He  never  married.  His  death  occurred  Sep- 
tember 7,  1892. 

The  more  prominent  prose  writings  of 
John  G.  Whittier  are  as  follows:  "Legends 
of  New  England,"  "Justice  and  Expediency, 
or  Slavery  Considered  with  a  View  to  Its  Abo- 
lition." "  The  Stranger  in  Lowell,"  "Super- 
naturalism  in  New  England,"  "  Leaves  from 
Margaret  Smith's  Journal,"  "Old  Portraits 
and  Modern  Sketches"  and  "Literary 
Sketches." 


DAVID  DLXON  PORTER,  illustrious  as 
admiral  of  the  United  States  navy,  and 
famous  as  one  of  the  most  able  naval  offi- 
cers of  America,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
June  8,  1 8 14.  His  father  was  also  a  naval 
officer  of  distinction,  who  left  the  service  of 
the  United  States  to  become  commander  of 
the  naval  forces  of  Mexico  during  the  war 
between  that  country  and  Spain,  and 
through  this  fact  David  Dixon  Porter  was 
appointed  a  midshipman  in  the  Mexican 
navy.  Two  years  later  David  D.  Porter 
joined  the  United  States  navy  as  midship- 
man, rose  in  rank  and  eighteen  years  later 
as  a  lieutenant  he  is  found  actively  engaged 
in  all  the  operations  of  our  navy  along  the 
east  coast  of  Mexico.  When  the  Civil  war 
broke  out  Porter,  then  a  commander,  was 
dispatched  in  the  Powhattan  to  the  relief  of 
Fort  Pickens,  Florida.  This  duty  accom- 
plished, he  fitted  out  a  mortar  flotilla  for 
the  reduction  of  the  forts  guarding  the  ap- 
proaches to  New  Orleans,  which  it  was  con- 
sidered of  vital  importance  for  the  govern- 
ment to  get  possession  of.  After  the  fall  of 
New  Orleans  the  mortar  flotilla  was  actively 
engaged  at  Vicksburg,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1862  Porter  was  made  a  rear-admiral  and 
placed  in  command  of  all  the  naval  forces 
on  the  western  rivers  above  New  Orleans. 
The  ability  of  the  man  was  now  con- 
spicuously manifested,  not  only  in  the  bat- 
tles in  which  he  was  engaged,  but  also  in 
the  creation  of  a  formidable  fleet  out  of 
river  steamboats,  which  he  covered  with 
such  plating  as  they  would  bear.  In  1864 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Atlantic  coast  to 
command  the  naval  forces  destined  to  oper- 
ate against  the  defences  of  Wilmington, 
North  Carolina,  and  on  Jan.  15,  1865,  the 
fall  of  Fort  Fisher  was  hailed  by  the  country 
as  a  glorious  termination  of  his  arduous  war 
service.      In  1866  he  was  made  vice-admiral 


MPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


fo 


and  appointed  superintendent  of  the   N 
Academy.      On   the  death  of   Farragut,  in 
iS/C,  he  succeeded  that   able   man  as  ad- 
miral of  the  navy.      His   death  occurred  at 
Washington,  February  13,  1S91. 


NATHANIEL  GREENE  was  one  of  the 
best  known  of  the  distinguished 
erals  who  led  the  Continental  soldiery 
against  the  hosts  of  Great  Britain  during 
the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  the  son 
of  Quaker  parents,  and  was  born  at  War- 
wick, Rhode  Island,  May  27,  \~  \z.  In 
youth  he  acquired  a  good  education,  chiefly 
by  his  own  efforts,  as  he  was  a  tireless 
reader.  In  1770  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  Assembly  of  his  native  state.  The 
news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  stirred 
his  blood,  and  he  offered  his  services  to 
the  government  of  the  colonies,  receiving 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general  and  the  com- 
mand of  the  troops  from  Rhode  Island. 
He  led  them  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge, 
and  for  thus  violating  the  tenets  of  their 
faith,  he  was  cast  out  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  or  Quakers.  He  soon  won  the  es- 
teem of  General  Washington.  In  August, 
" "  Congress  promoted  Greene  to  the 
rank  cf  major-general,  and  in  the  battles  of 
Trenton  and  Princeton  he  led  a  division. 
At  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine,  September  11, 
.  he  greatly  distinguished  himself,  pro- 
tecting the  retreat  of  the  Continentals  by 
his  firm  stand.  At  the  battle  of  German- 
town,  October  4,  the  same  year,  he  com- 
manded the  left  wing  of  the  army  with 
credit.  In  March,  1778,  he  reluctantly  ac- 
cepted the  office  of  quartermaster-general, 
but  only  with  the  understanding  that  his 
rank  in  the  army  would  not  be  affected  and 
that  in  action  he  should  retain  his  command. 
On  the  bloody  field  of  Monmouth,  June  28, 
1778,  he  commanded  the  right  wing,  as  he 


did  at  the  battle  of  Tiverton  Heights.  He 
was  in  command  of  the  army  in  1780,  dur- 
ing the  absence  of  Washington,  and  was 
president  of  the  court-martial  that  tried  and 
condemned  Major  Andre.  After  General 
Gates'  defeat  at  Camden,  North  Carolina,  in 
the  summer  of  1780,  General  Greene  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  the  southern  army. 
He  sent  out  a  .force  under  General  Morgan 
who  defeated  General  Tarleton  at  Cowpens, 
January  17.  17S1.  On  joining  his  lieuten- 
ant, in  February,  he  found  himself  out  num- 
bered by  the  British  and  retreated  in  good 
order  to  Virginia,  but  being  reinforced  re- 
turned to  North  Carolina  where  he  fought 
the  battle  of  Guilford,  and  a  few  days  later 
compelled  the  retreat  of  Lord  Cornwallis. 
The  British  were  followed  by  Greene  part 
of  the  way,  when  the  American  army 
marched  into  South  Carolina.  After  vary- 
ing success  he  fought  the  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs,  September  8,  1781.  For  the  latter 
battle  and  its  glorious  consequences,  which 
virtually  closed  the  war  in  the  Carolinas, 
Greene  received  a  medal  from  Congress  and 
many  valuable  grants  of  land  from  the 
colonies  of  North  and  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia.  On  the  return  of  peace,  after  a 
year  spent  in  Rhode  Island,  General  Greene 
took  up  his  residence  on  his  estate  near 
Savannah,  Georgia,  where  he  died  June  19, 
1786.  

EDGAR  ALLEN  POE.— Among  the 
many  great  literary  men  whom  this 
country  has  produced,  there  is  perhaps  no 
name  more  widely  known  than  that  of  Ed- 
gar Allen  Poe.  He  was  born  at  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  February  19,  1809.  His 
parents  were  David  and  Elizabeth  (Arnold) 
Poe,  both  actors,  the  mother  said  to  have 
been  the  natural  daughter  of  Benedict  Ar- 
nold.     The  parents  died  while   Edgar  was 


70 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


still  a  child  and  he  was  adopted  by  John 
Allen,  a  wealthy  and  influential  resident  of 
Richmond,  Virginia.  Edgar  was  sent  to 
school  at  Stoke,  Newington,  England, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  thirteen 
years  old;  was  prepared  for  college  by  pri- 
vate tutors,  ami  in  i  826  entered  the  Virginia 
University    at     Clfarlol  lie    made 

rapid  progress  in  his  studies,  and  was  dis- 
tinguished fur  his  scholarship,  but  was  ex- 
pelled within  a  year  for  gambling,  after 
which  for  several  years  he  resided  with  his 
benefactor  at  Richmond.  He  then  went  to 
Baltimore,  and  in  1829  published  a  7  1 -page 
pamphlel  called  "Al  Aaraaf,  Tamerlane 
and  Minor  Poems,"  which,  however,  at- 
tracted no  attention  and  contained  nothing 
of  particular  merit.  In  1830  he  was  ad- 
mitted as  a  cadet  at  West  Point,  but  was 
expelled  about  a  year  later  for  irregulari- 
ties. Returning  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Allen 
he  remained  for  some  time,  and  finally 
quarrelled  with  his  benefactor  an  I  enl 
as  a  private  soldier  in  the  (J.  S.  aim},  but 
remained  only  a  short  time.  Soon  after 
this,  in  (833,  Poe  won  several  prizi 
literary  work,  and  as  a  result  secured  the 
position  of  editor  of  the  "Southern  Liter- 
ary Messenger,"  at  Richmond,  Virginia. 
Here  he  married  his  cousin,  Virginia 
Clemm,  who  clung  to  him  with  fond  devo- 
tion through  all  the  many  trials  that  came 
to  them  until  her  death  in  January,  [848. 
Poe  remained  with  the  "Messenger"  for 
several  years,  writing  meanwhile  many 
tales,  reviews,  essays  and  poems.  He  aft- 
erward earned  a  precarious  living  by  his 
pen  in  New  York  for  a  time;  in  1839  be- 
came editor  of  "Burton's  Gentleman's 
Magazine"  ;  in  1840  to  1842  was  editor  of 
"Graham's  Magazine,"  and  drifted  around 
from  one  place  to  another,  returning  to 
New    York    in    \%xx.       In    184^    his    best 


known  production,  "The  Raven,"  appeared 
in  the  "Whig  Review,"  and  gained  him  a 
reputation  which  is  now  almost  world-wide. 
He  then  acted  as  editor  and  contributor  on 
various  magazines  and  periodicals  until  the 
death  of  his  faithful  wife  in  1848.  In  the 
summer  of  18.40  he  was  engaged  to  be  mar- 
ried to  a  l.nlv  of  fortune  in  Richmond,  Vir- 
ginia,  and    the    day    set     for    the    wedding. 

arted  for  New  York  to  make  prepara- 
tions tor  .  lit,  but,  it  is  said,  P  an 
drinking,  was  attacked  with  dilirium  tre- 
mens in  Baltimore  and  was  removed  to  a 
hospital,  where  lie  died,  October  7,  1849. 
The  works  of  Edgar  Allen    Poe   have   been 

tedly  published  since  his  death,  both 
in    Ei  ica,  and  have  att 

an  immense  popularity. 


Hi  IRATP  >  GA  IPS.  one  of  the  prom- 
inent figures  in  the  American  war  for 
Independence,  was  not  a  native  of  the  col- 
Nut  was  born  in  England  in  1728.  In 
early  life  he  entered  the  British  army  and 
attained  the  rank  of  major.  At  the  capture 
i|  Marti nico  he  was  aide  to  General  Monk- 
ton  and  after  the  1  I  Aix  la  Cha] 
in  1748,  he  was  among  the  first  troops  that 
landed  at  Halifax.  IP-  was  with  Braddock 
at  his  defeat  in  1 75 5,  and  was  there  severe- 
ly wounded.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
French  and  Indian  war  Gates  purchased  an 
111  \  irginia,  and,  resigning  from  the 
British  army,  settled  down  to  life  as  a 
planter.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary war  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
colonies  and  was  made  adjutant-gemi 
the  Continental  forces  with  the  rank  of 
brigadier-general.  He  accompanied  Wash- 
ington when  he  assumed  the  command  o\ 
the  army.  In  June,  1776,  he  was  appoint- 
ed to  the  command  of  the  army  of  Canada, 
but  was  superseded  in  May  of  the  following 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


V! 


year  by  General  Schuyler.  In  August, 
.  however,  the  command  of  that  army 
was  restored  to  General  Gates  and  Septem- 
ber 19  he  fought  the  battle  of  Bemis 
Heights.  October  7,  the  same  year,  he 
won  the  battle  of  Stillwater,  or  Saratoga, 
and  October  17  received  the  surrender  of 
General  Burgoyne  and  his  army,  the  pivotal 
point  of  the  war.  This  gave  him  a  brilliant 
reputation.  June  13,  17  So,  General  Gates 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
southern  military  division,  and  August  16  of 
that  year  suffered  defeat  at  the  hands  of 
Lord  Cornwallis.  at  Camden,  North  Car- 
olina. In  December  following  he  was 
superseded  in  the  command  by  General 
Nathaniel  Greene. 

On  the  signing  of  the  peace  treaty  Gen- 
eral Gates  retired  to  his  plantation  in 
Berkeley  county,  Virginia,  where  he  lived 
until  1790,  when,  emancipating  all  his 
slaves,  he  removed  to  New  York  City,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death,  April   10,  1806. 


LYMAN  J.  GAGE.— When  President  Mc- 
Kinley  selected  Lyman  J.  Gage  as  sec- 
retary of  the  treasury  he  chose  one  of  the 
most  eminent  financiers  of  the  century.  Mr. 
Gage  was  born  June  28,  1836,  at  De  Ruy- 
ter,  Madison  county.  New  York,  and  was  of 
English  descent.  He  went  to  Rome,  New 
York,  with  his  parents  when  he  was  ten 
years  old,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  the  Rome  Academy.  Mr.  Gage  gradu- 
ated from  the  same,  and  his  first  position 
was  that  of  a  clerk  in  the  post  office.  When 
he  was  fifteen  years  of  age  he  was  detailed 
as  mail  agent  on  the  Rome  &  Watertown 
K  R.  until  the  postmaster-general  appointed 
regular  agents  for  the  route.  In  1854,  when 
he  was  in  his  eighteenth  year,  he  entered 
the  Oneida  Central  Bank  at  Rome  as  a 
junior  clerk  at  a  salary  of  one  hundred  dol- 


lars per  year.  Being  unable  at  the  end  01 
one  year  and  a  half's  service  to  obtain  an 
5e  in  salary  he  determined  to  seek  a 
wider  field  of  labor.  Mr.  Gage  set  out  in 
the  fall  of  1 S 5  5  and  arrived  in  Chicago, 
Illinois,  on  October  3,  and  soon  obtained  a 
situation  in  Nathan  Cobb's  lumber  yard  and 
planing  mill.  Ke  remained  there  three  years 
as  a  bookkeeper,  teamster,  etc.,  and  left  on 
account  of  change  in  the  management.  But 
not  being  able  to  find  anything  else  to  do  he 
accepted  the  position  of  night  watchman  in 
the  place  for  a  period  of  six  weeks.  He 
then  became  a  bookkeeper  for  the  Mer- 
chants Saving,  Loan  and  Trust  Company  at 
a  salary  of  five  hundred  dollars  per  year. 
He  rapidly  advanced  in  the  service  of  this 
company  and  in  1868  he  was  made  cashier. 
Mr.  Gage  was  next  offered  the  position  of 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  and  ac- 
cepted the  offer.  He  became  the  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Chicago  Jan- 
uary 24,  1S91,  and  in  1897  he  was  appointed 
secretary  of  the  treasury.  His  ability  as  a 
!  financier  and  the  prominent  part  he  took  in 
the  discussion  of  financial  affairs  while  presi- 
dent of  the  great  Chicago  bank  gave  him  a 
national  reputation. 


NDREW  JACKSON,  the  seventh  pres- 


A  NDREW 
ident  of 


at  the  Waxhaw  settlement,  Union  county, 
N.>rth  Carolina,  March  15,  1767.  His 
parents  were  Scotch-Irish,  natives  of  Carr- 
ickfergus,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1665 
and  settled  on  Twelve-Mile  creek,  a  trib- 
utary of  the  Catawba.  His  father,  who 
was  a  poor  farm  laborer,  died  shortly  be- 
fore Andrew's  birth,  when  the  mother  re- 
moved to  Waxhaw,  where  some  relatives 
lived.  Andrew's  education  was  very  limited, 
he  showing  no  aptitude  for  study.  In  17S0 
when  but  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  and    his 


72 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


brother  Robert  volunteered  to  serve  in  the 
American  partisan  troops  under  General 
Sumter,  and  witnessed  the  defeat  at  Hang- 
ing Rock.  The  following  year  the  boys 
were  both  taken  prisoners  by  the  enemy 
and  endured  brutal  treatment  from  the 
British  officers  while  confined  at  Camden. 
They  both  took  the  small  pox,  when  the 
mother  procured  their  exchange  but  Robert 
died  shortly  after.  The  mother  died  in 
Charleston  of  ship  fever,  the  same  year. 

Young  Jackson,  now  in  destitute  cir- 
cumstances, worked  for  about  six  months  in 
a  saddler's  shop,  and  then  turned  school 
master,  although  but  little  fitted  for  the 
position.  He  now  began  to  think  of  a  pro- 
fession and  at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina, 
entered  upon  the  study  of  law,  but  from  all 
accounts  gave  but  little  attention  to  his 
books,  being  one  of  the  most  roistering, 
rollicking  fellows  in  that  town,  indulging  in 
many  of  the  vices  of  his  time.  In  1786  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  in  1788  re- 
moved to  Nashville,  then  in  North  Carolina, 
with  the  appointment  of  public  prosecutor, 
then  an  office  of  little  honor  or  emolument, 
but  requiring  much  nerve,  for  which  young 
Jackson  was  already  noted.  Two  years 
later,  when  Tennessee  became  a  territory 
he  was  appointed  by  Washington  to  the 
position  of  United  States  attorney  for  that 
district.  In  1791  he  married  Mrs.  Rachel 
Robards,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  John  Don- 
elson,  who  was  supposed  at  the  time  to 
have  been  divorced  from  her  former  hus- 
band that  year  by  act  of  legislature  of  Vir- 
ginia, but  two  years  later,  on  finding  that 
this  divorce  was  not  legal,  and  a  new  bill  of 
separation  being  granted  by  the  courts  of 
Kentucky,  they  were  remarried  in  1793. 
This  was  used  as  a  handle  by  his  oppo- 
nents in  the  political  campaign  afterwards. 
Jackson  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  as  United 


States  attorney  and  obtained  much  influence. 
He  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  1796,  when  Tennessee 
became  a  state  and  was  its  first  represent- 
ative in  congress.  In  1797  he  was  chosen 
United  States  senator,  but  resigned  the  fol- 
lowing year  to  accept  a  seat  on  the  supreme 
court  of  Tennessee  which  he  held  until 
1804.  He  was  elected  major-general  of 
the  militia  of  that  state  in  1801.  In  1804, 
being  unsuccessful  in  obtaining  the  govern- 
orship of  Louisiana,  the  new  territory,  he 
retired  from  public  life  to  the  Hermitage, 
his  plantation.  On  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  with  Great  Britain  in  1812  he  tendered 
his  services  to  the  government  and  went  to 
New  Orleans  with  the  Tennessee  troops  in 
January,  [813.  In  March  of  that  year  he 
was  ordered  to  disband  his  troops,  but  later 
marched  against  the  Cherokee  Indians,  de- 
feating them  at  Talladega,  Emuckfaw 
and  Tallapoosa.  Having  now  a  national 
reputation,  he  was  appointed  major-general 
in  the  United  States  army  and  was  sent 
against  the  British  in  Florida.  He  con- 
ducted the  defence  of  Mobile  and  seized 
Pensacola.  He  then  went  with  his  troops 
to  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  where  he  gained 
the  famous  victory  of  January  8,  1815.  In 
1817-18  he  conducted  a  war  against  the 
Seminoles,  and  in  1821  was  made  governor 
of  the  new  territory  of  Florida.  In  1823 
he  was  elected  United  States  senator,  but 
in  1 824  was  the  contestant  with  J.  O.  Adams 
for  the  presidency.  Four  years  later  he. 
was  elected  president,  and  served  two  terms. 
In  1832  he  took  vigorous  action  against  the 
nullifiers  of  South  Carolina,  and  the  next 
year  removed  the  public  money  from  the 
United  States  bank.  During  his  second 
term  the  national  debt  was  extinguished.  At- 
the  close  of  his  administration  he  retired  to 
the  Hermitage,  where  he  died  June  8,  1845. 


COMPKXDirM   OF    BIOGRAPIir. 


78 


ANDREW  CARNEGIE,  the  largest  manu- 
facturer of  pig-iron,  steel  rails  and 
coke  in  the  world,  well  deserves  a  place 
among  America's  celebrated  men.  II 
born  November  25,  1  S 5 5 .  at  Dunfermline, 
Scotland,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
with  his  father  in  1845,  settling  in  Pittsburg. 
Two  years  later  Mr.  Carnegie  began  his 
business  career  by  attending  a  small  station- 
ary engine.  This  work  did  not  suit  him  and 
he  became  a  telegraph  messenger  with  the 
Atlantic  and  Ohio  Co.,  and  later  he  became 
an  operator,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  read 
telegraphic  signals  by  sound.  Mr.  Carnegie 
was  afterward  sent  to  the  Pittsburg  office 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Co.,  as  clerk 
to  the  superintendent  and  manager  of  the 
telegraph  lines.  While  in  this  position  he 
made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Woodruff,  the 
inventor  of  the  sleeping-car.  Mr.  Carnegie 
immediately  became  interested  and  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  company  for  its  con- 
struction after  the  railroad  had  adopted  it, 
and  the  success  of  this  venture  gave  him  the 
nucleus  of  his  wealth.  He  was  promoted 
to  the  superintendence-  of  the  Pittsburg 
division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and 
about  this  time  was  one  of  the  syndicate 
that  purchased  the  Storey  farm  on  Oil  Creek 
which  cost  forty  thousand  dollars  and  in  one 
year  it  yielded  over  one  million  dollars  in 
cash  dividends.  Mr.  Carnegie  later  was  as- 
sociated with  others  in  establishing  a  rolling- 
mill,  and  from  this  has  grown  the  most  ex- 
tensive and  complete  system  of  iron  and 
steel  industries  ever  controlled  by  one  indi- 
vidual, embracing  the  Edgar  Thomson 
Steel  Works;  Pittsburg  Bessemer  Steel 
Works;  Lucy  Furnaces;  Union  Iron  Mills; 
Union  Mill;  Keystone  Bridge  Works;  Hart- 
man  Steel  Works;  Frick  Coke  Co.;  Scotia 
Ore  Mines.  Besides  directing  his  immense 
iron  industries  he  owned  eighteen  English 


newspapers  which  he  ran  in  the  interest  o; 
the  Radicals.  He  has  also  devoted  large 
sums  of  money  to  benevolent  and  educational 
purposes.  In  [879  he  erected  commodious 
swimming  baths  for  the  people  of  Dunferm- 
line,  Scotland,  and  in  the  following  year 
gave  forty  thousand  dollars  for  a  free  library. 
Mr.  Carnegie  gave  fifty  thousand  dollars  to 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  in  1884 
to  found  what  is  now  called  "Carnegie  Lab- 
oratory," and  in  1885  gave  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars  to  Pittsburg  for  a  public 
library.  He  also  gave  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  for  a  music  hall  and  library 
in  Allegheny  City  in  18S6,  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  Edinburgh,  Scot- 
land, for  a  free  library.  He  also  established 
free  libraries  at  Braddock,  Pennsylvania, 
and  other  places  for  the  benefit  of  his  em- 
ployes. He  also  published  the  following 
works,  "An  American  Four-in-hand  in 
Britain;"  "  Round  the  World;"  "Trium- 
phant Democracy;  or  Fifty  Years'  March  of 
the  Republic." 


GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  the  "Rock  of 
Chickamauga,"  one  of  the  best  known 
commanders  during  the  late  Civil  war,  was 
born  in  Southampton  county,  Virginia,  July 
3t,  1 8 16.  his  parents  being  of  Welsh  and 
French  origin  respectively.  In  1836  young 
Thomas  was  appointed  a  cadet  at  the  Mili- 
tary Academy,  at  West  Point,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1S40,  and  was  promoted  to 
the  office  of  second  lieutenant  in  the  Third 
Artillery.  Shortly  after,  with  his  company, 
he  went  to  Florida,  where  he  served  for  two 
years  against  the  Seminole  Indians.  In 
1S41  he  was  brevetted  first  lieutenant  for 
gallant  conduct.  He  remained  in  garrison 
in  the  south  and  southwest  until  1845,  at 
which  date  with  the  regiment  he  joined  the 
army  under  General  Taylor,  and  participate 


74 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


ed  .'r  Me  defense  of  Fort  Brown,  the  storm- 
ing of  Monterey  and  the  battle  of  Buena 
Vists  After  the  latter  event  he  remained 
in  garrison,  now  brevetted  major,  until  the 
close  of  the  Mexican  war.  After  a  year 
spent  in  Florida,  Captain  Thomas  was  or- 
dered to  West  Point,  where  fie  served  as  in- 
structor until  1S54.  He  then  was  trans- 
ferred to  California.  In  May,  1855,  Thom- 
as was  appointed  major  of  the  Second  Cav- 
alry, with  whom  he  spent  five  years  in  Texas. 
Although  a  southern  man,  and  surrounded 
by  brother  officers  who  all  were  afterwards 
n  the  Confederate  service,  Major  Thomas 
never  swerved  from  his  allegiance  to  the- 
government.  A.  S.  Johnston  was  the  col- 
onel of  the  regiment,  R.  E.  Lee  the  lieuten- 
ant-colonel, and  W.  J.  Hardee,  senior  ma- 
jor, while  among  the  younger  officers  were 
Hood,  Fitz  Hugh  Lee,  Van  Dorn  and  Kirby 
Smith.  When  these  officers  left  the  regi- 
ment to  take  up  arms  for  the  Confederate 
cause  he  remained  with  it,  and  April  17th, 
1 86 1,  crossed  the  Potomac  into  his  native 
state,  at  its  head.  After  taking  an  active  part 
in  the  opening  scenes  of  the  war  on  the  Poto- 
mac and  Shenandoah,  in  August,  186 1,  he 
was  promoted  to  be  brigadier-general  and 
transferred  to  the  Arm)-  of  the  Cumberland. 
January  19-20,  1862,  Thomas  defeated 
Crittenden  at  Mill  Springs,  and  this  brought 
him  into  notice  and  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  fame.  He  continued  in  command  of  his 
division  until  September  20,  1862,  except 
during  the  Corinth  campaign  when  he  com- 
manded the  right  wing  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee.  He  was  in  command  of  the 
latter  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  also,  Octo- 
ber 8,  1862. 

On  the  division  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland into  corps,  January  9,  1863,  Gen- 
eral Thomas  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Fourteenth,  and  at  the  battle  of  Chick- 


amauga,  after  the  retreat  of  Rosecrans, 
firmly  held  his  own  against  the  hosts  of  Gen- 
eral Bragg.  A  history  of  his  services  from 
that  on  would  be  a  history  of  the  war  in  the 
southwest.  On  September  27,  1864,  Gen- 
eral Thomas  was  given  command  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  after  organizing  his  army,  de- 
feated General  Hood  in  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, December  15  and  16,  1864.  Much 
complaint  was  made  before  this  on  account 
of  what  they  termed  Thomas'  slowness,  and 
he  was  about  to  be  superseded  because  he 
would  not  strike  until  he  got  ready,  but 
when  the  blow  was  struck  General  Grant 
was  the  first  to  place  on  record  this  vindica- 
tion 1  if  Thomas'  judgment.  He  received  a 
vote  of  tli. inks  from  Congress,  and  from  the 
legislature  of  Tennessee  a  gold  medal.  Af- 
ter the  close  of  the  war  General  Thomas 
had  command  of  several  of  the  military  di- 
visions, and  died  at  San  Francisco,  Cali- 
fornia, March  28,    1S70. 


GEORGE  BANCROFT,  one  of  the  most 
eminent  American  historians,  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  born  at  Worcester, 
October  3,  1800,  and  a  son  of  Aaron 
Bancroft,  D.  D.  The  father,  Aaron  Ban- 
croft, was  born  at  Reading,  Massachusetts, 
November  IO,  1755-  He  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1778,  became  a  minister,  and  for 
half  a  century  was  rated  as  one  of  the  ablest 
preachers  in  New  England.  He  was  also  a 
prolific  writer  and  published  a  number  of 
works  among  which  was  "  Life  of  George 
Washington."  Aaron  Bancroft  died  August 
19,  1839. 

The  subject  of  our  present  biography, 
George  Bancroft,  graduated  at  Harvard  in 
181 7,  and  the  following  year  entered  the 
University  of  Gottingen,  where  he  studied 
history  and  philology  under  the  most  emi- 
nent teachers,  and  in  1820  received  the  de- 


compi:\  nuir  of  luociiM'iir. 


gree  of  doctor  of  philosophy  at  Gottingen. 
L'pon  his  return  home  he  published  a  volume 
of  poems,  and  later  a  translation  of  Heeren's 
••  Reflections  on  the  Politics  of  Ancient 
Greece."  In  1S34  he  produced  the  first 
volume  of  his  "  History  of  the  United 
States,"  ihis  being  followed  by  other  vol- 
umes at  different  intervals  later.  This  was 
bis  greatest  work  and  ranks  as  the  highest 
authority,  taking  its  place  among  the  great- 
est of  American  productions. 

George  Bancroft  was  appointed  secretary 
of  the  navy  by  President  Polk  in  1S45,  but 
resigned  in  1846  and  became  minister  pleni- 
potentiary to  England.  In  1849  he  retired 
from  public  life  and  took  up  his  residence  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  In  1867  he  was  ap- 
pointed United  States  minister  to  the  court  of 
Berlin  and  negotiated  the  treaty  by  which  Ger- 
mans coming  to  the  United  States  were  re- 
leased from  their  allegiance  to  the  govern- 
ment of  their  native  land.  In  1871  he  was 
minister  plenipotentiary  to  the  German  em- 
pire and  served  until  1874.  The  death  of 
George  Bancroft  occurred  January  17,  1 891 . 


GEORGE  GORDON  MEADE,  a  fa- 
mous Union  general,  was  born  at 
Cadiz,  Spain,  December  30,  1S15,  his  father 
being  United  States  naval  agent  at  that 
port.  After  receiving  a  good  education  he 
entered  the  West  Point  Military  Academy 
in  1 83 1.  From  here  he  was  graduated 
June  30,  1835,  and  received  the  rank  of 
second  lieutenant  of  artillery.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  Seminole  war,  but  resigned 
from  the  army  in  October,  1836.  He  en- 
tered upon  the  profession  of  civil  engineer, 
which  he  followed  for  several  years,  part  of 
the  time  in  the  service  of  the  government  in 
making  surveys  of  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river.  His  report  and  results  of  some 
experiments    made  by  him   in  this    service 


gained  Meade  much  credit.  He  also  was 
employed  in  surveying  the  boundary  line  of 
Texas  and  the  northeastern  boundary  line 
between  the  United  States  and  Canada. 
In  1S42  he  was  reappointed  in  the  army  to 
the  position  of  second  lieutenant  of  engineers. 
During  the  Mexican  war  he  served  with  dis- 
tinction on  the  staff  of  General  Taylor  in 
the  battles  of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma 
and  the  storming  of  Monterey.  He  received 
his  brevet  of  first  lieutenant  for  the  latter 
action.  In  1851  he  was  made  full  first 
lieutenant  in  his  corps;  a  captain  in  1856, 
and  major  soon  after.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  with  Mexico  he  was  employed  in  light- 
house construction  and  in  geodetic  surveys 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  in 
which  he  gained  great  reputation.  In 
August,  1 86 1 ,  he  was  made  brigadier-general 
of  volunteers  and  placed  in  command  of  the 
second  brigade  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves, 
a  division  of  the  First  Corps  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  In  the  catnpaign  of  1862, 
under  McClellan,  Meade  took  an  active 
part,  being  present  at  the  battles  of  Mechan- 
icsville,  Gaines'  Mill  and  Glendale,  in  the 
latter  of  which  he  was  severely  wounded. 
On  rejoining  his  command  he  was  given  a 
division  and  distinguished  himself  at  its  head 
in  the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antie- 
tam.  During  the  latter,  on  the  wounding 
of  General  Hooker,  Meade  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  corps  and  was  himself 
slightly  wounded.  For  services  he  was 
promoted,  November,  1862,  to  the  rank 
of  major-general  of  volunteers.  On  the 
recovery  of  General  Hooker  General  Meade 
returned  to  his  division  and  in  December, 
1862,  at  Fredericksburg,  led  an  attack 
which  penetrated  Lee's  right  line  and  swept 
to  his  rear.  Being  outnumbered  and  un- 
supported, he  finally  was  driven  back.  The 
same    month    Meade    was    assigned   to  the 


76 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


command  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  at  Chan- 
cellorsville  in  May,  1863,  his  sagacity  and 
ability  so  struck  General  Hooker  that  when 
the  latter  asked  to  be  relieved  of  the  com- 
mand, in  June  of  the  same  year,  he  nomi- 
nated Meade  as  his  successor.  June  28, 
1863,  President  Lincoln  commissioned  Gen- 
eral Meade  commander-in-chief  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  then  scattered  and  moving 
hastily  through  Pennsylvania  to  the  great 
and  decisive  battlefield  at  Gettysburg,  at 
which  he  was  in  full  command.  With  the 
victory  on  those  July  days  the  name  of 
Meade  will  ever  be  associated.  From  that 
time  until  the  close  of  the  war  he  com- 
manded the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In 
1864  General  Grant,  being  placed  at  the 
head  of  all  the  armies,  took  up  his  quarters 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  From  that 
time  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Appo- 
matox  Meade*s  ability  shone  conspicuously, 
and  his  tact  in  the  delicate  position  in  lead- 
ing his  army  under  the  eye  of  his  superior 
officer  commanded  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  General  Grant.  For  services  Meade  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general,  and 
on  the  close  of  hostilities,  in  July,  1865, 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  military 
division  of  the  Atlantic,  with  headquarters 
at  Philadelphia.  This  post  he  held,  with 
the  exception  of  a  short  period  on  detached 
duty  in  Georgia,  until  his  death,  which  took 
place  November  6,  1872. 


DAVID  CROCKETT  was  a  noted  hunter 
and  scout,  and  also  one  of  the  earliest 
of  American  humorists.  He  was  born  Au- 
gust 17,  1786,  in  Tennessee,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  of  his  locality, 
serving  as  representative  in  congress  from 
1827  until  1  S3 1.  He  attracted  consider- 
able notice  while  a  member  of  congress  and 
was  closely  associated   with  General  Jack- 


son, of  whom  he  was  a  personal  friend.  He 
went  to  Texas  and  enlisted  in  the  Texan 
army  at  the  time  of  the  revolt  of  Texas 
against  Mexico  and  gained  a  wide  reputa- 
tion as  a  scout.  He  was  one  of  the  famous 
one  hundred  and  forty  men  under  Colonel 
W.  B.  Travis  who  were  besieged  in  Fort 
Alamo,  near  San  Antonio,  Texas,  by  Gen- 
eral Santa  Anna  with  some  five  thousand 
Mexicans  on  February  23,  1836.  The  fort 
was  defended  for  ten  days,  frequent  assaults 
being  repelled  with  great  slaughter,  over 
one  thousand  Mexicans  being  killed  or 
wounded,  while  not  a  man  in  the  fort  was 
injured.  Finally,  on  March  6,  three  as- 
saults were  made,  and  in  the  hand-to-hand 
fight  that  followed  the  last,  the  Texans  were 
wofully  outnumbered  and  overpowered. 
They  fought  desperately  with  clubbed  mus- 
kets till  only  six  were  left,  alive,  including 
W.  B.  Travis,  David  Crockett  and  James 
Bowie.  These  surrendered  under  promise 
of  protection;  but  when  they  were  brought 
before  Santa  Anna  he  ordered  them  all  to 
be  cut  to  pieces. 


HENRY  WATTERSON,  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  figures  in  the  history  of 
American  journalism,  was  born  at  Wash- 
ington, District  of  Columbia,  February  16, 
1840.  His  boyhood  days  were  mostly  spent 
in  the  city  of  his  birth,  where  his  father, 
Harvey  M.  Watterson,  was  editor  of  the 
"Union,"  a  well  known  journal. 

Owing  to  a  weakness  of  the  eyes,  which 
interfered  with  a  systematic  course  of  study, 
young  Watterson  was  educated  almost  en- 
tirely at  home.  A  successful  college  career 
was  out  of  the  question,  but  he  acquired  a 
good  knowledge  of  music,  literature  and  art 
from  private  tutors,  but  the  most  valuable 
part  of  the  training  he  received  was  bv  as- 
sociating with  his  father  and  the  throng  or 


co^//^/:^^/>/(■^/  of  iuoc,R,\riir. 


77 


public  men  whom  he  met  in  Wash 
in  the  stirring  days  immediately  preceding 
the  Civil  war.  He  began  his  journalistic 
career  at  an  early  age  as  dramatic  and 
musical  critic,  and  in  1858,  became  editor 
of  the  "Democratic  Review"  and  at  the 
same  time  contributed  to  the  "St 
a  journal  of  liberal  opinions  published  in 
Washington.  In  this  he  remained  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  the 
"States,"  opposing  the  administration,  was 
suppressed,  and  young  Watterson  removed 
to  Tennessee.  He  next  appears  as  editor 
of  the  Nashville  "Republican  Banner,"  the 
most  influential  paper  in  the  state  at  that 
time.  After  the  occupation  of  Nashville  by 
the  Federal  troops,  Watterson  served  as  a 
volunteer  staff  officer  in  the  Confederate 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  with  the 
exception  of  a  year  spent  in  editing  the 
Chattanooga  "  Rebel."  On  the  close  of 
the  war  he  returned  to  Nashville  and  re- 
sumed his  connection  with  the  "Banner." 
After  a  trip  to  Europe  he  assumed  control 
of  the  Louisville  "Journal,"  which  he  soon 
combined  with  the  "Courier"  and  the 
"Democrat"  of  that  place,  founding  the 
well-known  "  Courier-Journal."  the  first 
number  of  which  appeared  November  S, 
1868.  Mr.  Watterson  also  represented  his 
district  in  congress  for  several  years. 


PATRICK  SAKSFIELD  GILMORE. 
one  of  the  most  successful  and  svidely 
known  bandmasters  and  musicians  of  the 
last  half  century  in  America,  was  born  in 
Ballygar,  Ireland,  on  Christmas  day,  1829. 
He  attended  a  public  school  until  appren- 
ticed to  a  wholesale  merchant  at  Athlone, 
of  the  brass  band  of  which  town  he  soon 
became  a  member.  His  passion  for  music 
conflicting  with  the  duties  of  a  mercantile 
life,  his  position  as  clerk  was  exchanged  for 


that  of  musical  instructor  to  the  young  sons 
of  his  employer.      At  the  age  of  nineteen  he 
sailed  for  America  and  two  days   alter  his 
arrival  in  Boston   was  put  in  charge  of  the 
band  instrument  department  of  a  prominent 
music  house.      In  the  interests  of  the  pub- 
lications of  this  house  he  organized  a  minstrel 
company  known    as    "Ord  way's    Eol 
with  which   he   first   achieved  success  as  a 
cornet  soloist.      Later  on  he  was  called  the 
!••  st  E-flat  cornetist  in  the   United   States. 
He  became  leader,  successively,  of  the  Suf- 
folk,   Boston    Brigade    and    Salem    bands. 
During  his    connection  with  the   latter  he 
inaugurated  the  famous  Fourth  of  July  con- 
certs on  Boston  Common,  since  adopted  as 
a  regular  programme  for  the  celebration  of 
Independence   Day.      In  1858    Mr.  Gilmore 
founded  the  organization  famous  thereafter 
as  Gilmore's  Band.     At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war   this    band    was    attached  to  the 
Twenty-Fourth    .Massachusetts      Infantry. 
Later,  when  the  economical   policy  of  dis- 
pensing with  music   had  proved  a  mistake, 
Gilmore  was  entrusted  with  the  re-organiza- 
tion of  state  military  bands,  and   upon  his 
arrival  at   New  Orleans  with  his  own  band 
was  made  bandmaster-general   by  General 
Banks.     On  the  inauguration  of  Governor 
Hahn,  later  on,   in  Lafayette  square,  New 
Orleans,  ten  thousand  children,    mostly  of 
Confederate   parents,  rose  to  the  baton  of 
Gilmore  and,  accompanied  by  six  hundred 
instruments,  thirty-six  guns  and  the  united 
fire  of  three  regiments  of  infantry,  sang  the 
Star-Spangled  Banner,  America  and  other 
patriotic   Union  airs.      In  June,    1867,  Mr. 
Gilmore  conceived  a  national  musical  festi- 
val, which  was  denounced  as  a  chimeric&l 
undertaking,  but  he  succeeded  and  June  1 ;. 
1869,  stepped  upon  the  stage  of  the  Boston 
Colosseum,  a  vast  structure  erected  for  the 
occasion,  and  in  the  presence  of  over  fifty 


78 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


thousand  people  lifted  his  baton  over  an 
orchestra  of  one  thousand  and  a  chorus  of 
ten  thousand.  On  the  17th  of  June,  1872, 
he  opened  a  still  greater  festival  in  Boston, 
when,  in  addition  to  an  orchestra  of  two 
thousand  and  a  chorus  of  twenty  thousand, 
were  present  the  Band  of  the  Grenadier 
Guards,  of  London,  of  the  Garde  Repub- 
licaine,  of  Paris,  of  Kaiser  Franz,  of  Berlin, 
and  one  from  Dublin,  Ireland,  together  with 
Johann  Strauss,  Franz  Abt  and  many  other 
soloists,  vocal  and  instrumental.  Gilmore's 
death  occurred  September  24,  1S92. 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN  was  the  eighth 
president  of  the  United  States,  1837 
to  1 841.  lie  was  of  Dutch  extraction,  and 
his  ancestors  were  among  the  earliest  set- 
tlers on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  He  was 
born  December  5,  1782,  at  Kmderhook, 
New  York.  Mr.  Van  Buren  took  up  the 
study  of  law  at  the  age  of  fourteen  and  took 
an  active  part  in  political  matters  before  he 
had  attained  his  majority.  He  commi  n<  ed 
the  practice  of  law  in  1S03  at  his  native 
town,  anil  in  1809  he  removed  to  Hudson, 
Columbia  count}',  New  York,  where  he 
spent  seven  years  gaining  strength  and  wis- 
dom from  his  contentions  at  the  bar  with 
some  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  profession. 
Mr.  \'an  Buren  was  elected  to  the  state 
senate,  and  from  1 8 1  5  until  1 8 1 9  he  was  at- 
torney-general of  the  state.  He  was  re- 
elected to  the  senate  in  18 16,  and  in  1818 
he  was  one  of  the  famous  clique  of  politi- 
cians known  as  the  "Albany  regency." 
Mr.  Van  Buren  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
vention for  the  revision  of  the  state  consti- 
tution, in  1821.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate  and 
served  his  term  in  a  manner  that  caused  his 
re-election  to  that  body  in  1827,  but  re- 
signed the  following  year   as  he  had  been 


elected  governor  of  New  York.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  appointed  by  President  Jackson  as 
secretary  of  state  in  March,  1829,  but  resigned 
in  1831,  and  during  the  recess  of  congress 
he  was  appointed  minister  to  England. 
The  senate,  however,  when  it  convened  in 
December  refused  to  ratify  the  appointment. 
In  May,  1 832,  he  was  nominated  by  the 
Democrats  as  their  candidate  for  vice-presi- 
dent on  the  ticket  with  Andrew  Jackson, 
and  he  was  elected  in  the  following  Novem- 
ber. He  received  the  nomination  to  suc- 
ceed President  Jackson  in  1836,  as  the 
Democratic  candidate,  and  in  the  electoral 
college  he  received  one  hundred  and  seventy 
votes  out  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-three, 
and  was  inaugurated  March  4,  1837.  His 
administration  was  begun  at  a  time  of  great 
business  depression, and  unparalled  financial 
distress,  which  caused  the  suspension  of 
specie  payments  by  the  banks.  Nearly 
every  bank  in  the  country  was  forced  to 
suspend  specie  payment,  and  no  less  than 
two  hundred  and  fifty-four  business  Iiousjs 
failed  in  New  York  in  one  week.  The 
President  urged  the  adoption  of  the  inde- 
pendent treasury  idea,  which  passed  through 
the  senate  twice  but  each  time  it  was  de- 
feated in  the  house.  However  the  measure 
ultimately  became  a  law  near  the  close  of 
President  Van  Buren's  term  of  office.  An- 
other important  measure  that  was  passed 
was  the  pre-emption  law  that  gave  the  act- 
ual settlers  preference  in  the  purchase  of 
public  lands.  The  question  of  slavery  had 
begun  to  assume  great  preponderance  dur- 
ing this  administration,  and  a  great  conflict 
was  tided  over  by  the  passage  of  a  resolu- 
tion that  prohibited  petitions  or  papers  that 
in  any  way  related  to  slavery  to  be  acted 
upon.  In  the  Democratic  convention  of 
1 840  President  Van  Buren  secured  the 
nomination  for    re-election    on    that    ticket 


://' i:\nir\r  <>r  /;n>i,u.\/-//r 


: 


without  opposition,  but  in  the  election  he 
only  received  the  votes  of  seven  states,  his 
opponent,  W.  H.  Harrison,  being  elected 
lent  In  i  S  4  S  Mr.  Nan  Buren  v  ,s 
the  candidate  of  the  "  Free-Soilers,"  but 
was  unsuccessful.  After  this  he  retired 
from  public  lite  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  on  his  estate  at  Kinderhock,  where 
he  died  July  24,    [8(  : 


W INFIELD  SCOTT,  a  distinguished 
American  general,  was  born  June  13. 

near  Petersburg,  Dinwiddie  county, 
\  :iia,  and  was  educated  at  the  William 
and  Mary  College.  He  studied  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  1  'soS  he  accepted 
an  appointment  as  captain  of  light  artillery, 
and  was  ordered  to  New  Orleans.     In  June, 

he  was  promoted  to  be  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  o;<  application  was  sent  to  the 
frontier,  and  reported  to  General  Smyth, 
near  Buffalo.  He  was  made  adjutant-gen- 
eral with  the  rank  of  a  colonel,  in  March, 
and  the  same  month  attained  the  colo- 
nelcy of  his  regiment.  He  participated  in 
the  principal  battles  of  the  war  and  was 
wounded  many  times,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  voted  a  gold  medal  by  con- 
gress for  his  services.  He  was  a  writer  of 
considerable  merit  on  military  topics,  and 
he  gave  to  the  military  science,  "General 
Regulations  of  the  Army  "  and  "  System  of 
Infantry  and  Rifle  Practice."  He  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
and  at  the  beginning  of  the  Mexican  war  he 
was  appointed  to  take  the  command  of  the 
army.  Gen.  Scott  immediately  assembled 
his  troops  at  Lobos  Island  fr^m  which  he 
moved  by  transports  to  Vera  Cruz,  which 
he  took  March  29,  1847,  and  rapidly  fol- 
lowed up  his  first  success.  He  fought  the 
battles  of  Cerro  Gordo  and  Jalapa,  both  of 
which    he    won,  and    proceeded    to    Pueblo 


where  he  was  preceded  by  Worth's  division 
which  had  taken  the  town  and  waited  for  the 
coming  of  Scott.  The  army  was  forced  to 
wait  here  for  supplies,  and  August  7th, 
General  Scott  started  on  his  victorious 
march  to  the  city  of  Mexico  with  ten  thou- 
sand, seven  hundred  and  thirty-eight  men. 
The  battles  of  Contreras,  Cherubusco  and 
San  Antonio  were  fought  August  19-20, 
and  on  the  24th  an  armistice  was  a. 
upon,  but  as  the  commissioners  could  not 
agree  on  the  terms  of  settlement,  the  fii;ht- 
uiL,'  was  renewed  at  Molino  Del  Rey,  and 
the  Heights  of  Chapultepec  were  carried 
by  the  victorious  army  of  General  Scott. 
He  gave  the  enemy  no  respite,  however, 
and  vigorously  followed  up  his  advantages. 
On  September  14,  he  entered  the  City  of 
Mexico  and  dictated  the  terms  of  surrender 
in  the  very  heart  of  the  Mexican  Republic. 
General  Scott  was  offered  the  presidency  of 
the  Mexican  Republic,  but  declined.  Con- 
gress extended  him  a  vote  of  thanks  and 
ordered  a  gold  medal  be  struck  in  honor  of 
his  generalship  and  bravery.  He  was  can- 
didate for  the  presidency  on  the  Whig  plat- 
form but  was  defeated.  He  was  honored  by 
having  the  title  cf  lieutenant-general  con- 
ferred upon  him  in  1  8  5  5 .  At  the  beginning  of 
the  Civil  war  he  was  too  infirm  to  take  charge 
of  the  army,  but  did  signal  service  in  be- 
half of  the  government.  He  retired  from 
the  service  November  1,  186 1,  and  in  1864 
he  published  his  "Autobiography."  Gen- 
eral Scott  died  at  West  Point,  May  29,  1866. 


EDWARD  EVERETT  HALE  for  manj 
years  occupied  a  high  place  among  the 
honored  of  America's  citizens.  As 
a  preacher  he  ranks  among  the  foremost 
in  the  New  England  states,  but  to  the  gen- 
eral public  he  is  best  known  through  his 
writings.      Born  in  Boston,    Mass.,  April  3, 


80 


COMPEXDILM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


1822,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  most 
prominent  New  England  families,  he  enjoyed 
in  his  youth  many  of  the  advantages  denied 
the  majority  of  boys.  He  received  his  pre- 
paratory schooling  at  the  Boston  Latin 
School,  after  which  he  finished  his  studies  at 
Harvard  where  he  was  graduated  with  high 
honors  in  1839.  Having  studied  theology 
at  home,  Mr.  Hale  embraced  the  ministry 
and  in  1846  became  pastor  of  a  Unitarian 
church  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  a  post 
which  he  occupied  about  ten  years.  He 
then,  in  1856,  became  pastor  of  the  South 
Congregational  church  in  Boston,  over  which 
he  presided  many  years. 

Mr.  Hale  also  found  time  to  write  a 
great  many  literary  works  of  a  high  class. 
.'Vmong  many  other  well-known  productions 
:*f  his  are  "  The  Rosary,"  "  Margaret  Per- 
cival  in  America."  "Sketches  of  Christian 
history,"  "Kansas  and  Nebraska,"  "Let- 
ters on  Irish  Emigration,"  "  Ninety  Days' 
Worth  of  Europe,"  "  If,  Yes,  and  Perhaps," 
"Ingham  Papers,"  "  Reformation,"  "  Level 
8est  and  Other  Stories,  "  ' '  Ups  and  Downs,  " 
"Christmas  Eve  and  Christmas  Day,"  "  In 
His  Name,"  "Our  New  Crusade,"  "Work- 
ingmen's  Homes,"  "  Boys'  Heroes,"  etc., 
etc.,  besides  many  others  which  might  be 
mentioned.  One  of  his  works,  "  In  His 
Name,"  has  earned  itself  enduring  fame  by 
the  good  deeds  it  has  called  forth.  The 
numerous  associations  known  as  "The  King's 
Daughters,"  which  has  accomplished  much 
good,  owe  their  existence  to  the  story  men- 
tioned. 

DAVID  GLASCOE  FARRAGUT  stands 
pre-eminent  as  one  of  the  greatest  na- 
val officers  of  the  world.  He  was  born  at 
Campbell's  Station,  East  Tennessee,  July 
5,  1 80 1,  and  entered  the  navy  of  the  United 
States  as  a  midshipman.      He  had  the  good 


fortune  to  serve  under  Captain  David  Por- 
ter, who  commanded  the  "  Essex,"  and  by 
whom  he  was  taught  the  ideas  of  devotion 
to  duty  from  which  he  never  swerved  dur- 
ing all  his  career.  In  1823  Mr.  Farragut 
took  part  in  a  severe 'fight,  the  result  of 
which  was  the  suppression  of  piracy  in  the 
West  Indies.  He  then  entered  upon  the 
regular  duties  of  his  profession  which  was 
only  broken  into  by  a  year's  residence  with 
Charles  Folsom,  our  consul  at  Tunis,  who 
was  afterwards  a  distinguished  professor  at 
Harvard.  Mr.  Farragut  was  one  of  the  best 
linguists  in  the  navy.  He  had  risen  through 
the  different  grades  of  the  service  until  the 
war  of  1861-65  found  him  a  captain  resid- 
ing at  Norfolk,  Virginia.  He  removed  with 
his  family  to  Hastings,  on  the  Hudson,  and 
hastened  to  offer  his  services  to  the  Federal 
government,  and  as  the  capture  of  New 
Orleans  had  been  resolved  upon,  Farragut 
was  chosen  to  command  the  expedition. 
His  force  consisted  of  the  West  Gulf  block- 
ading squadron  and  Porter's  mortar  Hot  ilia. 
In  January,  1862,  he  hoisted  his  pennant  at 
the  mizzen  peak  of  the  "Hartford"  at 
Hampton  roads,  set  sail  from  thence  on  the 
3rd  of  February  and  reached  Ship  Island  on 
the  20th  of  the  same  month.  A  council  of 
war  was  held  on  the  20th  of  April,  in  which 
it  was  decided  that  whatever  was  to  be  done 
must  be  done  quickly.  The  signal  was  made 
from  the  flagship  and  accordingly  the  fleet 
weighed  anchor  at  1:55  on  the  morning  of 
April  24th,  and  at  3:30  the  whole  force  was 
under  way.  The  history  of  this  brilliant  strug- 
gle is  well  known,  and  the  glory  of  it  made  Far- 
ragut a  hero  and  also  made  him  rear  admir- 
al. In  the  summer  of  1862  he  ran  the  batteries 
at  Vicksburg,  and  on  March  14,  1863.  he 
passed  through  the  fearful  and  destructive 
fire  from  Port  Hudson,  and  opened  up  com- 
munication   with    Flag-officer  Porter,    who 


WPENDIVM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


8» 


had  control  of  the  upper  Mississippi.  On 
May  24th  he  commenced  active  operations 
against  that  fort  in  conjunction  with  the  army 
and  it  fell  on  July  9th.  Mr.  Farragut  filled 
the  measure  of  his  fame  on  the  5th  of  Au- 
gust, 1S64,  by  his  great  victory,  the  capture 
of  Mobile  Bay  and  the  destruction  of  the 
Confederate  fleet,  including  the  formidable 
ram  Tennessee.  For  this  victory  the  rank 
of  admiral  was  given  to  Mr.  Farragut.  He 
died  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  Au- 
gust 4,  1S70. 

GEORGE  W.  CHILDS,  a  philanthropist 
whose  remarkable  personality  stood 
for  the  best  and  highest  type  of  American 
citizenship,  and  whose  whole  life  was  an 
object  lesson  in  noble  living,  was  born  in 
1829  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  of  humble 
parents,  and  spent  his  early  life  in  unremit- 
ting toil.  He  was  a  self-made  man  in  the 
fullest  sense  of  the  word,  and  gained  his 
great  wealth  by  his  own  efforts.  He  was  a 
man  of  very  great  influence,  and  this,  in 
conjunction  with  his  wealth,  would  have 
been,  in  the  hands  of  other  men,  a  means  of 
getting  them  political  preferment,  but  Mr. 
Childs  steadily  declined  any  suggestions  that 
would  bring  him  to  figure  prominently  in 
public  affairs.  He  did  not  choose  to  found 
a  financial  dynasty,  but  devoted  all  his 
powers  to  the  helping  of  others,  with  the 
most  enlightened  beneficence  and  broadest 
sympathy.  Mr.  Childs  once  remarked  that 
his  greatest  pleasure  in  life  was  in  doing 
good  to  others.  He  always  despised  mean- 
ness, and  one  of  his  objects  of  life  was  to 
prove  that  a  man  could  be  liberal  and  suc- 
cessful at  the  same  time.  Upon  these  lines 
Mr.  Childs  made  a  name  for  himself  as  the 
director  of  one  of  the  representative  news- 
papers of  America,  "The  Philadelphia  Pub- 
lic Ledger,"  which  was  owned  jointly  by 
5 


himself  and  the  Drexel  estate,  and  which  he 
edited  for  thirty  years.  He  acquired  con- 
trol of  the  paper  at. a  time  when  it  was  be- 
ing published  at  a  heavy  loss,  set  it  upon  a 
firm  basis  of  prosperity,  and  he  made  it 
more  than  a  money-making  machine — he 
made  it  respected  as  an  exponent  of  the 
best  side  of  journalism,  and  it  stands  as  a 
monument  to  his  sound  judgment  and  up- 
right business  principles.  Mr.  Childs'  char- 
itable repute  brought  him  many  applications 
for  assistance,  and  he  never  refused  to  help 
any  one  that  was  deserving  of  aid;  and  not 
only  did  he  help  those  who  asked,  but  he 
would  by  careful  inquiry  find  those  who 
needed  aid  but  were  too  proud  to  solicit  it. 
He  was  a  considerable  employer  of  labor 
and  his  liberality  was  almost  unparalleled. 
The  death  of  this  great  and  good  man  oc- 
curred February  3d,  1894. 


PATRICK  HENRY  won  his  way  to  un- 
dying fame  in  the  annals  of  the  early 
history  of  the  United  States  by  introducing 
into  the  house  of  burgesses  his  famous  reso- 
lution against  the  Stamp  Act,  which  he  car- 
ried through,  after  a  stormy  debate,  by  a 
majority  of  one.  At  this  time  he  exclaimed 
"  Caesar  had  his  Brutus,  Charles  I  his  Crom- 
well and  George  III  "  (here  he  was  inter- 
rupted by  cries  of  "  treason  ")  "  may  profit 
by  their  example.  If  this  be  treason  make 
the  most  of  it." 

Patrick  Henry  was  born  at  Studley, 
Hanover  county,  Virginia,  May  29,  1736, 
and  was  a  son  of  Colonel  John  Henry,  a 
magistrate  and  school  teacher  of  Aberdeen, 
Scotland,  and  a  nephew  of  Robertson,  the 
historian.  He  received  his  education  from 
his  father,  and  was  married  at  the  age  of 
eighteen.  He  was  twice  bankrupted  before 
he  had  reached  his  twenty-fourth  year,  when 
after  six  weeks  of  study  he  was  admitted  to 


84 


com pendium  or  nioc.RArnr. 


the  bar.  He  worked  for  three  years  with- 
out a  case  and  finally  was  applauded  for  his 
plea  for  the  people's  rights  and  gained  im- 
mense popularity.  After  his  famous  Stamp 
Act  resolution  he  was  the  leader  of  the  pa- 
triots in  Virginia.  In  1769  he  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  the  general  courts  and  speed- 
ily won  a  fortune  by  his  distinguished  ability 
as  a  speaker.  He  was  the  first  speaker  of 
the  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia  in 
1774.  He  was  for  a  time  a  colonel  of 
militia  in  1775,  and  from  1776  to  1779  and 
1 78 1  to  1786  he  was  governor  of  Virginia. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  retired  from  pub- 
lic life  and  was  tendered  and  declined  a 
number  of  important  political  offices,  and  in 
March,  1789,  he  was  elected  state  senator 
but  aid  not  t;ike  his  seat  on  account  of  his 
death  which  occurred  at  Red  Hill,  Charlotte 
county.  Virginia,  June  6,   1799. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD,  an  American 
general  and  traitor  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  is  one  of  the  noted  characters  in 
American  history.  He  was  born  in  Nor- 
wich, Connectirut,  January  3,  1740.  He 
ran  away  and  enlisted  in  the  army  when 
young,  but  deserted  in  a  short  time.  He 
then  became  a  merchant  at  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  but  failed.  In  1775  ne  was 
commissioned  colonel  in  the  Massachusetts 
militia,  anil  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  was 
placed  in  command  of  one  thousand  men 
for  the  invasion  of  Canada.  He  marched 
his  army  through  the  forests  of  Maine  and 
joined  General  Montgomery  before  Quebec. 
Their  combined  forces  attacked  that  city  on 
December  31,  1775,  and  Montgomery  was 
killed,  and  Arnold,  severely  wounded,  was 
compelled  to  retreat  and  endure  a  rigorous 
winter  a  few  miles  from  the  city,  where  they 
were  at  the  mercy  of  the  Canadian  troops 
had  they  cared  to  attack  them.      On  his  re- 


turn he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  brigadier- 
general.  He  was  given  command  of  a  small 
flotilla  on  Lake  Champlain,  with  which  he 
encountered  an  immense  force,  and  though 
defeated,  performed  many  deeds  of  valor. 
He  resented  the  action  of  congress  in  pro- 
moting a  number  of  his  fellow  officers  ami 
neglecting  himself.  In  1777  he  was  made 
major-general,  and  under  General  Gates  at 
Bemis  Heights  fought  valiantly.  For  some 
reason  General  Gates  found  fault  with  his 
conduct  and  ordered  him  under  arrest,  and 
he  was  kept  in  his  tent  until  the  battle  of 
Stillwater  was  waxing  hot,  when  Arnold 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  to  the  front  of 
his  old  troop,  gave  command  to  charge,  and 
rode  like  a  mad  man  into  the  thickest  of 
the  fight  and  was  not  overtaken  by  Gates' 
courier  until  he  had  routed  the  enemy  and 
fell  wounded.  Upon  his  recovery  he  was 
made  general,  and  was  placed  in  command 
at  Philadelphia.  Here  he  married,  and  his 
acts  of  rapacity  soon  resulted  in  a  court- 
martial.  He  was  sentenced  to  be  repri- 
manded by  the  commander-in-chief,  and 
though  Washington  performed  this  duty 
with  utmost  delicacy  and  consideration,  it 
was  never  forgiven.  Arnold  obtained  com- 
mand at  West  Point,  the  most  important 
post  held  by  the  Americans,  in  1780,  and 
immediately  offered  to  surrender  it  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  British  commander  at  Hew 
York.  Major  Andre  was  sent  to  arrange 
details  with  Arnold,  but  on  his  return  trip 
to  New  York  he  was  captured  by  Americans, 
the  plot  was  detected,  and  Andre  suffered 
the  death  penalty  as  a  spy.  Arnold  es- 
caped, and  was  paid  about  $40,000  by  the 
British  for  his  treason  and  was  made  briga- 
dier-general. He  afterward  commanded  an 
expedition  that  plundered  a  portion  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  another  that  burned  New  Lon- 
don, Connecticut,  and  captured  Fort  Trum- 


\fPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


B6 


bull,  the  commandant  of  which  Arnold  mur- 
dered with  the  sword  he  had  just  surren- 
dered. He  piassed  the  latter  part  of  his  life 
in  England,  universally  despised,  and  died 
in  London  June  14,  1S01. 


ROBERT  G.  INGERSOLL,  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  orators  that  America  has 
produced,  also  a  lawyer  of  considerable 
merit,  won  most  of  his  fame  as  a  lecturer. 
Mr.  Ingersoll  was  born  August  24,  1833, 
at  Dryden,  Gates  county,  New  York,  and 
received  hiseducation  in  the  common  schools. 
He  went  west  at  the  ape  of  twelve,  and  for 
a  short  time  he  attended  an  academy  in 
Tennessee,  and  also  taught  school  in  that 
state.  He  began, the  practice  of  law  in  the 
southern  part  of  Illinois  in  1 S  5 4 .  Colonel 
Ingersoll's  principal  fame  was  made  in 
the  lecture  room  by  his  lectures  in  which  he 
ridiculed  religious  faith  and  creeds  and  criti- 
cised the  Bible  and  the  Christian  religion. 
He  was  the  orator  of  the  day  in  the  Decora- 
tion Day  celebration  in  the  city  of  New  York 
in  1882  and  his  oration  was  widely  com- 
mended. He  first  attracted  political  notice 
in  the  convention  at  Cincinnati  in  1876  by 
his  brilliant  eulogy  on  James  G.  Blaine.  He 
practiced  law  in  Peoria,  Illinois,  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  but  later  located  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  He  published  the  follow- 
ing: "The  Gods  and  other  Lectures;"  "The 
Ghosts;"  "Some  Mistakes  of  Moses;" 
"What  Shall  I  Do  To  Be  Saved;"  "Inter- 
views on  Talmage  and  Presbyterian  Cate- 
chism ;"  The  "  North  American  Review 
Controversy;"  "Prose  Poems;'  "A  Vision 
of  War  ;"  etc. 


JOSEPH  ECCLESTON  JOHNSTON, 
a  noted  general  in  the  Confederate  army, 
was  born  in  Prince  Edward  county,  Virginia, 
in  1807.      He  graduated   from  West  Point 


and  entered  the  army  in  1829.  F<>r  a  num- 
ber of  years  his  chief  service  was  garrison 
duty.  He  saw  active  service,  however,  in 
the  Seminole  war  in  Florida,  part  of  the 
time  as  a  staff  officer  of  General  Scott.  1  [e 
resigned  his  commission  in  1837,  but  re- 
turned to  the  army  a  year  later,  and  was 
brevetted  captain  for  gallant  services  in 
Florida.  He  was  made  first  lieutenant  of 
topographical  engineers,  and  was  engaged 
in  river  and  harbor  improvements  and  also 
in  the  survey  of  the  Texas  boundary  and 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  United 
States  until  the  beginning  of  the  war 
with  Mexico.  He  was  at  the  siege  of  Vera 
Cruz,  and  at  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo  was 
wounded  while  reconnoitering  the  enemy's 
position,  after  which  he  was  brevetted  major 
and  colonel.  He  was  in  all  the  battles  about 
the  city  of  Mexico,  and  was  again  wounded 
in  the  final  assault  upon  that  city.  After 
the  Mexican  war  closed  he  returned  to  duty 
as  captain  of  topographical  engineers,  but 
in  1855  he  was  made  lieutenant-colonel  of 
cavalry  and  did  frontier  duty,  and  was  ap- 
pointed inspector-general  of  the  expedition 
to  Utah.  In  i860  he  was  appointed  quar- 
termaster-general with  rank  of  brigadier- 
general.  At  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  in 
1 861  he  resigned  his  commission  and  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  major-general  of 
the  Confederate  army.  He  held  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  later  fought  General  Patterson 
about  Winchester.  At  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run  he  declined  command  in  favor  of  Beau- 
regard, and  acted  under  that  general's  direc- 
tions. He  commanded  the  Confederates  in 
the  famous  Peninsular  campaign,  and  was 
severely  wounded  at  Fair  Oaks  and  w.i> 
succeeded  in  command  by  General  Lee. 
Upon  his  recovery  he  was  made  lieutenant- 
general  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
southwestern  department.      He    attempted 


86 


COMPENDIUM'   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


to  raise  the  siege  of  Yicksburg,  and  was 
finally  defeated  at  Jackson,  Mississippi. 
Having  been  made  a  general  he  succeeded 
General  Bragg  in  command  of  the  army  of 
Tennessee  and  was  ordered  to  check  General 
Sherman's  advance  upon  Atlanta.  Not 
daring  to  risk  a  battle  with  the  overwhelm- 
ing forces  of  Sherman,  he  slowly  retreated 
toward  Atlanta,  and  was  relieved  of  com- 
mand by  Fresident  Davis  and  succeeded  by 
General  Hood.  Hood  utterly  destroyed  his 
own  army  by  three  furious  attacks  upon 
Sherman.  Johnston  was  restored  to  com- 
mand in  the  Carolinas,  and  again  faced 
Sherman,  but  was  defeated  in  several  en- 
gagements and  continued  a  slow  retreat 
toward  Richmond.  Hearing  of  Lee's  sur- 
render, he  communicated  with  General 
Sherman,  and  finally  surrendered  his  army 
at  Durham,  North  Carolina,  April  26,  1865. 
General  Johnston  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  forty-sixth  congress  and  was  ap- 
pointed United  States  railroad  commis- 
sioner in  1885.  His  death  occurred  March 
21,    I  891. 

SAMUEL  LANGHORNE  CLEMENS, 
known  throughout  the  civilized  world 
as  "Mark  Twain,"  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  greatest  humorists  America  has  pro- 
duced. He  was  born  in  Monroe  county, 
Missouri,  November  30,  1835.  Hespenthis 
boyhood  days  in  his  native  state  and  many 
of  his  earlier  experiences  are  related  in  vari- 
ous forms  in  his  later  writings.  One  of  his 
early  acquaintances,  Capt.  Isaiah  Sellers, 
at  an  early  day  furnished  river  news  for  the 
New  Orleans  "  Picayune,"  using  the  noin- 
de- plume  of  "Mark  Twain."  Sellers  died 
in  1863  and  Clemens  took  up  his  nom-de- 
pluinc  and  made  it  famous  throughout  the 
world  by  his  literary  work.  In  1862  Mr. 
Clemens  became  a  journalist   at   Virginia, 


Nevada,  and  afterward  followed  the  same  pro- 
fession at  San  Francisco  and  Buffalo,  New 
York.  He  accumulated  a  fortune  from  the 
sale  of  his  many  publications,  but  in  later 
years  engaged  in  business  enterprises,  partic- 
ularly the  manufacture  of  a  typesetting  ma- 
chine, which  dissipated  his  fortune  and  re- 
duced him  almost  to  poverty,  but  with  resolute 
heart  he  at  once  again  took  up  his  pen  and 
engaged  in  literary  work  in  the  effort  to 
regain  his  lost  ground.  Among  the  best 
known  of  his  works  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing: • '  The  Jumping  Frog, "  ' '  Tom  Saw- 
yer," "  Roughing  it,"  "  Innocents  Abroad," 
"Huckleberry  Finn,"  "Gilded  Age," 
"Prince  and  Pauper."  "Million  Pound 
Bank  Note,"  "A  Yankee  in  Ring  Arthur's 
Court,"  etc. 

CHRISTOPHER  CARSON,  better 
known  as  "Rit  Carson  ;"  was  an  Amer- 
ican trapper  and  scout  who  gained  a  wide 
reputation  for  his  frontier  work.  He  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  born  December  24th, 
1  Soy.  He  grew  to  manhood  there,  devel- 
oping a  natural  inclination  for  adventure  in 
the  pioneer  experiences  in  his  native  state. 
When  yet  a  young  man  he  became  quite 
well  known  on  the  frontier.  He  served  as 
a  guide  to  Gen.  Fremont  in  his  Rocky 
Mountain  explorations  and  enlisted  in  the 
army.  He  was  an  officer  in  the  United 
States  service  in  both  the  Mexican  war  and 
the  great  Civil  war,  and  in  the  latter  received 
a  brevet  of  brigadier-general  for  meritorious 
service.  His  death  occurred  May  23, 
1868. 

JOHN  SHERMAN.— Statesman,  politi- 
cian, cabinet  officer  and  senator,  the  name 
of  the  gentleman  who  heads  this  sketch  is  al- 
most a  household  word  throughout  this 
country.      Identified  with  some  of  the  most 


MPENDIUM    OF    liloc.HM'H  V. 


-7 


important  measures  adopted  by  our  Govern- 
ment since  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  he  may 
well  be  called  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his 
day. 

John  Sherman  was  born  at  Lancaster, 
Fairrield  county.  Ohio,  May  10th,  [823, 
the  son  of  Charles  K.  Sherman,  an  emi- 
nent lawyer  and  judge  of  the  supreme  court 
of  Ohio  and  who  died  in  1S29.  The  subject 
of  this  article  received  an  academic  educa- 
tion and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1S44. 
In  the  Whig  conventions  of  1844  and  1848 
he  sat  as  a  delegate.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  National  house  of  representatives, 
from  1855  to  1 S6 1 .  In  1 860  he  was  re- 
elected to  the  same  position  but  was  chosen 
United  States  senator  before  he  took  his 
seat  in  the  lower  house.  He  was  re-elected 
senator  in  1866  and  1872  and  was  long 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  finance  and 
on  agriculture.  He  took  a  prominent  part 
in  debates  on  finance  and  on  the  conduct  of 
the  war,  and  was  one  of  the  authors  of  the 
reconstruction  measures  in  1S66  and  1867, 
and  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  treas- 
ury March  7th,    1877. 

Mr.  Sherman  was  re-elected  United  States 
senator  from  Ohio  January  1 8th,  1SS1,  and 
again  in  1886  and  1892,  during  which  time 
he  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent leaders  of  the  Republican  party,  both 
in  the  senate  and  in  the  country.  He  was 
several  times  the  favorite  of  his  state  for  the 
nomination  for  president. 

On  the  formation  of  his  cabinet  in  March, 

"  President  McKinley  tendered  the  posi- 
tion of  secretary  of  state  to  Mr.  Sherman, 
which  was  accepted. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON,  ninth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Charles  county,  Virginia,  February 
9.     1773,    the  son    of    Governor    Benjamin 


Harrison.  He  took  a  course  in  Hampden- 
Sidney  College  with  a  view  to  the  practice 
of  medicine,  and  then  went  to  Philadelphia 
to  study  under  Dr.  Rush,  but  in  1791  he 
entered  the  army,  and  obtained  the  commis- 
sion of  ensign,  was  soon  promoted  to  the 
lieutenancy,  and  was  with  General  Wayne 
in  his  war  against  the  Indians.  For  his 
valuable  service  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  captain  and  given  command  of  Fort 
Washington,  now  Cincinnati.  He  was  ap- 
pointed secretary  of  the  Northwest  Territory 
in  1797,  and  in  1799  became  its  representa- 
tive in  congress.  In  1S01  he  was  appointed 
governor  of  Indiana  Territory,  and  held  the 
position  for  twelve  years,  during  which  time 
he  negotiated  important  treaties  with  the  In- 
dians, causing  them  to  relinquish  millions  of 
acres  of  land,  and  also  won  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe  in  181 1.  He  succeeded  in 
obtaining  a  change  in  the  law  which  did  not 
permit  purchase  of  public  lands  in  less  tracts 
than  four  thousand  acres,  reducing  the  limit 
to  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He 
became  major-general  of  Kentucky  militia 
and  brigadier-general  in  the  United  States 
army  in  1812,  and  won  great  renown  in 
the  defense  of  Fort  Meigs,  and  his  victory 
over  the  British  and  Indians  under  Proctor 
and  Tecumseh  at  the  Thames  river,  October 

5.   1813- 

In  1 8 16  General  Harrison  was  elected  to 
congress  from  Ohio,  and  during  the  canvass 
was  accused  of  corrupt  methods  in  regard  tc 
the  commissariat  of  the  army.  He  demanded 
an  investigation  after  the  election  and  was 
exonerated.  In  1819  he  was  elected  to 
the  Ohio  state  senate,  and  in  1S24  he  pave 
his  vote  as  a  presidential  elector  to  Henry 
Clay.  He  became  a  member  of  the  United 
States  senate  the  same  year.  During  the 
last  year  of  Adams'  administration  he  was 
sent  as  minister  to  Colombia,    but   was  re- 


88 


coMrExnicM  of  biograpiiv. 


called  by  President  Jackson  the  following 
year.  He  then  retired  to  his  estate  at  North 
Bend,  Ohio,  a  few  miles  below  Cincinnati.  In 
1836  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  presidency, 
but  as  there  were  three  other  candidates 
the  votes  were  divided,  he  receiving  seventy- 
three  electoral  votes,  a  majority  going  to 
Mr.  Van  Buren,  the  Democratic  candidate. 
Four  years  later  General  Harrison  was  again 
nominated  by  the  Whigs,  and  elected  by  a 
tremendous  majority.  The  campaign  was 
noted  for  its  novel  features,  many  of  which 
have  found  a  permanent  place  in  subsequent 
campaigns.  Those  peculiar  to  that  cam- 
paign, however,  were  the  "  log-cabin  "  and 
"hard  cider"  watchwords,  which  produced 
great  enthusiasm  among  his  followers.  One 
month  after  his  inauguration  he  died  from 
an  attack  of  pleurisy,  April  4,    1S41. 


CHARLES  A.  DANA,  the  well-known 
and  widely  read  journalist  of  New  Yoik 
City,  a  native  of  Hinsdale,  New  Hampshire, 
was  born  August  8,  1819.  He  received 
the  elements  of  a  good  education  in  his 
youth  and  studied  for  two  years  at  Harvard 
University.  Owing  to  some  disease  of  the 
eyes  he  was  unable  to  complete  his  course 
and  graduate,  but  was  granted  the  degree  of 
A.  M.  notwithstanding.  For  some  time  he 
was  editor  of  the  "  Harbinger,"  and  was  a 
regular  contributor  to  the  Boston  "  Chrono- 
type."  In  1847  he  became  connected  with 
the  New  York  "  Tribune,"  and  continued  on 
the  staff  of  that  journal  until  1S58.  In  the 
latter  year  he  edited  and  compiled  "The 
Household  Book  of  Poetry,"  and  later,  in 
connection  with  George  Ripley,  edited  the 
"New  American  Cyclopaedia." 

Mr.  Dana,  on  severing  his  connection 
with  the  "Tribune"  in  1867,  became  editor 
of  the  New  York  "Sun,"  a  paper  with 
which  he  was  identified  for  many  years,  and 


which  he  made  one  of  the  leaders  of  thought 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  United  States. 
He  wielded  a  forceful  pen  and  fearlessly 
attacked  whatever  was  corrupt  and  unworthy 
in  politics,  state  or  national.  The  same 
year,  1867,  Mr.  Dana  organized  the  New 
York  "Sun"   Company. 

During  the  troublous  days  of  the  war, 
when  the  fate  of  the  Nation  depended  upon 
the  armies  in  the  field,  Mr.  Dana  accepted 
the  arduous  and  responsible  position  of 
assistant  secretary  of  war,  and  held  the 
position  during  the  greater  part  of  1863 
and  1864.      He  died  October  17,   1897. 


AS  \  GRAY  was  recognized  throughout  the 
scientific  world  as  one  of  the  ablest 
and  most  eminent  of  botanists.  He  was 
born  at  Paris,  Oneida  county,  New  York, 
November  18,  1810.  He  received  his  medi- 
c  1]  degree  at  the  Fairfield  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons,  in  Herkimer  county, 
New  York,  and  studied  botany  with  the  late 
Professor  Torrey,  of  New  York.  He  was 
appointed  botanist  to  the  Wilkes  expedition 
in  1834,  but  declined  the  offer  and  became 
professor  of  natural  history  in  Harvard  I'ni- 
versity  in  1S42.  He  retired  from  the  active 
duties  of  this  post  in  1873,  and  in  1874  he 
was  the  regent  of  the  Smithsonian  Institu- 
tion at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia. 
Dr.  Gray  wrote  several  books  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  many  sciences  of  which  he  was 
master.  In  1836  he  published  his  "  Ele- 
ments of  Botany,"  "  Manual  of  Botany"  in 
1848;  the  unfinished  "Flora  of  North 
America,"  by  himself  and  Dr.  Torrey,  the 
publication  of  which  commenced  in  1838. 
There  is  another  of  his  unfinished  works 
called  "Genera  Bqreali-Americana,"  pub- 
lished in  1848,  and  the  "Botany  of  the 
United  States  Pacific  Exploring  Expedition 
in  1854."     He  wrote  many  elaborate  papers 


MPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


on  the  botany  of  the  west  and  southwest 
that  were  published  in  the  Smithsonian  Con- 
tributions, Memoirs,  etc.,  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  of  which  in- 
stitution he  was  president  for  ten  years. 
I  le  was  also  the  author  of  many  of  the 
government  reports.  "  How  Plants  Grow, " 
••  Lessons  in  Botany."  "  Structural  and  Sys- 
tematic Botany,"  are  also  works  from  his 
ready  pen. 

Dr.  Gray  published  in  1S61  his  "Free 
Examination  of  Darwin's  Treatise  "  and  his 
'«  Darwiniana,"  in  1876.  Mr.  Gray  was 
elected  July  29,  1878,  to  a  membership  in 
the  Institute  of  France,  Academy  of  Sciences. 
His  death  occurred  at  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts. January  30,   1S89. 


WILLIAM  MAXWELL  EVARTS  was 
one  of  the  greatest  leaders  of  the 
American  bar.  He  was  born  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  February  6,  1S1S,  and  grad- 
uated from  Yale  College  in  [837.  He  took 
up  the  study  of  law,  which  he  practiced  in 
the  city  of  New  York  and  won  great  renown 
as  an  orator  and  advocate.  He  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party,  which  he  joined 
soon  after  its  organization.  He  was  the 
leading  counsel  employed  for  the  defense  of 
lent  Johnson  in  his  trial  for  impeach- 
before  the  senate  in  April  and  May  of 
1868. 

In  July,  1  SOS,  Mr.  Evarts  was  appointed 
attorney-general  of  the  United  States,  and 
served  until  March  4,  1869.  He  wis  one 
of  the  three  lawyers  who  were  Selected  by 
President  Grant  in  1871  to  defend  the  inter- 
ests of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  be- 
fore the  tribunal  of  arbitration  which  met 
at  Geneva  in  Switzerland  to  settle  the  con- 
rsy  over  the  "  Alabama  Claims." 

He  was  one  of  the  most  eloquent  advo- 
cates in  the  United  States,  and  many  of  his 


public  addresses  have  been  preserved  and 
published.  He  was  appointed  secretary  of 
state  March  7,  1S77,  by  President  II 
and  served  during  the  Hayes  administration. 
He  was  elected  senator  from  the  state  of 
New  Y"rk  January  21,  1SS5,  and  at  once 
took  rank  among  the  ablest  statesmen  in 
Congress,  and  the  prominent  part  he  took 
in  the  discussion  of  public  questions  gave 
him  a  national  reputation. 


JOHN   WAN  A  MAKER.—  The  life  of  this 
great  merchant  demonstrates  the    fact 
that  the  great  secret  of  rising  from  the  ranks 
is,  to-day, as  in  the  past  ages,  not  so  much  the 
ability  to   make  money,  as  to  save  it,  or  in 
other  words,  the  ability  to  live  well  within 
one's  income.     Mr.  Wanamaker  was  born  in 
Philadelphia   in    1838.      He   started   out   in 
life  working  in  a  brickyard  for  a  mere  pit- 
tance, and  left  that  position  to   work    in  a 
book    store    as  a  clerk,    where   he   earned 
the  sum  of  $5.00  per   month,  and   later    on 
was  in  the  employ  of  a  clothier  where  he 
received    twenty-five    cents    a    week    more. 
He  was  only  fifteen   years  of   age   at   that 
time,  but  was  a  "  money-getter  "  by  instinct, 
and  laid  by  a  small  sum  for  a  possible  rainy 
day.      By  strict   attention  to  busin 
bined  with  natural  ability,  he  was  pro;, 
many  times,  and  at  the   age   of   twenty    he 
had   saved   $2,000.      After   several    months 
vacation  in  the  south,  he  returned  to  Phila- 
delphia and  became  a  master  brick   in 
but  this  was  too  tiresome  to  the  y  mng  man, 
and  he  opened  up  the  "  Oak  Hall  "  clothing 
store  in  April,    [861,  at   Philadelphia.      The 
capital  of  the  firm    was   rather  limited,    but 
finally,   after   many  discouragements,    they 
laid  the  foundations  of   one   of   the    lai 
business  houses    in   the  world.      The  estab- 
lishment covers  at  the  present  writing  som* 
fourteen  acres  of  floor  space,  and    furnishes 


90 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


employment  for  live  thousand  persons.  Mr. 
Wanamaker  was  also  a  great  church  worker, 
and  built  a  church  that  cost  him  $60,000, 
and  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  which  had  a  membership  of  over 
three  thousand  children.  He  steadily  re- 
fused to  run  for  mayor  or  congress  and  the 
only  public  office  that  he  ever  held  was  that 
of  postmaster-general,  under  the  Harrison 
administration,  and  here  he  exhibited  his 
extraordinary  aptitude  for  comprehending 
the  details  of  public  business. 


DAVID  BENNETT  HILL,  a  Demo- 
cratic politician  who  gained  a  na- 
tional reputation,  was  born  August  29, 
[843,  at  Havana,  New  York.  He  was 
educated  at  the  academy  of  his  native  town, 
and  removed  to  Llmira,  New  York,  in  1862, 
where  he  studied  law.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1864,  in  which  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed city  attorney.  Mr.  Hill  soon  gained 
a  considerable  practice,  becoming  prominent 
in  his  profession.  He  developed  a  taste  for 
politics  in  which  he  began  to  take  an  active 
part  in  the  different  campaigns  and  became 
the  recognized  leader  of  the  local  Democ- 
racy. In  1870  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  assembly  and  was  re-elected  in  1872. 
While  a  member  of  this  assembly  he  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  after- 
ward governor  of  the  state,  who  appointed 
Mr.  Hill,  W.  M.  Evarts  and  Judge  Hand 
as  a  committee  to  provide  a  uniform  charter 
for  the  different  cities  of  the  state.  The 
pressure  of  professional  engagements  com- 
pelled him  to  decline  to  serve.  In  1877 
Mr.  Hill  was  made  chairman  of  the  Demo- 
cratic state  convention  at  Albany,  his  elec- 
tion being  due  to  the  Tilden  wing  of  the 
party,  ana  he  he'd  the  same  position  again 
in  188 1.  He  served  one  term  as  alderman 
in  Elmira,  at  the  expiration  of  which  term, 


in  1882,  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Elmira, 
and  in  September  of  the  same  year  was 
nominated  for  lieutenant-governor  on  the 
Democratic  state  ticket.  He  was  success- 
ful in  the  campaign  and  two  years  later, 
when  Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  to  the 
presidency,  Mr.  Hill  succeeded  to  the  gov- 
ernorship for  the  unexpired  term.  In  1885 
he  was  elected  governor  for  a  full  term  of 
three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  he  was  re- 
elected, his  term  expiring  in  1891,  in  which 
year  he  was  elected  United  States  senator. 
In  the  senate  he  became  &  conspicuous 
figure  and  gained  a  national  reputation. 


ALLEN  G.  THURMAN.  — "  The  noblest 
Roman  of  them  all  "was  the  title  by 
which  Mr.  Thurman  was  called  by  his  com- 
patriots of  the  Democracy.  He  was  the 
greatest  leader  of  the  Democratic  party  in 
his  day  and  held  the  esteem  of  all  the 
people,  n  L;,inllrss  of  their  political  creeds. 
Mr.  Thurman  was  born  November  13,  181 3, 
at  Lynchburg,  Virginia,  where  he  remained 
until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  six  years, 
when  he  moved  to  Ohio.  He  received  an 
academic  education  and  after  graduating, 
took  up  the  study  of  law,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1835,  and  achieved  a  brilliant 
success  in  that  line.  In  political  life  he  was 
very  successful,  and  his  first  office  was  that 
of  representative  of  the  state  of  Ohio  in  the 
twenty-ninth  congress.  He  was  elected 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio  in  185 1, 
and  was  chief  justice  of  the  same  from  1854 
to  1856.  In  1867  he  was  the  choice  of  the 
Democratic  party  of  his  state  for  governor, 
and  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate 
in  1869  to  succeed  Benjamin  F.  Wade, 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position  in 
1874.  He  was  a  prominent  figure  in  the 
senate,  until  the  expiration  of  his  service  i  1 
1 88 1.      Mr.  Thurman   was  also    one  of  the 


COMPENDIUM    <>/■'    BIOGRAPHT. 


91 


principal  presidental  possibilities  in  the 
Democratic  convention  held  at  St.  Louis  in 
1876.  In  18S8  he  was  the  Democratic 
nominee  for  vice-president  on  the  ticket 
with  Grover  Cleveland,  but  was  defeated. 
Allen  Granberry  Thurman  died  December 
12,   1S95,  at  Columbus,  Ohio. 


CHARLES  FARRAR  BROWNE,  better 
known  as  "  Artemus  Ward,"  was  born 
April  26,  1S34,  in  the  village  of  Waterford, 
Maine.  He  was  thirteen  years  old  at  the 
time  of  his  fathers  death,  and  about  a  year 
later  he  was  apprenticed  to  John  M  Rix, 
who  published  the  "Coos  County  Dem- 
ocrat "  at  Lancaster,  New  Hampshire.  Mr. 
Browne  remained  with  him  one  year,  when, 
hearing  that  his  brother  Cyrus  was  starting 
a  paper  at  Norway,  Maine,  he  left  Mr.  Rix 
and  determined  to  get  work  on  the  new 
paper.  He  worked  for  his  brother  until  the 
failure  of  the  newspaper,  and  then  went  to 
Augusta,  Maine,  where  he  remained  a  few 
weeks  and  then  removed  to  Skowhegan, 
and  secured  a  position  on  the  "  Clarion." 
But  either  the  climate  or  the  work  was  not 
satisfactory  to  him,  for  one  night  he  silently 
left  the  town  and  astonished  his  good  mother 
by  appearing  unexpectedly  at  home.  Mr. 
Browne  then  received  some  letters  of  recom- 
mendation to  Messrs.  Snow  and  Wilder,  of 
Boston,  at  whose  office  Mrs.  Partington's 
(B.  P.  Shillaber)  ' '  Carpet  Bag  "  was  printed, 
and  he  was  engaged  and  remained  there  for 
three  years.  He  then  traveled  westward  in 
search  of  employment  and  got  as  far  as  Tif- 
fin, Ohio,  where  he  found  employment  in  the 
office  of  the  "Advertiser,"  and  remained 
there  some  months  when  he  proceeded  to 
Toledo,  Ohio,  where  he  became  one  of  the 
staff  of  the  "Commercial,''  which  position 
he  held  until  1857.  Mr.  Browne  next  went 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and   became  the  local 


editor  of  the  "Plain  Dealer,''  and  it  was  in 
the  columns  of  this  paper  that  he  published 
his  first  articles  and  signed  them  "  Artemus 
Ward."  In  i860  he  went  to  New  York  and 
became  the  editor  of  "  Vanity  Fair,"  but 
the  idea  of  lecturing  here  seized  him,  and  he 
was  fully  determined  to  make  the  trial. 
Mr.  Browne  brought  out  his  lecture.  "Babes 
in  the  Woods"  at  Clinton  Hall,  December 
23,  1861,  and  in  1862  he  published  his  first 
book  entitled,  "Artemus Ward;  His  Book." 
He  attained  great  fame  as  a  lecturer  and  his 
lectures  were  not  confined  to  America,  for 
he  went  to  England  in  1866,  and  became 
exceedingly  popular,  both  as  a  lecturer  and 
a  contributor  to  "Punch."  Mr.  Browne 
lectured  for  the  last  time  January  23,  1867. 
He  died  in  Southampton,  England,  March 
6,    1867. 

THURLOW  WEED,  a  noted  journalist 
and  politician,  was  born  in  Cairo,  New 
York,  November  15,  1797.  He  learned  the 
printer's  trade  at  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
and  worked  at  this  calling  for  several  years 
in  various  villages  in  centra!  New  York.  He 
served  as  quartermaster-sergeant  during  the 
warofi8i2.  In  18 18  he  established  the 
"Agriculturist,"  at  Norwich,  New  York, 
and  became  editor  of  the  "Anti-Masonic 
Enquirer,"  at  Rochester,  in  1826.  In  the 
same  year  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
and  re-elected  in  1830,  when  he  located  in 
Albany,  New  York,  and  there  started  the 
"  Evening  Journal,"  and  conducted  it  in  op- 
position to  the  Jackson  administration  and 
the  nullification  doctrines  of  Calhoun.  He 
became  an  adroit  party  manager,  and  was 
instrumental  in  promoting  the  nominations 
of  Harrison,  Taylor  and  Scott  for  the  pres- 
idency. In  1856  and  in  i860  he  threw  his 
support  to  W.  H.  Seward,  but  when  defeat- 
ed in  his  object,  he  gave  cordial  support  to 


;.'_' 


COMPENDICM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


Fremont  and  Lincoln.  Mr.  Lincoln  pre- 
v?;led  upon  him  to  visit  the  various  capitals 
of  Europe,  where  he  proved  a  valuable  aid 
tc  the  administration  in  moulding  the  opin- 
ions of  the  statesmen  of  that  continent 
favorable  to  the  cause  of  the  Union. 

Mr.  Weed's  connection  with  the  "Even- 
ing Journal  "  was  severed  in  1S62,  when  he 
settled  in  New  York,  and  for  a  time  edited 
the  "Commercial  Advertiser."  In  1868  he 
retired  from  active  life.  His  "  Letters  from 
Europe  and  the  West  Indies,"  published  in 
1866,  together  with  some  interesting  "  Rem- 
iniscences," published  in  the  "Atlantic 
Monthly, "in  1870,  an  autobiography,  and 
portions  of  an  extensive  correspondence  will 
be  of  great  value  to  writers  of  the  political 
history  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Weed 
died  in  New  York,   November   22,    1882. 


WILLIAM  COLLINS  WHITNEY, 
of  the  prominent  Democratic 
politicians  of  the  country  and  ex-secretary  of 
the  navy,  was  born  July  5th,  1N41,  at  Con- 
way, Mas  its,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation at  Williston  Seminary,  East  Hamp- 
ton, Massachusetts.  Later  he  attended 
Yale  (  where  he  graduated  in  1863, 
and  entered  the  Harvard  Law  School,  which 
he  left  in  1864.  Beginning  practice  in  New 
York  city,  he  soon  gained  a  reputation  as 
an  able  lawyer.  He  made  his  first  appear- 
ance in  public  affairs  in  1 871,  when  he  was 
active  in  organizing  a  young  men's  Demo- 
cratic club.  In  1872  he  was  the  recognized 
leader  of  the  county  Democracy  and  in  1875 
was  appointed  corporation  counsel  for  the 
city  of  New  York.  He  resigned  the  office, 
[882,  to  attend  to  personal  interests  and  on 
March  5,  1885,  he  was  appointed  secretary 
of  the  navy  by  President  Cleveland.  Under 
his  administration  the  navy  of  the  United 
States  rapidly  rose  in  rank  among  the  navies 


of  the  world.  When  he  retired  from  office 
in  1889,  the  vessels  of  the  United  States 
navy  designed  and  contracted  for  by  him 
were  five  double-turreted  monitors,  two 
new  armor-clads,  the  dynamite  cruiser  "Ve- 
suvius," and  five  unarmored  steel  and  iron 
cruisers. 

Mr.  Whitney  was  the  leader  of  the 
Cleveland  forces  in  the  national  Democratic 
convention   of   1892. 


EDWIN  FORREST,  the  first  and  great- 
est American  tragedian,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia  in  1806.  His  father  was  a 
tradesman,  and  some  accounts  state  that  he 
had  marked  out  a  mercantile  career  for  his 
son,  Edwin,  while  others  claim  that  he  had 
intended  him  for  the  ministry.  His  wonder- 
ful memory,  his  powers  of  mimicry  and  his 
strong  musical  voice,  however,  attracted  at- 
tention before  he  was  eleven  years  old,  and 
at  that  age  he  made  his  first  appearance  on 
the  stage.  The  costume  in  which  he  appeared 
was  so  ridiculous  that  he  left  the  stage  in  a 
fit  of  anger  amid  a  roar  of  laughter  from 
■tee.  This  did  not  discourage  him, 
however,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  after 
preliminary  training  in  elocution,  he 
red  again,  this  tune  as  Young  Norvel, 
and  gave  indications  of  future  greatness. 
Up  to  1826  he  played  entirely  with  strolling 
companies  through  the  south  and  west,  but 
at  that  time  he  obtained  an  engagement  at 
the  Bowery  Theater  in  New  York.  From 
that  time  his  fortune  was  made.  His  man- 
ager paid  him  $40  per  night,  and  it  is  stated 
that  he  loaned  Forrest  to  other  houses  from 
time  to  time  at  $200  per  night.  His  great 
successes  were  Virginius,  Damon,  Othello, 
Coriolanus,  William  Tell,  Spartacus  and 
Lear.  He  made  his  first  appearance  in 
London  in  1836,  and  his  success  was  un- 
questioned from  the  start.     In  1845,  on  k  s 


UPENDIUM   <>/■'    BIOGRAPHY. 


second  appearance  in  London,  he  became 
involved  in  a  bitter  rivalry  with  the  great 
English  actor,  Macready,  who  had  visited 
America  two  years  before.  The  result  was 
that  Forrest  was  hissed  from  the  stage,  and 
it  was  charged  that  Macready  had  instigated 
the  plot.  Forrest's  resentment  was  so  bitter 
that  he  himself  openly  hissed  Ma. 
from  his  box  a  few  nights  later.  In  1848 
Macready  again  visited  America  at  a  time 
when  American  admiration  and  enthi: 
for  Forrest  had  reached  its  height.  Macready 
undertook  to  play  at  Astor  Place  Opera 
House  in  May,  1 S49,  but  was  hooted  off  the 
stage.  A  few  nights  later  Macready  made  a 
second  attempt  to  play  at  the  same  house, 
this  time  under  police  protection.  The  house 
wasfilled  with  Macready 'sfriends,  but  the  vio- 
olence  of  the  mob  outside  stopped  the  play, 
and  the  actor  barely  escaped  with  his  life. 
Upon  reading  the  riot  act  the  police  and 
troops  were  assaulted  with  stones.  The 
troops  replied,  first  with  blank  cartridges, 
and  then  a  volley  of  lead  dispersed  the 
mob,  leaving  thirty  men  dead  or  seriously 
wounded. 

After  this  incident  Forrest's  popularity 
waned,  until  in  1 S  5  5  he  retired  from  the 
stage.  He  re-appeared  in  i860,  however, 
and  probably  the  most  remunerative  period 
of  his  life  was  between  that  date  and  the 
close  of  the  Civil  war.  His  last  appearance 
on  the  stage  was  at  the  Globe  Theatre, 
Boston,  in  Richelieu,  in  April,  1872,  his 
death   occurring  December  12  of  that  year. 


NOAH  PORTER.  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was 
one  of  the  most  noted  educators,  au- 
thors and  scientific  writers  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  born  December  14,  [8ll, 
at  Farmington,  Connecticut,  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1831,  and  was  master  of 
Hopkins  Grammar  School  at  New  Haven  in 


1831  -33.  During  1S33-35  he  was  a  tutor 
at  Vale,  and  at  the  same  time  was  pursuing 
his  theological  studies,  and  became  pastor 
of  the  Coi  nal    church   at    New  Mil- 

ford,  Connecticut,  in  April,  1836,  Dr. 
Porter  removed  to  Springfield.  Massachu- 
setts, in  1S43,  and  was  chosen  professor  of 
metaphysics  and  moral  philosophy  at  Yale 
in  1S46.  He  spent  a  year  in  Germany  in 
the  study  of  modern  metaphysics  in  1 
54,  and  in  1871  he  was  elected  president  of 
Yale  College.  He  resigned  the  presidency 
-5.  but  still  remained  professor  of  met- 
aphysics and  moral  philosophy.  He  was 
the  author  of  a  number  of  works,  among 
which  are  the  following:  "Historical  Es- 
say,'' written  in  commemorationofthe200th 
aniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the  town  of 
Farmington;  "  Educational  System  of  the 
Jesuits  Compared;''  "The  Human  Intel- 
lect," with  an  introduction  upon  psychology 
and  the  soul;  "  Books  and  Reading;'' 
"American  Colleges  and  the  American  Pub- 
lic;'' "  Elementsof  Intellectual  Philosophy;" 
"  The  Science  of  Nature  versus  the  Science 
of  Man;"  "Science  and  Sentiment;"  "Ele- 
ments of  Moral  Science."  Dr.  Porter  was 
the  principal  editor  of  the  revised  edition  of 
Webster's  Dictionary  in  1864,  and  con- 
tributed largely  to  religious  reviews  and 
periodicals.  Dr.  Porter's  death  occurred 
March  4,   1892,  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 


JOHN  TYLER,  tenth  president  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  Charles  City 
county,  Virginia,  March  29,  1790,  and  was 
the  son  of  Judge  John  Tyler,  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  men  of  his  day. 

When  but  twelve  years  of  age  young 
John  Tyler  entered  William  and  Mary  Col- 
lege, graduating  from  there  in  1806.  He 
took  up  the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1809,  when  but  nineteen  years 


94 


COMTEXDIIM    OF    BIOGRAPIIV. 


of  age.  On  attaining  his  majority  in  1S1  i 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  state  legis- 
lature, and  for  five  years  held  that  position 
by  the  almost  unanimous  vote  of  his  county. 
He  was  elected  to  congress  in  1S16,  and 
served  in  that  body  for  four  years,  after 
which  for  two  years  he  represented  his  dis- 
trict again  in  the  legislature  of  the  state. 
While  in  congress,  he  opposed  the  United 
States  bank,  the  protective  policy  and  in- 
ternal improvements  by  the  United  States 
government.  1825  saw  Mr.  Tyler  governor 
of  Virginia,  but  in  1827  he  was  chosen 
membei  of  the  United  States  senate,  and 
held  that  office  for  nine  years.  He  therein 
opposed  the  administration  of  Adams  and 
the  tariff  bill  of  1828,  sympathized  with  the 
nullifiers  of  South  Carolina  and  was  the 
only  senator  who  voted  against  the  Force 
bill  lor  the  suppression  of  that  state's  insip- 
ient  rebellion.  He  resigned  his  position  as 
senator  on  account  of  a  disagreement  with 
the  legislature  of  his  state  in  relation  to  his 
censuring  President  Jackson.  He  retired  to 
Williamsburg,  Virginia,  but  being  regarded 
as  a  martyr  by  the  Whigs,  whom,  hereto- 
fore, he  had  always  opposed,  was  supported 
by  many  of  that  party  for  the  vice-presi- 
dency in  1836.  He  sat  in  the  Virginia  leg- 
islature as  a  Whig  in  1 839-40,  and  was  a 
del  f;ate  to  the  convention  of  that  party  in 
i8;q.  This  national  convention  nominated 
him  for  the  second  place  on  the  ticket  with 
General  William  H.  H.  Harrison,  and  he 
was  elected  vice-president  in  November, 
1840.  President  Harrison  dying  one  month 
after  his  inauguration,  he  was  succeeded  by 
John  Tyler.  He  retained  the  cabinet  chosen 
by  his  predecessor,  and  for  a  time  moved  in 
harmony  with  the  Whig  party.  He  finally 
instructed  the  secretary  of  the  treasury. 
Thomas  Ewing,  to  submit  to  congress  a  bill 
for  the  incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the 


United  States,  which  was  passed  by  con- 
gress, but  vetoed  by  the  president  on  ac- 
count of  some  amendments  he  considered 
unconstitutional.  For  this  and  other  meas- 
ures he  was  accused  of  treachery  to  his 
party,  and  deserted  by  his  whole  cabinet, 
except  Daniel  Webs'  er.  Things  grew  worse 
until  he  was  abandoned  by  the  Whig  party 
formally,  when  Mr.  Webster  resigned.  He 
was  nominated  at  Baltimore,  in  May,  1844, 
at  the  Democratic  convention,  as  their  pres- 
idential candidate,  but  withdrew  from  the 
canvass,  as  he  saw  he  had  not  succeed- 
ed in  gaining  the  confidence  of  his  old 
party.  He  then  retired  from  politics  until 
February,  1861,  when  he  was  made  presi- 
dent of  the  abortive  peace  congress,  which 
met  in  Washington.  He  shortly  after  re- 
nounced his  allegiance  to  the  United  States 
and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Confeder- 
ate congress.  He  died  at  Richmond,  Janu- 
ary 17,   1862. 

Mr.  Tyler  married,  in  1813,  Miss  Letitia 
Christian,  who  died  in  1842  at  Washington. 
June  26,  1844,  he  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage, with  Miss  Julia  Gardner,  of  New  York. 


COLLIS  POTTER  HUNTINGTON, 
one  of  the  great  men  of  his  time  and 
who  has  left  his  impress  upon  the  history  of 
our  national  development,  was  born  October 
22,  1821,  at  Harwinton,  Connecticut. 
He  received  a  common-school  education 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  his  spirit  of  get- 
ting along  in  the  world  mastered  his  educa- 
tional propensities  and  his  father's  objec- 
tions and  he  left  school.  He  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  the  early  days  and  had  opportunities 
which  he  handled  masterfully.  Others  had 
the  same  opportunities  but  they  did  not  have 
his  brains  nor  his  energy,  and  it  was  he  who 
overcame  obstacles  and  reaped  the  reward 
of    his   genius.      Transcontinental     railways 


\TPEND1UM   OF    /:/ 1  x,h\\ /'//>: 


were  inevitable,  but  the  realization  of  this 
masterful  achievement  would  have  been  de- 
layed to  a  much  later  day  if  there  had  been 
no  Huntington.  He  associated  himself  with 
S.  Mark  Hopkins,  Leland  Stanford, 
and  Charles  Crocker,  and  they  furnished  the 
money  necessary  for  a  survey  across  the 
Sierru  N  i  las,  secured  a  charter  for  the 
road,  and  raised,  with  the  government's  aid, 
money  enough  to  construct  and  equip  that 
railway,  which  at  the  time  of  its  completion 
was  a  marvel  of  engineering  and  one  of  the 
wonders  of  the  world.  Mr.  Huntington  be- 
came president  of  the  Southern  Pacific  rail- 
road, vice-president  of  the  Central  Pacific; 
trustee  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Telegraph 
Company,  and  a  director  of  the  Occidental 
and  Oriental  Steamship  Company,  besides 
being  identified  with  many  other  business 
enterprises  of  vast  importance. 


brevet  major-genera]  for  gallant  conduct 
during  the  engagement.  General  Custer 
was  in  command  of  a  cavalry  division  in  the 
pursuit  of  Lee's  army  in  1865,  and  fought 
at  Dinwiddie  Court  House,  Five  Forks, 
where  he  was  made  brevet  brigadier-general; 
Sailors  Creek  and  Appomattox,  where  he 
gained  additional  honors  and  was  made 
brevet  major-general,  and  was  given  the 
command  of  the  cavalry  in  the  military 
division  of  the  southwest  and  Gulf,  in 
After  the  establishment  of  peace  he  went 
west  on  frontier  duty  and  performed  gallant 
and  valuable  service  in  the  troubles  with  the 
Indians.  He  was  killed  in  the  massacre  on 
the  Little  Big  Horn  river.  South  Dakota, 
June  25,   1876. 


GEORGE  A.  CUSTER,  a  famous  In- 
dian fighter,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1840. 
He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1861,  an- 
served  in  the  Civil  war;  was  at  Bull  Run  id 
1861,  and  was  in  the  Peninsular  campaign, 
being  one  of  General  McClellan's  aides-de, 
camp.  He  fought  in  the  battles  of  South 
Mountain  and  Antietam  in  1863,  and  was 
with  General  Stoneman  on  his  famous 
cavalry  raid.  He  was  engaged  in  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  and  was  there  made  brevet- 
major.  In  1S63  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers.  General  Custer  was 
in  many  skirmishes  in  central  Virginia  in 
1863-64,  and  was  present  at  the  following 
battles  of  the  Richmond  campaign:  Wil- 
derness, Todd's  Tavern,  Yellow  Tavern,  where 
hewasbrevetted  lieutenant-colonel;  Meadow 
Bridge,  Haw's  Shop,  Cold  Harbor,  Trevil- 
lian  Station.  In  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
1 864  65  he  was  brevetted  colonel  at  Opequan 
Creek,  and  at   Cedar  Creek   he   was    made 


DANIEL  WOLSEY  VOORHEES,  cel- 
brated  as  "  The  Tall  Sycamore  of  the 
Wabash,"  was  born  September  26,  1827, 
in  Butler  county,  Ohio.  When  he  was  two 
months  old  his  parents  removed  to  Fount- 
ain county,  Indiana.  He  grew  to  manhood 
on  a  farm,  engaged  in  all  the  arduous  work 
pertaining  to  rural  life.  In  1S45  he  entered 
the  Indiana  Asbury  University,  now  the  De 
Pauw,  from  which  he  graduated  in  I 
He  took  up  the  study  of  law  at  Crawfords- 
ville,  and  in  1851  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Covington,  Fountain  county, 
Indiana.  He  became  a  law  partner  of 
United  States  Senator  Hannegan,  of  Indi- 
ana, in  1852,  and  in  1856  he  was  an  unsuc- 
cessful candidate  f<>r  congress.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Terre 
Haute,  Indiana.  He  was  United  States 
district  attorney  for  Indiana  from  1857  until 
1 86 1,  and  he  had  during  this  period  been 
elected  to  congress,  in  i860.  Mr.  Vnorhees 
was  re-elected  to  congress  in  1 S62  and  1 864, 
but  he  was  unsuccessful  in  the  election  of 
1866.      However,  he  was  returned   to  con- 


96 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BTOGRArflV 


gress  in  1S68,  where  he  remained  until  1874, 
having  been  re-elected  twice.  In  1877  he 
was  appointed  United  States  senator  from 
Indiana  to  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  O.  P.  Morton,  and  at  the  end  of  the  term 
was  elected  for  the  ensuing  term,  being  re- 
elected in  1885  and  in  1891  to  the  same  of- 
fice. He  served  with  distinction  on  many 
of  the  committees,  and  took  a  very  prom- 
inent part  in  the  discussion  of  all  the  im- 
portant legislation  of  his  time.  His  death 
occurred  in  August,    189   . 


ALEXANDER  GRAHAM  BELL,  fa- 
mous as  one  of  the  inventors  of  the  tele- 
phone, was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland, 
March  3rd,  1S47.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  high  school  and  later  he 
attended  the  university,  and  was  specially 
trained  to  follow  his  grandfather's  profes- 
sion, that  of  removing  impediments  of 
speech.  He  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1872,  and  introduced  into  this  country 
his  father's  invention  of  visible  speech  in  the 
institutions  for  deaf-mutes.  Later  he  was 
appointed  professor  of  vocal  physiology  in 
the  Boston  University.  He  worked  fur 
many  years  during  his  leisure  hours  on  his 
telephonic  discovery,  and  finally  perfected 
it  and  exhibited  it  publicly,  before  it  had 
reached  the  high  state  of  perfection  to  which 
he  brought  it.  His  first  exhibition  of  it  was 
at  the  Centennial  Exhibition  that  was  held 
in  Philadelphia  in  1876.  Its  success  is  now 
established  throughout  the  civilized  world. 
In  1882  Prof.  Bell  received  a  diploma  and 
the  decoration  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  from 
the  Academy  of  Sciences  of  France. 


WILLIAM  HICKLIXG  PRESCOTT, 
the  justly  celebrated  historian  and 
author,  was  a  native  of  Salem,  Massachu- 
setts, and  was  born  May  4,  1796.      He  was 


the  son  of  Judge  William  Prescott  and  the 
grandson  of  the  hero  of  Bunker  Hill,  Colonel 
William  Prescott. 

Our  subject  in  1808  removed  with  the 
family  to  Boston,  in  the  schools  of  which 
city  he  received  his  early  education.  He 
entered  Harvard  College  as  a  sophomore  in 
181  i,  having  been  prepared  at  the  private 
classical  college  of  Rev.  Dr.  J.  S.  J.  Gardi- 
jner.  The  following  year  be  received  an  in- 
ury  in  his  left  eye  which  made  study 
through  life  a  matter  of  difficulty.  He 
graduated  in  1814  with  high  honors  in  the 
classics  and  belle  lettres.  He  spent  several 
months  on  the  Azores  Islands,  and  later 
visited  England,  France  and  Italy,  return- 
ing home  in  1817.  In  June,  1818,  he 
founded  a  social  and  Literary  club  at  Boston 
for  which  he  edited  "The  Club  Room,"  a 
periodical  doomed  to  but  a  short  life.  May 
4,  iSjo,  he  married  Miss  Susan  Amory. 
He  devoted  several  years  after  that  event  to 
a  thorough  study  of  ancient  and  modern 
history  and  literature.  As  the  fruits  of  his 
labors  he  published  several  well  written 
essays  upon  French  and  Italian  poetry  and 
romance  in  the  "  North  American  Review." 
January  pi.  1X26,  he  decided  to  take  up  his 
first  great  historical  work,  the  "  History  of 
the  Reign  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella."  To 
this  he  gave  the  labor  of  ten  years,  publish- 
ing the  same  December  25,  1837.  Although 
placed  at  the  head  of  all  American  authors, 
so  diffident  was  Prescott  of  his  literary  merit 
that  although  he  had  four  copies  of  this 
work  printed  for  his  own  convenience,  he 
hesitated  a  long  time  before  giving  it  to  the 
public,  and  it  was  only  by  the  solicitation  of 
friends,  especially  of  that  talented  Spanish 
scholar,  George  Ticknor,  that  he  was  in- 
duced to  do  so.  Soon  the  volumes  were 
translated  into  French,  Italian,  Dutch  and 
German,    and    the    work    was    recognized 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


97 


throughout  the  world  as  one  of  the  most 
meritorious  of  historical  compositions.  In 
i S43  he  published  the  "Conquest  of  Mexi- 
co," and  in  1847  the  "Conquest  of  Peru." 
Two  years  later  there  came  from  his  pen  a 
volume  of  "Biographical  and  Critical  Mis- 
cellanies." Going  abroad  in  the  summer  of 
1S50,  he  was  received  with  great  distinction 
in  the  literary  circles  of  London,  Edinburgh, 
Paris.  Antwerp  and  Brussels.  Oxford  I'm- 
versity  conferred  the  degree  of  D.  C.  L. 
upon  him.  In  1  S 5  5  he  issued  two  volumes 
of  his  "History  of  the  Reign  of  Philip  the 
Second,"  and  a  third  in  1858.  In  'the 
meantime  he  edited  Robertson's  "Charles 
the  Fifth,"  adding  a  history  of  the  life  of 
that  monarch  after  his  abdication.  Death 
cut  short  his  work  on  the  remaining  volumes 
Oi  "  Philip  the  Second,"  coming  to  him  at 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  May  28,   1 S 59. 


OLIVER  HAZARD  PERRY,  a  noted 
American  commodore,  was  born  in 
South  Kingston,  Rhode  Island,  August  2 3, 
He  saw  his  first  service  as  a  mid- 
shipman in  the  United  States  navy  in  April, 
1799.  He  cruised  with  his  father,  Captain 
Christopher  Raymond  Perry,  in  the  W<  st  In- 
dies for  about  two  years.  In  1804  he  was 
in  the  war  against  Tripoli,  and  was  made 
lieutenant  in  1807.  At  the  opening  of  hostili- 
ties with  Great  Britain  in  18  12  he  was  given 
command  of  a  fleet  of  gunboats  on  the  At- 
lantic coast.  At  his  request  he  was  trans- 
ferred, a  year  later,  to  Lake  Ontario,  where 
he  served  under  Commodore  Chauncey,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  attack  on  Fort 
George.  He  was  ordered  to  fit  out  a  squad- 
ron on  Lake  Erie,  which  he  did,  building 
most  of  his  vessels  from  the  forests  along 
the  shore,  and  by  the  summer  of  1813  he  had 
a  fleet  of  nine  vessels  at  Presque  Isle,  now 
Erie,    Pennsylvania       September    10th    he 


attacked  and  captured  the  British  fl< 
Put-in-Bay,  thus  clearing  the  lake  of  hostile 
ships.  His  famous  dispatch  is  part  of  his 
fame,  "  We  have  met  the  enemy,  and  they 
are  ours."  He  co-operated  with  Gen.  Har- 
rison, and  the  success  of  the  campaign  in 
the  northwest  was  largely  due  to  his  victory. 
The  next  year  he  was  transferred  to  the  Po- 
tomac, and  assisted  in  the  defense  of  Balti- 
more. After  the  war  he  was  in  constant 
service  with  the  various  squadrons  in  cruising 
in  all  parts  of  the  world.  He  died  of  yellow 
fever  on  the  Island  of  Trinidad,  August  23, 
1  819.  His  remains  were  conveyed  to  New- 
port, and  buried  there,  and  an  imposing 
obelisk  was  erected  to  his  memory  by  the 
Slate  of  Rhode  Island.  A  bronze  statue 
was  also  erected  in  his  honor,  the  unveiling 
taking  place  in  1  >    5 


JOHN  PAUL  JONES,  though  a  native 
of  Scotland,  was  one  of  America's  most 
noted  fighters  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  was  born  July  6,  1747.  His  father  was 
a  gardener,  but  the  young  man  soon  be- 
came interested  in  a  seafaring  life  and  at 
the  age  of  twelve  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
sea  captain  engaged  in  the  American  trade. 
His  first  voyage  landed  him  in  Virginia, 
where  he  had  a  brother  who  had  settled 
there  several  years  prior.  The  failure  of 
the  captain  released  young  Jones  from  his 
apprenticeship  bonds,  and  he  was  engaged 
as  third  mate  of  a  vessel  engaged  in  the 
slave  trade.  He  abandoned  this  trade  after 
a  few  years,  from  his  own  sense  of  disgrace. 
He  took  passage  from  Jamaica  for  Scotland 
in  1768,  and  on  the  voyage  both  the  captain 
and  the  mate  died  and  he  was  compelled  to 
take  command  of  the  vessel  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  He  soon  after 
became  master  of  the  vessel.  He  returned 
to  Virginia  about  1773  to  settle  up  the  estate 


9S 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BI0GRAPH1 


of  his  brother,  and  at  this  time  added  the 
name  "Jones,"  having  previously  been 
known  as  John  Paul.  He  settled  down  in 
Virginia,  but  when  the  war  broke  out  in 
1775  he  offered  his  services  to  congress  and 
was  appointed  senior  lieutenant  of  the  flag- 
ship "Alfred,"  on  which  he  hoisted  the 
American  flag  with  his  own  hands,  the  first 
vessel  that  had  ever  carried  a  flag  of  the 
new  nation.  He  was  afterward  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  "Alfred,"  and  later 
of  the  "Providence,"  in  each  of  which  ves- 
sels he  did  good  service,  as  also  in  the 
"  Ranger,"  to  the  command  of  which  he 
was  later  appointed.  The  fight  that  made 
him  famous,  however,  was  that  in  which  he 
captured  the  "  Serapis, "  off  the  coast  of 
Scotland.  He  was  then  in  command  of  the 
"Bon  Homme  Richard,"  which  had  been 
fitted  out  for  him  by  the  French  government 
and  named  by  Jones  in  honor  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,  or  "Good  Man  Richard,"  Frank- 
lin being  author  of  the  publication  known 
as  "  Poor  Richard's  Almanac."  The  fight 
between  the  "  Richard"  and  the  "Serapis" 
lasted  three  hours,  all  of  which  time  the 
vessels  were  at  close  range,  and  most  of  the 
time  in  actual  contact.  Jones'  vessel  was 
on  fire  several  times,  and  early  in  the  en- 
gagement two  of  his  guns  bursted,  rendering 
the  battery  useless.  Also  an  envious  officer 
of  the  Alliance,  one  of  Jones'  own  fleet, 
opened  fire  upon  the  "  Richard  "  at  a  crit- 
ical time,  completely  disabling  the  vessel. 
Jones  continued  the  fight,  in  spite  of  coun- 
sels to  surrender,  and  after  dark  the  "  Ser- 
apis "  struck  her  colors,  and  was  hastily 
boarded  by  Jones  and  his  crew,  while  the 
"Richard"  sank,  bows  first,  after  the 
wounded  had  been  taken  on  board  the 
"Serapis."  Most  of  the  other  vessels  of 
the  fleet  of  which  the  "  Serapis"  was  con- 
voy, surrendered,  and   were  taken  with  the 


"Serapis"  to  France,  where  Jones  was 
received  with  greatest  honors,  and  the  king 
presented  him  with  an  elegant  sword  and 
the  cross  of  the  Order  of  Military  Merit. 
Congress  gave  him  a  vote  of  thanks  and 
made  him  commander  of  a  new  ship,  the 
"America,"  but  the  vessel  was  afterward 
given  to  France  and  Jones  never  saw  active 
sea  service  again.  He  came  to  America  again, 
in  1 7 S 7 ,  after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
voted  a  gold  medal  by  congress.  He  went  to 
Russia  and  was  appointed  rear-admiral  and 
rendered  service  of  value  against  the  Turks, 
but  on  account  of  personal  enmity  of  the  fav- 
orites of  the  emperor  he  was  retired  on  a  pen- 
sion. Failing  to  collect  this,  he  returned  to 
France,  where  he  died,  July  18,  1792. 


THOMAS  MORAN,  the  well-known 
painter  of  Rocky  Mountain  scenery, 
was  born  in  Lancashire,  Fngland,  in  1837. 
He  came  to  America  when  a  child,  and 
showing  artistic  tastes,  he  was  apprenticed 
to  a  wood  engraver  in  Philadelphia.  Three 
years  later  he  began  landscape  painting,  and 
li  is  style  soon  began  to  exhibit  signs  of  gen  ins. 
His  first  works  were  water-colors,  and 
though  without  an  instructor  he  began  the 
use  .of  oils,  he  soon  found  it  necessary  to 
visit  Europe,  where  he  gave  particular  at- 
tention to  the  works  of  Turner.  He  joined 
the  Yellowstone  Park  exploring  expedition 
and  visited  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  1S71 
and  again  in  1873,  making  numerous 
sketches  of  the  scenery.  The  most  note- 
worthy results  were  his  "Grand  Canon  of 
the  Yellowstone,"  and  "  The  Chasm  of  the 
Colorado,"  which  were  purchased  by  con- 
gress at  $10,000  each,  the  first  of  which  is 
undoubtedly  the  finest  landscape  painting 
produced  in  this  country.  Mr.  Moran  has 
subordinated  art  to  nature,  and  the  subjects 
he  has  chosen  leave  little  ground   for   fault 


/  |  '     ^      0--    .'.    L-  '.06    ^         V. 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY, 


101 


finding  on  that  account.  "The  Mountain 
of  the  Holy  Cross,"  "The  Groves  Were 
God's  First  Temples,"  ••  The  Cliffs  of  Green 
River, "'•  The  Children  of  the  Mountain," 
"The  Ripening  of  the  Leaf,"  and  others 
have  given  him  additional  fame,  and  while 
they  do  not  equal  in  grandeur  the  first 
mentioned,  in  many  respects  from  an  artis- 
tic standpoint  they  are  superior. 


L ELAND  STANFORD  was  one  of  the 
greatest  men  of  the  Pacific  coast  and 
also  had  a  national  reputation.  He  was 
born  March  9,  1824,  in  Albany  county.  New 
York,  and  passed  his  early  life  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  attended  the  local 
schools  of  the  county  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  began  the  study  of  law.  He 
entered  the  law  office  of  Wheaton,  Doolittle 
and  Hadley,  at  Albany,  in  1845,  and  a  few 
years  later  he  moved  to  Port  Washington, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  practiced  law  four 
years  with  moderate  success.  In  1852  Mr. 
Stanford  determined  to  push  further  west, 
and,  accordingly  went  to  California,  where 
three  of  his  brothers  were  established  in 
business  in  the  mining  towns.  They  took 
Leland  into  partnership,  giving  him  charge 
of  a  branch  store  at  Michigan  Bluff,  in 
Placer  county.  There  he  developed  great 
business  ability  and  four  years  later  started 
a  mercantile  house  of  his  own  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, which  soon  became  one  of  the  most 
substantial  houses  on  the  coast.  On  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party  he  inter- 
ested himself  in  politics,  and  in  18G0  was 
sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  convention  that 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  the 
autumn  of  1S61  he  was  elected,  by  an  im- 
mense majority,  governor  of  California. 
Prior  to  his  election  as  governor  he  had 
been  chosen  president  of  the  newly-orga- 
nized   Central  Pacific    Railroad    Company, 


and  after  leaving  the  executive  chair  he  de- 
voted all  of  his  time  to  the  construction  of 
the  Pacific  end  of  the  transcontinental  rail- 
way. May  10,  [869,  Mr.  Stanford  drove 
the  last  spike  of  the  Central  Pacific  road, 
thus  completing  the  route  across  the  conti- 
nent. He  was  also  president  of  the  Occi- 
dental and  Oriental  Steamship  Company. 
He  had  but  one  son,  who  died  of  typhoid 
fever,  and  as  a  monument  to  his  child  he 
founded  the  university  which  bears  his  son's 
name,  Leland  Stanford,  Junior,  University. 
Mr.  Stanford  gave  to  this  university  eighty- 
three  thousand  acres  of  land,  the  estimated 
value  of  which  is  $S, 000, 000,  and  the  entire 
endowment  is  $20,000,000.  In  1885  Mr. 
Stanford  was  elected  United  States  senator 
as  a  Republican,  to  succeed  J.  T.  Farley,  a 
Democrat,  and  was  re-elected  in  1S91.  His 
death  occurred  June  20,  1894,  at  Palo  Alto, 
California. 

STEPHEN  DECATUR,  a  famous  com- 
modore in  the  United  States  navy,  was 
born  in  Man  land  in  1779.  He  entered  the 
naval  service  in  1798.  In  1S04,  when  the 
American  vessel  Philadelphia  had  been  run 
aground  and  captured  in  the  harbor  of  Trip- 
oli, Decatur,  at  the  head  of  a  few  men, 
boarded  her  and  burned  her  in  the  face  of 
the  guns  from  the  city  defenses.  For  this 
daring  deed  he  was  made  captain.  He  was 
given  command  of  the  frigate  United  States 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  18 12,  and 
in  October  of  that  year  he  captured  the 
British  frigate  Macedonian,  and  was  re- 
1  with  a  gold  medal  by  congress.  Af- 
ter the  close  of  the  war  he  was  sent  as  com- 
mander of  a  fleet  of  ten  vessels  to  chastise 
the  dey  of  Algiers,  who  was  preying  upon 
American  commerce  with  impunity  and  de- 
manding tribute  and  ransom  for  the  release 
of   American    citizens    captured.       Decatur 


102 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BTOGRAniV. 


captured  a  number  of  Algerian  vessels,  and 
compelled  the  dey  to  sue  for  peace.  He 
was  noted  for  his  daring  and  intrepidity, 
and  his  coolness  in  the  face  of  danger,  and 
helped  to  bring  the  United  States  navy  into 
favor  with  the  people  and  congress  as  a 
means  of  defense  and  offense  in  time  of 
war.  He  was  killed  in  a  duel  by  Commo- 
dore Barron,  March  12,   1820. 

JAMES  KNOX  POLK,  the  eleventh 
president  of  the  United  States,  1845  to 
18411,  was  bom  November 2,  1795,  in  Meck- 
lenburg county,  North  Carolina,  and  was 
the  eldest  child  of  a  family  of  six  sons.  He 
removed  with  his  father  to  the  Valley  of  the 
Duck  River,  in  Tennessee,  in  1806.  He 
attended  the  common  schools  and  became 
very  proficient  in  the  lower  branches  of 
education,  and  supplemented  this  with 
a  course  in  the  Mmfreesboro  Academy, 
which  he  entered  in  18 13  and  in  the  autumn 
of  1 8 1  5  he  became  a  student  in  the  sopho- 
more class  of  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
lina, at  Chapel  Hill,  and  was  graduated  in 
181 8.  He  then  spent  a  short  time  in  re- 
cuperating his  health  and  then  proceeded  to 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  where  he  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Felix  Grundy. 
After  the  completion  of  his  law  studies  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  removed  to 
Columbia,  Maury  county,  Tennessee,  and 
started  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. Mr.  Polk  was  a  Jeffersonian  "  Re- 
publican "  and  in  [823  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature  of  Tennessee.  He  was  a  strict 
constructionist  and  did  not  believe  that  the 
general  government  had  the  power  to  carry 
on  internal  improvements  in  the  states,  but 
deemed  it  important  that  it  should  have  that 
power,  and  wanted  the  constitution  amended 
to  that  effect.  But  later  on  he  became 
alarmed  lest  the  general  government    might 


become  strong  enough  to  abolish  slavery 
and  therefore  gave  his  whole  support  to  the 
"  State's  Rights"  movement, and  endeavored 
to  check  the  centralization  of  power  in  the 
general  government.  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen 
a  member  of  congress  in  1825,  and  held  that 
office  until  1839.  He  then  withdrew,  as  he 
was  the  successful  gubernatorial  candidate 
of  his  state.  He  had  become  a  man  of 
great  influence  in  the  house,  and,  as  the 
leader  of  the  Jackson  party  in  that  body, 
weilded  great  influence  in  the  election  of 
General  Jackson  to  the  presidency.  He 
sustained  the  president  in  all  his  measures 
and  still  remained  in  the  house  after  Gen- 
eral Jackson  had  been  succeeded  by  Martin 
Van  Buren.  He  was  speaker  of  the  house 
during  five  sessions  of  congress.  He  was 
elected  governor  of  Tennessee  by  a  large 
majority  and  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nash- 
ville, October  4,  1859.  He  was  a  candidate 
for  re-election  but  was  defeated  by  Governor 
Jones,  the  Whig  candidate.  In  1844  the 
most  prominent  question  in  the  election  was 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  and  as  Mr.  Polk 
was  the  avowed  champion  of  this  cause  he 
was  nominated  for  president  by  the  pro- 
slavery  wing  of  the  democratic  party,  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  was  in 
urated  March  4,  1845.  President  Polk 
formed  a  very  able  cabinet,  consisting  of 
James  Buchanan,  Robert  J.  Walker,  Will- 
iam L.  Marcy,  George  Bancroft,  Cave  John- 
son, and  John  Y.  Mason.  The  dispute  re- 
garding the  Oregon  boundary  was  settled 
during  his  term  of  office  and  a  new  depart- 
ment was  added  to  the  list  of  cabinet  po- 
sitions, that  of  the  Interior.  The  low  tariff 
bill  of  1846  was  carried  and  the  financial 
system  of  the  country  was  reorganized.  It 
was  also  during  President  Polk's  term  that 
the  Mexican  war  was  successfully  conducted, 
which  resulted  in  the  acquisition  of  Califor- 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


L08 


nia  and  New  Mexico.  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
the  presidency  March  4,  1S40,  after  having 
declined  a  re-nomination,  and  was  succeeded 
by  General  Zachary  Taylor,  the  hero  oi  the 

Mexican  war.  Mr.  Polk  retired  to  private 
life,  to  his  home  in  Nashville,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-four  on  June  9,  1849. 


ANNA  DICKINSON  (Anna  Elizabeth 
Dickinson),  a  noted  lecturer  and  pub- 
lic speaker,  was  born  at  Philadelphia,  Oc- 
tober 28,  1842.  Her  parents  were  Quakers, 
and  she  was  educated  at  the  Friends'  free 
schools  in  her  native  city.  She  early  man- 
d  an  inclination  toward  elocution  and 
public  speaking,  and  when,  at  the  age  of  18, 
and  an  opportunity  to  appear  before 
a  national  as-  1    the  discussion  of 

woman's  rights,  she  at  once  established  her 
reputation  as  a  public  speaker.  From  i860 
to  the  close  of  the  war  and  during  the  ex- 
citing period  of  reconstruction,  she  was  one 
of  the  most  noted  and  influential  speakers 
before  the  American  public,  and  her  popu- 
larity was  unequaled  by  that  of  any  of  her 
sex.  A  few  weeks  after  the  defeat  and 
death  of  Colonel  Baker  at  Ball's  Bluff,  Anna 
Dickinson,  lecturing  in  New  York,  made 
the  remarkable  assertion,  "  Not  the  incom- 
petency of  Colonel  Baker,  but  the  treachery 
of  General  McClellan  caused  the  disaster  at 
Ball's  Bluff.''  She  was  hissed  and  hooted 
off  the  stage.  A  year  later,  at  the  same 
hall  and  with  much  the  same  class  of  audi- 
tors, she  repeated  the  identical  words,  and 
the  applause  was  so  great  and  so  long  con- 
tinued that  it  was  impossible  tp  goon  with 
her  lecture  for  more  than  half  an  hour.  The 
change  of  sentiment  had  been  wrought  by 
the  reverses  and  dismissal  of  McClellan  and 
his  ambition  to  succeed  Mr.  Lincoln  as  presi- 
dent. 

Ten  years  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Anna 


Dickinson  was  not  heard  of  on  the  lec- 
ture platform,  and  about  that  time  she  made 
an  attempt  to  enter  the  dramatic  profession, 
but  after  appearing  a  number  of  times  in  dif- 
ferent plays  she   was  pronounced   a  failure. 


ROBERT  J.  BURDETTE.— Some  per- 
sonal characteristics  of  Mr.  Burdette 
quaintly  given  by  himself  in  the  follow- 
ing words:  "Politics?  Republican  after 
the  strictest  sect.  Religion  ?  Baptist.  Per- 
sonal appearance  ?  Below  medium  height, 
and  weigh  one  hundred  and  thirty- live 
Is,  no  shillings  and  no  pence.  Rich? 
Not  enough  to  own  a  yacht.  Favorite  read- 
ing1 Poetry  and  history — know  Longfellow 
by  heart,  almost.  Write  for  magizines  ? 
Have  mo.e  'declined  with  thanks  '  letters 
than  would  fill  a  trunk.  Never  able  to  get 
into  a  magazine  with  a  line.  Care  about  it? 
Mad  as  thunder.  Think  about  starting  a 
magazine  and  rejecting  everbody's  articles 
except  my  own.''  Mr.  Burdette  was  born 
at  Greensborough,  Pennsylvania,  in  1S44. 
He  served  through  the  war  of  the  rebellion 
under  General  Banks  "on  an  excursion 
ticket"  as  he  felicitously  described  it,  "good 
both  ways,  conquering  in  one  direction  and 
running  in  the  other,  pay  going  on  just  the 
same."  He  entered  into  journalism  by  the 
gateway  of  New  York  correspondence  for 
the  "Peoria  Transcript,"  and  in  [874  went 
on  the  "Burlington  Hawkeye"  of  which  he 
became  the  managing  editor,  and  the  work 
that  he  did  on  this  paper  made  both  him- 
self and  the  paper  famous  in  the  woi 
humor.  Mr.  Burdette  married  in  1 
and  his  wife,  whom  he  called  "Her  Little 
Serene  Highness,"  was  to  him  a  guiding 
light  until  the  day  of  her  death,  and  it  was 
probably  the  unconscious  pathos  with  which 
he  described  her  in  his  work  that  broke  the 
barriers  that  had  kept  him  out  of  the  maga- 


104 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRATHT. 


zines  and  secured  him  the  acceptance  of  his 
"Confessions"  by  Lippincott  some  years 
ago,  and  brought  him  substantial  fame  and 
recognition  in  the  literary  world. 


WILLIAM  DEAN  HOWELLS,  one 
of  the  leading  novelists  of  the  present 
century  and  author  of  a  number  of  works 
that  gained  for  him  a  place  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  was  born  March  i,  1837,  at 
Martinsville,  Belmont  county,  Ohio.  At 
the  age  of  three  years  he  accompanied  his 
father,  who  was  a  printer,  to  Hamilton, 
Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  printer's  trade. 
Later  he  was  engaged  on  the  editorial  staff 
of  the  "  Cincinnati  Gazette  "  and  the  "  Ohio 
State  Journal."  During  1861-65  he  was 
the  United  States  consul  at  Venice,  and 
from  1 87 1  to  1878  he  was  the  editor-in- 
chief  of  the  "Atlantic  Monthly."  As  a 
writer  he  became  one  of  the  most  fertile 
and  readable  of  authors  and  a  pleasing  poet. 
In  1 885  he  became  connected  with  "Har- 
per's Magazine."  Mr.  Howells  was  author 
of  the  list  of  books  that  we  give  below: 
"Venetian  Life,''  "  Italian  Journeys,"  "No 
Love  Lost,"  "Suburban  Sketches,"  "Their 
Wedding  Journey,"  "A  Chance  Acquaint- 
ance," "A  Foregone  Conclusion,"  "Dr. 
Breen's  Practice,"  "A  Modern  Instance," 
"The  Rise  of  Silas  Lapham,"  "Tuscan 
Cities,"  "Indian  Summer,"  besides  many 
others.  He  also  wrote  the  "  Poem  of  Two 
Friends,"  with  J.  J.  Piatt  in  i860,  and 
some  minor  dramas:  "The  Drawing 
Room  Car,"  "The  Sleeping  Car,"  etc., 
that  are  full  of  exqusite  humor  and  elegant 
dialogue. 

JAMES  RUSSELL  LOWELL  was  a  son 
of  the  Rev.  Charles  Lowell,  and  was  born 
at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  February  22, 
J  8 19.      He  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 


1838  as  class  poet,  and  went  to  Harvard 
Law  School,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1840,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Boston,  but  soon  gave  his  un- 
divided attention  to  literary  labors.  Mr. 
Lowell  printed,  in  1S41,  a  small  volume  of 
poems  entitled  "  A  Year's  Life,"  edited  with 
Robert  Carter;  in  1843,  "  The  Pioneer,  "  a 
literary  and  critical  magazine  (monthly),  and 
in  1848  another  book  of  poems,  that  con- 
tained several  directed  against  slavery.  He 
published  in  1844  a  volume  of  "Poems" 
and  in  1845  "Conversations  on  Some 
of  the  Old  Poets,"  "The  Vision  of  Sir 
Launfal,"  "A  Fable  for  Critics, "  and  "The 
Bigelow  Papers,"  the  latter  satirical  es- 
says in  dialect  poetry  directed  against 
slavery  and  the  war  with  Mexico.  In 
i  S 3 1  52  he  traveled  in  Europe  and  re- 
sided in  Italy  for  a  considerable  time,  and 
delivered  in  1854-55  a  course  of  lectures  on 
the  British  poets,  before  the  Lowell  Insti- 
tute, Boston.  Mr.  Lowell  succeeded  Long- 
fellow in  January,  1855,  as  professor  of 
modern  languages  and  literature  at  Harvard 
College,  and  spent  another  year  in  Em  ope 
qualifying  himself  for  that  post.  He  edited 
the  "  Atlantic  Monthly  "  from  1857  to  1862, 
and  the  "North  American  Review"  from 
1863  until  1S72.  From  1864  to  1870  he 
published  the  following  works:  "  Fireside 
Travels,"  "  Under  the  Willows,"  "The 
Commemoration  Ode,"  in  honor  of  the 
alumni  of  Harvard  who  had  fallen  in  the 
Civil  war;  "The  Cathedral,"  two  volumes 
of  essays;  "Among  My  Books"  and  "My 
Study  Windows,"  and  in  1867  he  published 
a  new  series  of  the  "  Bigelow  Papers."  He 
traveled  extensively  in  Europe  in  1872-74, 
and  received  in  person  the  degree  of  D.  C. 
L.  at  Oxford  and  that  of  LL.  D.  at  the 
University  of  Cambridge,  England.  He 
was  also  interested  in  political  life  and  held 


MPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


105 


many  important  offices.  He  was  United 
States  minister  to  Spain  in  1S77  and  was 
also  minister  to  England  in  [880-85.  On 
January  2,  1SS4,  he  was  elected  lord  rector 
of  St.  Andrew  University  in  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, but  soon  after  he  resigned  the  same 
Mr.  Lowell's  works  enjoy  great  popularity 
in  the  United  States  and  England.  He 
died  August  12,   1 S 9 1 . 


JOSEPH  HENRY,  one  of  America's 
greatest  scientists,  was  born  at  Albany, 
New  Y<>rk,  December  17,  1797.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  city 
and  graduated  from  the  Albany  Academy, 
where  he  became  a  professor  of  mathemat- 
ics in  1826.  In  1S27  he  commenced  a 
course  of  investigation,  which  he  continued 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  the  results  pro- 
duced had  great  effect  on  the  scientific  world. 
The  first  success  was  achieved  by  producing 
the  electric  magnet,  and  he  next  proved  the 
possibility  of  exciting  magnetic  energy  at  a 
distance,  and  it  was  the  invention  of  Pro- 
fessor Henry's  intensity  magnet  that  first 
made  the  invention  of  electric  telegraph  a 
possibility.  He  made  a  statement  regarding 
the  practicability  of  applying  the  intensity 
magnet  to  telegraphic  uses,  in  his  article  to 
the  "American  Journal  of  Science"  in  183 1. 
During  the  same  year  he  produced  the  first 
mechanical  contrivance  ever  invented  for 
maintaining  continuous  motion  by  means  of 
electro-magnetism,  and  he  also  contrived  a 
machine  by  which  signals  could  be  made  at 
a  distance  by  the  use  of  his  electro-magnet, 
the  signals  being  produced  by  a  lever  strik- 
ing on  a  bell.  Some  of  his  electro-magnets 
■were  of  great  power,  one  carried  over  a  ton 
and  another  not  less  than  three  thousand  six 
hundred  pounds.  In  1832  he  discovered 
that  secondary  currents  could  be  produced 
•'•    3  lon^  conductor  by  the  induction  of   the 


primary  current  upon  itself,  and  also  in  the 
same  year  he  produced  a  spark  by  means  of 
a  purely  magnetic  induction.  Professor 
Henry  was  elected,  in  1S32,  professor  of  nat- 
ural philosophy  in  the  College  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  in  his  earliest  lectures  at  Princeton, 
demonstrated  the  feasibility  of  the  electric 
telegraph.  He  visited  Europe  in  1S37,  and 
while  there  he  had  an  interview  with  Pro- 
fessor YVheatstone,  the  inventor  of  the 
needle  magnetic  telegraph.  In  1846  he  was 
elected  secretary  of  the  Smithsonian  Insti- 
tution, being  the  first  incumbent  in  that  office, 
which  he  held  until  his  death.  Professor 
Henry  was  elected  president  of  the  Ameri- 
can Association  for  the  Advancement  of 
Science,  in  1849,  and  of  the  National 
Academy  of  Sciences.  He  was  made  chair- 
man of  the  lighthouse  board  of  the  United 
States  in  1871  and  held  that  position  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  doctor  of  laws  from 
Union  College  in  1829,  and  from  Harvard 
University  in  1 851,  and  his  death  occurred 
May  13,  1878.  Among  his  numerous  works 
may  be  mentioned  the  following:  "Contri- 
butions to  Electricity  and  Magnetism," 
"American  Philosophic  Trans, "  and  many 
articles  in  the  "American  Journal  of 
Science,"  the  journal  of  the  Franklin  Insti- 
tute; the  proceedings  of  the  American  As- 
sociation for  the  Advancement  of  Science, 
and  in  the  annual  reports  of  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution  from  its  foundation. 


FRANKLIN  BUCHANAN,  the  famous 
rear-admiral  of  the  Confederate  navy 
during  the  rebellion,  was  born  in  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  He  became  a  United  States 
midshipman  in  18 15  and  was  promoted 
through  the  various  grades  of  the  service 
and  became  a  captain  in  1855.  Mr.  Buch- 
anan resigned  his  captaincy  in  order  to  join 


106 


coMTExnirir  of  biography. 


the  Confederate  service  in  I  86 1  and  later  he 
asked  to  be  reinstated,  but  his  request  was 
refused  and  he  then  entered  into  the  service 
of  the  Confederate  government.  He  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  frigate  "  Merri- 
mac  "  after  she  had  been  fitted  up  as  an  iron- 
clad, and  had  command  of  her  at  the  time 
of  the  battle  of  Hampton  Roads.  It  was 
he  wlio  had  command  when  the  "  Merri- 
mac"  sunk  the  two  wooden  frigates,  "  Con- 
gress" and  "Cumberland,"  and  v. 
in  command  during  part  of  the  historical 
battle  of  the  "Merrimac"  and  the  "Moni- 
tor," where  hi  was  wi  mnded  and  the  o 
mand  devolved  upon  Lieutenant  Cad 
Jones.  He  was  created  rear-admiral  in  the 
Confedei  iti  ervii  tnd  commanded  the 
Confederate-  fleet  in  Mobile  hay,  which  was 
defeated  by  Admiral  Farragut,  August  5. 
1864.  Mr.  Buchanan  was  in  command  ol 
the    "Tennessee,"  an  irom  1  during 

the  ment  he  lost  .me  of  his   legs  and 

was  taken  prisoner  in  the  end  by  the  Union 
Heel.  After  the  war  he  settled  in  Talbot 
county,  Maryland,  where  he  died  May  11, 
1874. 

RM  HARD  PARKS  Id  AM  \  a  celebrated 
American  statesman,  frequently  called 
"the  father  of  the  house,"  because  of  his 
many  years  of  service  in  the  lower  house 
of  congress,  was  born  August  19,  1835, 
near  Hartford, Kentucky,  where  he  received 
a  plain  academic  education.  He  moved, 
in  1S55,  to  Missouri,  from  whence  he  went 
overland  to  California,  afterward  locating  in 
Virginia  City,  now  in  the  state  of  Nevada, 
but  then  part  of  the  territory  of  Utah. 
While  there  he  practiced  law,  dabbled  in 
mines  and  mining  in  Nevada  and  California 
for  several  years,  and  served  for  a  time  as 
treasurer  of  Carson  county,  Nevada.  Mr. 
Bland  returned  to   Missouri  in    1865,  where 


he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Rolla, 
Missouri,  and  in  1869  removed  to  Lebanon, 
Missouri.  He  began  his  congressional  career 
in  1873,  when  he  was  elected  as  a  Demo- 
crat to  the  forty-third  congress,  and  he  was 
regularly  re-elected  to  every  congress  after 
that  time  up  to  the  fifty-fourth,  when  he  was 

ated  for  re-election,  but  was  returned 
to  the  fifty-fifth  congress  as  a  Silver  Demo- 
crat. During  all  his  protracted  service, 
while  Mr.  Bland  was  always  steadfast  in  his 
support  of  democratic  measures,  yet  he  won 
his  special  renown  as  the  great  advocate  of 
silver,  bemg  strongly  in  favor  of  the  free 
and  unlimited  co  I   silver,  and  on  ac-' 

nt  of  his  pi  d    views  was  one  of 

the  candidates  tor  the  presidential  nomina- 
tion of  the    Democratic  party  at  Chicago  in 

F\NNY  DAVENPORT  (F.  L.  G.  Daven- 
port was  of  British  birth,  but  she  In  - 
■s  tn  the  American  sta-e.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  the  famous  actor,  E.  L.  Davi 
port,  and  was  born  in  London  in  1850. 
She  first  went  on  the  stage  as  a  child  at  the 
Howard  Athenaeum,  Boston,  and  her  entire 
life  was  spent  upon  the  stage.  She  played 
children's  parts  at  1 5m  ton's  old  theater  in 
Chambers  street,  and  then,  in  1862,  appeared 
as  the  Kingol  Spam  in  "  Faint  Heart  Never 
Won  Fair  Lady."  Here  she  attracted  the 
notice  of  Augustin  Daly,  the  noted  mana- 
ger, then  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  theater,  who 
offered  her  a  six  weeks'  engagement  with 
her  father  in  "London  Assurance."  She 
afterwards  appeared  at  the  same  house  in  a 
variety  of  characters,  and  her  versatility 
was  favorably  noticed  by  the  critics.  After 
the  burning  of  the  old  F"ifth  Avenue,  the 
present  theater  of  that  name  was  built  at 
Twenty-eighth  street,  and  here  Miss  Daven- 
port appeared  in  a  play  written  for  her  by 


>:l   1/    OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


107 


Mr.  Daly.  She  scored  a  great  success. 
She  then  starred  in  this  play  throughout  the 
country,  and  was  married  to  Mr.  Edwin  F. 
Price,  an  actor  of  her  company,   in    1880. 

In  1S82  she  went  to  Paris  and  purchased 
the  right  to  produce  in  America  Sardou's 
great  emotional  play,  "Fedora."  It  was 
put  on  at  the  Fourteenth  Street  theater  in 
New  York,  and  in  it  she  won  popular  favor 
and  became  one  of  the  most  famous  actresses 
of  ht-r  time. 


HORACE  BRIGHAM  CLAFLIN,  one 
of  the  greatest  merchants  America  has 
produced,  was  born  in  Milford,  Massachu- 
setts, a  son  of  John  Claflin,  also  a  mer- 
chant. Young  Claflin  started  his  active  life 
as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store,  after  having 
been  offered  the  opportunity  of  a  college 
education,  but  with  the  characteristic 
promptness  that  was  one  of  his  virtues  he 
exclaimed,  "No  law  or  medicine  for  me." 
He  had  set  his  heart  on  being  a  merchant, 
and  when  his  father  retired  he  and  his 
brother  Aaron,  and  his  brother-in-law,  Sam- 
uel Daniels,  conducted  the  business.  Mr. 
Claflin  was  not  content,  however,  to  run  a 
store  in  a  town  like  Milford,  and  accordingly 
opened  a  dry  goods  store  at  Worcester,  with 
his  brother  as  a  partner,  but  the  partnership 
was  dissolved  a  year  later  and  H.  B.  Claflin 
assumed  complete  control.  The  business 
in  Worcester  had  been  conducted  on  ortho- 
dox principles,  and  when  Mr.  Claflin  came 
there  and  introduced  advertising  as  a  means 
of  drawing  trade,  he  created  considerable 
animosity  among  the  older  merchants.  Ten 
years  later  he  was  one  of  the  most  pros; 
ous  merchants.  He  disposed  of  his  busi- 
ness in  Worcester  for  $30,000,  and  went  to 
■  York  to  search  for  a  wider  field  than 
that  of  a  shopkeeper.  Mr.  Claflin  and 
William  M.  Bulkley  started  in  the  dry  goods 


business  there  under  the  firm  name  of  Bulk- 
lej  St  Claflin,  in  1843,  and  Mr.  Bulkley  was 
connected  with  the  firm  until  1851, when  he 
retired.  A  new  firm  was  then  formed  under 
the  name  of  Claflin,  Mellin  &  Co.  This 
firm  succeeded  in  founding  the  largest  dry 
goods  house  in  the  world,  and  after  weather- 
in-  the  dangers  of  the  civil  war,  during 
which  the  house  came  very  near  going  un- 
der, and  was  saved  only  by  the  superior 
business  abilities  of  Mr.  Claflin,  continued  to 
grow.  The  sales  of  the  firm  amounted  to 
over  $72,000,000  a  year  after  the  close  of 
the  war.  Mr.  Clarlin  died  November  14, 
1885. 


C 


HARLOTTE  CUSHMAN  (Charlotte 
Saunders  Cushtnan),  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  American  actresses,  was  born  in 
Boston,  July  23,  1816.  She  was  descended 
from  one  of  the  earliest  Puritan  families. 
Her  first  attempt  at  stage  work  was  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  in  a  charitable  concert 
given  by  amateurs  in  Boston.  From  this 
time  her  advance  to  the  first  place  on  the 
American  lyric  stage  was  steady,  until,  in 
1  S3 5,  while  singing  in  New  Orleans,  she 
suddenly  lost  control  of  her  voice  so  far  as 
relates  to  singing,  and  was  compelled  to  re- 
tire. She  then  took  up  the  study  for  the 
dramatic  stage  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Barton,  the  tragedian.  She  soon  after 
made  her  debut  as  *'  Lady  Macbeth."  She 
appeared  in  New  York  in  September,  1836, 
and  her  success  was  immediate.  Her 
"Romeo"  was  almost  perfect,  and  she  is 
the  only  woman  that  has  ever  appeared  in 
the  part  of  "Cardinal  Woteey."  She  at 
different  times  acted  as  support  of  Fori 
and  Macready.  Her  London  engagement, 
secured  in  1845,  after  many  and  great  dis 
couragements,  proved  an  unqualified  suc- 
cess. 


108 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPIir. 


Her  farewell  appearance  was  at  Booth's 
theater,  New  York,  November  7,  1874,  in 
the  part  of  "  Lady  Macbeth,"  and  after  that 
performance  an  Ode  by  R.  H.  Stoddard 
was  read,  and  a  body  of  citizens  went  upon 
the  stage,  and  in  their  name  the  venerable 
poet  Longfellow  presented  her  with  a  wreath 
of  laurel  with  an  inscription  to  the  effect 
that  "she  who  merits  the  palm  should  bear 
it."  From  the  time  of  her  appearance  as  a 
modest  girl  in  a  charitable  entertainment 
down  to  the  time  of  final  triumph  as  a  tragic 
queen,  she  bore  herself  with  as  much  honor 
to  womanhood  as  to  the  profession  she  rep- 
resented. Her  death  occurred  in  Boston, 
February  18,  1876.  By  her  profession  she 
•acquired  a  fortune   of  $600,000. 


NEAL  DOW,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
temperance  reformers  our  country  has 
known,  was  born  in  Portland,  Me.,  March  20, 
1804.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
Friends  Seminary,  at  New  Bedford,  Massa- 
chusetts, his  parents  being  members  of  that 
sect.  After  leaving  school  he  pursued  a 
mecrantile  and  manufacturing  career  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  active  in  the 
affairs  of  his  native  city,  and  in  1839  be- 
came chief  of  the  fire  department,  and  in 
1 85 1  was  elected  mayor.  He  was  re-elected 
to  the  latter  office  in  1854.  Being  opposed 
to  the  liquor  traffic  he  was  a  champion  of 
the  project  of  prohibition,  first  brought  for- 
ward in  1  839  by  James  Appleton.  While 
serving  his  first  term  as  mayor  he  drafted  a 
bill  for  the  "suppression  of  drinking  houses 
and  tippling  shops,"  which  he  took  to  the 
legislature  and  which  was  passed  without  an 
alteration.  In  1858  Mr.  Dow  was  elected 
to  the  legislature.  On  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
Thirteenth  Maine  Infantry  and  accompanied 
General  Butler's  expedition  to  New  Orleans. 


In  1862  he  was  made  brigadier-general.  At 
the  battle  of  Port  Hudson  May  27,  1863,  he 
was  twice  wounded,  and  taken  prisoner.  He 
was  confined  at  Libby  prison  and  Mobile 
nearly  a  year,  when,  being  exchanged,  he 
resigned,  his  health  having  given  way  under 
the  rigors  of  his  captivity.  He  made  sev- 
eral trips  to  England  in  the  interests  of 
temperance  organization,  where  he  addressed 
large  audiences.  He  was  the  candidate  of 
the  National  Prohibition  party  for  the  presi- 
dency in  1880,  receiving  about  ten  thousand 
votes.  In  1884  he  was  largely  instrumental 
in  the  amendment  of  the  constitution  of 
Maine,  adopted  by  an  overwhelming  popular 
vote,  which  forever  forbade  the  manufacture 
or  sale  of  any  intoxicating  beverages,  and 
commanding  the  legislature  to  enforce  the 
prohibition.      He  died  October  2,   1897. 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth  president 
of  the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Orange  county,  Virginia,  September  24, 
17S4.  His  boyhood  was  spent  on  his  fath- 
er's plantation  and  his  education  was  lim- 
ited. In  1808  he  was  made  lieutenant  of 
the  Seventh  Infantry,  and  joined  his  regi- 
ment at  New  Orleans.  He  was  promoted 
to  captain  in  18 10,  and  commanded  at  Fort 
Harrison,  near  the  present  site  of  Terre 
Haute,  in  181 2,  where,  for  his  gallant  de- 
fense, he  was  brevetted  major,  attaining  full 
rank  in  18 14.  In  181  5  he  retired  to  an  es- 
tate near  Louisville.  In  18 16  here-entered 
the  army  as  major,  and  was  promoted  to 
lieutenant-colonel  and  then  to  colonel. 
Having  for  many  years  been  Indian  agent 
over  a  large  pon  ion  of  the  western  country, 
he  was  often  required  in  Washington  to  give 
advice  and  counsel  in  matters  connected 
with  the  Indian  b'ireau.  He  served  through 
the  Black  Hawk  Indian  war  of  1832,  and  in 
1837  was  ordered  to  the  command  of  the 


coM/'/:x/)/r.u  or  biography. 


109 


army  in  Florida,  where  he  attacked  the  In- 
dians in  the  swamps  and  brakes,  defeated 
them  and  ended  the  war.  He  was  brevetted 
brigadier-general  and  made  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  army  in  Florida.  He  was  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  the  army  of  the 
southwest  in  1840,  but  was  soon  after  re- 
lieved of  it  at  his  request.  He  was  then 
stationed  at  posts  in  Arkansas.  In  1S45  he 
was  ordered  to  prepare  to  protect  and  de- 
fend Texas  boundaries  from  invasion  by 
Mexicans  and  Indians.  On  the  annexation 
of  Texas  he  proceeded  with  one  thousand 
five  hundred  men  to  Corpus  Christi,  within 
the  disputed  territory.  After  reinforcement 
he  was  ordered  by  the  Mexican  General  Am- 
pudia  to  retire  beyond  the  Nueces  river, 
with  which  order  he  declined  to  comply. 
The  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma  followed,  and  he  crossed  the  Rio 
Grande  and  occupied  Matamoras  May  1 8th. 
He  was  commissioned  major-general  for  this 
campaign,  and  in  September  he  advanced 
upon  the  city  of  Monterey  and  captured  it 
after  a  hard  fight.  Here  he  took  up  winter 
quarters,  and  when  he  was  about  to  resume 
activity  in  the  spring  he  was  ordered  to  send 
the  larger  part  of  his  army  to  reinforce 
General  Scott  at  Vera  Cruz.  After  leaving 
garrisons  at  various  points  his  army  was  re- 
duced to  about  five  thousand,  mostly  fresh 
recruits.  He  was  attacked  by  '.he  army  of 
Santa  Anna  at  Buena  Vista,  February  22, 
1847,  and  after  a  severe  fight  completely 
routed  the  Mexicans.  He  received  the 
thanks  of  congress  and  a  gold  medal  for 
this  victory.  He  remained  in  command  of 
the  "army  of  occupation"  until  winter, 
when  he  returned  to  the  United  States. 

In  1848  General  Taylor  was  nominated 
by  the  Whigs  for  president.  He  was  elected 
over  his  two  opponents,  Cass  and  Van 
Buren.      Great  bitterness  was  developing  in 


the  struggle  for  and  against  the  extension  of 
slavery,  and  the  newly  acquired  territory  in 

the  west,  and  the  fact  that  the  states  were 
now  equally  divided  on  that  question,  tended 
to  increase  the  feeling.  President  Taylor 
favored  immediate  admission  of  California 
with  her  constitution  prohibiting  slavery, 
and  the  admission  of  other  states  to  be 
formed  out  of  the  new  territory  as  they 
might  elect  as  they  adopted  constitutions 
from  time  to  time.  This  policy  resulted  in 
the  "  Omnibus  Bill,"  which  afterward  passed 
congress,  though  in  separate  bills;  not,  how- 
ever, until  after  the  death  of  the  soldier- 
statesman,  which  occurred  July  9,  1850. 
One  of  his  daughters  became  the  wife  of 
Jefferson  Davis. 


MELVILLE  D.  LAXDON.  better  known 
as  "  Eli  Perkins, "author,  lecturer  and 
humorist,  was  born  in  Eaton,  New  York, 
September  7,  1839.  He  was  the  son  of 
John  Landon  and  grandson  of  Rufus  Lan- 
don,  a  revolutionary  soldier  from  Litchfield 
county,  Connecticut.  Melville  was  edu- 
cated at  the  district  school  and  neighboring 
academy,  where  he  was  prepared  for  the 
sophomore  class  at  Madison  University.  He 
passed  two  years  at  the  latter,  when  he  was 
admitted  to  Union  College,  and  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1861,  receiving  the  degree  of 
A.  M.,  in  1862.  He  was,  at  once,  ap- 
pointed to  a  position  in  the  treasury  depart- 
ment at  Washington.  This  being  about  the 
time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and 
before  the  appearance  of  any  Union  troops 
at  the  capital,  he  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  "  Clay  Battalion,"  of  Washing- 
ton. Leaving  his  clerkship  some  time  later, 
he  took  up  duties  on  the  staff  of  General  A. 
L.  Chetlain,  who  was  in  command  at  Mem- 
phis. In  1864  he  resigned  from  the  army 
and  engaged  in  cotton   planting  in  Arkansas 


no 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


and  Louisiana.  In  1867  he  went  abroad, 
making  the  tour  of  Europe,  traversing  Rus- 
sia. While  in  the  latter  country  his  old 
commander  of  the  "  Clay  Battalion,"  Gen- 
eral Cassius  M.  Clay,  then  United  States 
minister  at  St.  Petersburg,  made  him  secre- 
i  tary  of  legation.  In  1871,  on  returning  to 
America,  he  published  a  history  of  the 
Franco-Prussian  war,  and  followed  it  with 
numerous  humorous  writings  for  the  public 
press  under  the  name  of  "Eli  Perkins," 
which,  with  his  regular  contributions  to  the 
"  Commercial  Advertiser,"  brought  him  into 
notice,  and  spread  his  reputation  as  a  hu- 
morist throughout  thecountry.  He  also  pub- 
lished "Saratoga  in  1891,"  "Wit,  Humor 
and  Pathos,"  "  Wit  and  Humor  of  the  Age," 
••  Kings  of  Platform  and  Pulpit,"  "Thirty 
Years  of  Wit  and  Humor,"  "  Fun  and  Fact," 
and  "China  and  Japan." 


LEWIS  CASS,  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent statesman  and  party  leaders  of  his 
day,  was  born  at  Exeter,  New  Hampshire, 
October  9,  1782.  He  studied  law,  and  hav- 
ing removed  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  commenced 
the  practice  of  that  profession  in  1802.  He 
entered  the  service  of  the  American  govern- 
111  -ut  in  1812  and  was  made  a  colonel  in 
the  army  under  General  William  Hull,  and 
on  the  surrender  of  Fort  Maiden  by  that 
officer  was  held  as  a  prisoner.  Being  re- 
leased in  18 1 3,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general  and  in  18 14  ap- 
pointed governor  of  Michigan  Territory. 
After  he  had  held  that  office  for  some 
sixteen  years,  negotiating,  in  the  meantime, 
many  treaties  with  the  Indians,  General 
Cacs  was  made  secretary  of  war  in  the  cabi- 
net of  President  Jackson,  in  1 831.  He  was, 
in  1S36,  appointed  minister  to  France, 
which  office  he  held  for  six  years.  In  1844 
he  -  as  elected   United   States  senator  from 


Michigan.  In  1846  General  Cass  opposed 
the  Wilmot  Proviso,  which  was  an  amend- 
ment to  a  bill  for  the  purchase  of  land  from 
Mexico,  which  provided  that  in  any  of  the 
territory  acquired  from  that  power  slavery 
should  not  exist.  For  this  and  other  reasons 
he  was  nominated  as  Democratic  candidate 
for  the  presidency  of  the  United  States  in 
1848,  but  was  defeated  by  General  Zachary 
Taylor,  the  Whig  candidate,  having  but 
one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  electoral  votes 
to  his  opponent's  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
three.  In  1849  General  Cass  was  re-elected 
to  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  and  in 
1 S 54  supported  Douglas'  Kansas-Nebraska 
bill.  He  became  secretary  of  state  in 
March,  1857,  under  President  Buchanan, 
but  resigned  that  office  in  December,  i860. 
He  died  June  17,  1866.  The  published 
works  of  Lewis  Cass,  while  not  numerous, 
are  well  written  and  display  much  ability. 
He  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  his  day 
in  the  political  councils  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  left  a  reputation  for  high  probity 
and  honor  behind  him. 


DEWITT  CLINTON.— Probably  there 
were  but  few  men  who  were  so  popular 
in  their  time,  or  who  have  had  so  much  in- 
fluence in  moulding  events  as  the  individual 
whose  name  honors  the  head  of  this  article. 
De  Witt  Clinton  was  the  son  of  General 
James  Clinton,  and  a  nephew  of  Governor 
George  Clinton,  who  was  the  fourth  vice- 
president  of  the  United  States.  He  was  a 
native  of  Orange  county,  New  York,  born  at 
Little  Britain,  March  2,  1769.  He  gradu- 
ated from  Columbia  College,  in  his  native 
state,  in  1 796,  and  took  up  the  study  of  law. 
In  1790  he  became  private  secretary  to  his 
uncle,  then  governor  of  New  York.  He  en- 
tered public  life  as  a  Republican  or  anti- 
Federalist,   and  was   elected    to   the    lower 


COMPEXDIIM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


Ill 


house  of  the  state  assembly  in  1797,  and  the 
senate  of  that  body  in  1798.  At  that  time 
he  was  looked  on  as  "  the  most  rising  man 
in  the  Union."  In  1801  he  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  senate.  In  1803  he  was 
appointed  by  the  governor  and  council 
mayor  of  the  city  of  New  York,  then  a 
very  important  and  powerful  office.  Hav- 
ing been  re-appointed,  he  held  the  office 
of  mayor  for  nearly  eleven  years,  and 
rendered  great  service  to  that  city.  Mr. 
Clinton  served  as  lieutenant-governor  of 
the  state  of  New  York,  1811-13,  and 
was  one  of  the  commissioners  appointed 
to  examine  and  survey  a  route  for  a  canal 
from  the  Hudson  river  to  Lake  Erie.  Dif- 
fering with  President  Madison,  in  relation  to 
the  war,  in  18 12,  he  was  nominated  for  the 
presidency  against  that  gentleman,  by  a 
coalition  party  called  the  Clintonians,  many 
of  whom  were  Federalists.  Clinton  received 
eight-nine  electoral  votes.  His  course  at 
this  time  impaired  his  popularity  for  a  time. 
He  was  removed  from  the  mayoralty  in 
1814,  and  retired  to  private  life.  In  1815 
he  wrote  a  powerful  argument  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  Erie  canal,  then  a  great  and 
beneficent  work  of  which  he  was  the  prin- 
cipal promoter.  This  was  in  the  shape  of 
a  memorial  to  the  legislature,  which,  in 
18 1 7,  passed  a  bill  authorizing  the  construc- 
tion of  that  canal.  The  same  year  he  was 
elected  governor  of  New  York,  almost  unani- 
mously, notwithstanding  the  opposition  of 
a  few  who  pronounced  the  scheme  of  the 
canal  visionary.  He  was  re-elected  governor 
in  1820.  He  was  at  this  time,  also,  presi- 
dent of  the  canal  commissioners.  He  de- 
clined a  re-election  to  the  gubernatorial 
chair  in  1822  and  was  removed  from  his 
place  on  the  canal  board  two  years  later. 
But  he  was  triumphantly  elected  to  the  of- 
fice of  governor  that  fall,  and  his  pet  project, 


the  Erie  canal,  was  finished  the  next  year. 
He  was  re-elected  governor  in  1826,  but 
died  while  holding  that  office,  February  1 1, 
[828.  

AARON  BURR,  one  of  the  many  brillianl 
figures  on  the  political  stage  in  the  early 
days  of  America,  was  born  at  Newark,  New 
Jersey,  February  6,  1756.  He  was  the  son 
of  Aaron  and  Esther  Burr,  the  former  the 
president  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  and 
the  latter  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Edwards, 
who  had  been  president  of  the  same  educa- 
tional institution.  Young  Burr  graduated 
at  Princeton  in  1772.  In  1775  he  joined 
the  provincial  army  at  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts. For  a  time,  he  served  as  a  private 
soldier,  but  later  was  made  an  aide  on  the 
staff  of  the  unfortunate  General  Montgom- 
ery, in  the  Quebec  expedition.  Subse- 
quently he  was  on  the  staffs  of  Arnold,  Put- 
nam and  Washington,  the  latter  of  whom 
he  disliked.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  lieutenant-colonel  and  commanded  a 
brigade  on  Monmouth's  bloody  field.  In 
1779.  on  account  of  feeble  health,  Colonel 
Burr  resigned  from  the  army.  He  took  up 
the  practice  of  law  in  Albany.  New  York, 
but  subsequently  removed  to  New  York  City. 
In  1789  he  became  attorney-general  of  that 
state.  In  1791  he  was  chosen  to  represent 
the  state  of  New  York  in  the  United  States 
senate  and  held  that  position  for  six  years. 
In  1800  he  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were  both 
candidates  for  the  presidency,  and  there 
being  a  tie  in  the  electoral  college,  each 
having  seventy-three  votes,  the  choice  was 
left  to  congress,  who  gave  the  first  place  to 
Jefferson  and  made  Aaron  Burr  vice-presi- 
dent, as  the  method  then  was.  In  1 S04  Mr. 
Burr  and  his  great  rival,  Alexander  Hamil- 
ton, met  in  a  duel,  which  resulted  in  the 
death  of  the  latter,  Burr  losing  thereby  con- 


112 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


siderable  political  and  social  influence.  He 
soon  embarked  in  a  wild  attempt  upon 
Mexico,  and  as  was  asserted,  upon  the 
southwestern  territories  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  tried  for  treason  at 
Richmond,  Virginia,  in  1807,  but  acquitted, 
and  to  avoid  importunate  creditors,  fled  to 
Europe.  After  a  time,  in  181 2,  he  returned 
to  New  York,  where  he  practiced  law,  and 
where  he  died,  September  14,  1836.  A  man 
of  great  ability,  brilliant  and  popular  talents, 
his  influence  was  destroyed  by  his  unscrupu- 
lous political  actions  and  immoral  private 
life.  

ALBERT  GALLATIN,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  statesmen  of  the  early 
days  of  the  republic,  was  born  at  Geneva, 
Switzerland,  January  29,  1761.  He  was 
the  son  of  Jean  de  Gallatin  and  Sophia  A. 
Rolaz  du  Rosey  Gallatin,  representatives  of 
an  old  patrician  family.  Albert  Gallatin 
was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age,  and  was 
educated  under  the  care  of  friends  of  his 
parents.  He  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Geneva  in  1779,  and  declining  employ- 
ment under  one  of  the  sovereigns  of  Ger- 
many, came  to  the  struggling  colonies,  land- 
ing in  Boston  July  14,  1780.  Shortly  after 
his  arrival  he  proceeded  to  Maine,  where  he 
served  as  a  volunteer  under  Colonel  Allen. 
He  made  advances  to  the  government  for 
the  support  of  the  American  troops,  and  in 
November,  1780,  was  placed  in  command 
of  a  small  fort  at  Passamaquoddy,  defended 
by  a  force  of  militia,  volunteers  and  Indians. 
In  1783  he  was  professor  of  the  French 
language  at  Harvard  University.  A  year 
later,  having  received  his  patrimony  from 
Europe,  he  purchased  large  tracts  of  land 
in  western  Virginia,  but  was  prevented  by 
the  Indians  from  forming  the  large  settle- 
ment he  proposed,  and,  in  17S6,  purchased 


a  farm  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania. 
In  1 789  he  was  a  member  of  the  convention 
to  amend  the  constitution  of  that  state,  and 
united  himself  with  the  Republican  party, 
the  head  of  which  was  Thomas  Jefferson. 
The  following  year  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  to  which  he  was 
subsequently  re-elected.  In  1793  he  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  but 
could  not  take  his  seat  on  account  of  not 
having  been  a  citizen  long  enough.  In  1794 
Mr.  Gallatin  was  elected  to  the  representa- 
tive branch  of  congress,  in  which  he  served 
three  terms.  He  also  took  an  important 
position  in  the  suppression  of  the  "whiskey 
insurrection."  In  1801,  on  the  accession  of 
Jefferson  to  the  presidency,  Mr.  Gallatin 
was  appointed  secretary  of  the  treasury. 
In  1809  Mr.  Madison  offered  him  the  posi- 
tion of  secretary  of  state,  but  he  declined, 
and  continued  at  the  head  of  the  treasury 
until  1812,  a  period  of  twelve  years.  He 
exercised  a  great  influence  on  the  other  de- 
partments and  in  the  general  administration, 
especially  in  the  matter  of  financial  reform, 
and  recommended  measures  for  taxation, 
etc.,  which  were  passed  by  congress,  and  be- 
came laws  May  24,  181 3.  The  same  year  he 
was  sent  as  an  envoy  extraordinary  to  Rus- 
sia, which  had  offered  to  mediate  between 
this  country  and  Great  Britain,  but  the  lat- 
ter country  refusing  the  interposition  of 
another  power,  and  agreeing  to  treat  di- 
rectly with  the  United  States,  in  18 14,  at 
Ghent,  Mr.  Gallatin,  in  connection  with  his 
distinguished  colleagues,  negotiated  and 
signed  the  treaty  of  peace.  In  181 5,  in 
conjunction  with  Messrs.  Adams  and  Clay, 
he  signed,  at  London,  a  commercial  treaty 
between  the  two  countries.  In  1816,  de- 
clining his  old  post  at  the  head  of  the  treas- 
ury, Mr.  Gallatin  was  sent  as  minister  to 
France,    win  re    he     rem;iined    until    1823. 


coM/'/-:x/>/r.u  of  mocRArnv. 


i  i:i 


After  a  year  spent  in  England  as  envoy  ex- 
traordinary, he  took  up  liis  residence  in  New 
York,  and  from  that  time  held  no  public 
office.  In  1830  he  was  chosen  president  of 
the  council  of  the  University  of  New  York. 
He  was,  in  1S31,  made  president  of  the 
National  bank,  which  position  he  resigned 
in  1839.      He  died  August  12,  1849. 


M1 


[LLARD  FILLMOK1-:,  the  thirteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  of  New  England  parentage  in  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  January  7, 
1800.  His  school  education  was  very  lim- 
ited, but  he  occupied  his  leisure  hours  in 
study.  He  worked  in  youth  upon  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  his  native  county,  and  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  was  apprenticed  to  a  wool 
carder  and  cloth  dresser.  Four  years  later 
he  was  induced  by  Judge  Wood  to  enter  his 
office  at  Montville,  New  York,  and  take  up 
the  study  of  law.  This  warm  friend,  find- 
ing young  Fillmore  destitute  of  means, 
loaned  him  money,  but  the  latter,  not  wish- 
ing to  incur  a  heavy  debt,  taught  school 
during  part  of  the  time  and  in  this  and  other 
ways  helped  maintain  himself.  In  1822  he 
removed  to  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  the  year 
following,  being  admitted  to  the  bar,  he 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  East  Aurora,  in  the  same  state.  Here 
he  remained  until  1830,  having,  in  the 
meantime,  been  admitted  to  practice  in  the 
supreme  court,  when  he  returned  to  Buffalo, 
where  he  became  the  partner  of  S.  G. 
Haven  and  N.  K.  Hall.  lie  entered  poli- 
tics and  served  in  the  state  legislature  from 
1829  to  1832.  He  was  in  congress  in  1833- 
35  and  in  1837-41,  where  he  proved  an 
active  and  useful  member,  favoring  the 
views  of  John  Quincy  Adams,  then  battling 
almost  alone  the  slave-holding  party  in  na- 
tional  politics,  and  in   most  of   public  ques- 


tions acted  with  the  Whig  party  While 
chairman  of  the  committee  of  ways  and 
means  he  took  a  leading  part  in  draughting 
the  tariff  bill  of  1842.  In  1S44  Mr.  Fill- 
more was  the  Whig  candidate  for  governor 
of  New  York.  In  1847  he  was  chosen 
comptroller  of  the  state,  and  abandoning 
his  practice  and  profession  removed  to  Al- 
bany. In  1848  he  was  elected  vice  presi- 
dent on  the  ticket  with  General  Zachary 
Taylor,  and  they  were  inaugurated  the  fol- 
lowing March.  On  the  death  of  the  presi- 
dent, July  9,  1850,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  in- 
ducted into  that  office.  The  great  events 
of  his  administration  were  the  passage  of 
the  famous  compromise  acts  of  1850,  and 
the  sending  out  of  the  Japan  expedition  of 
1852. 

March  4,  1853,  having  served  one  term. 
President  Fillmore  retired  from  office,  and 
in  1855  went  to  Europe,  where  he  received 
marked  attention.  On  returning  home,  in 
1856,  he  was  nominated  for  the  presidency 
by  the  Native  American  or  "  Know-Noth- 
ing" party,  but  svas  defeated,  James  Buch- 
anan being  the  successful  candidate. 

Mr.  Fillmore  ever  afterward  lived  in  re- 
tirement. During  the  conflict  of  Civil  war 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  sup- 
posed, however,  that  his  sympathy  was  with 
the  southern  confederacy.  He  kept  aloof 
from  the  conflict  without  any  words  of  cheer 
to  the  one  party  or  the  other.  For  this  rea- 
son he  was  forgotten  by  both.  He  died  of 
paralysis,  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  March  8, 
1874.  _____ 

PETER  F.  ROTHERMEL,  one  of  Amer- 
ica's greatest  and  best-known  historical 
painters,  was  born  in  Luzerne  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, July  8,  18 1 7,  and  was  of  German 
ancestry.  He  received  his  earlier  education 
in   his   native   county,  and   in    Philadelphia 


114 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


learned  the  profession  of  land  surveying. 
But  a  strong  bias  toward  art  drew  him  away 
and  he  soon  opened  a  studio  where  he  did 
portrait  painting.  This  soon  gave  place  to 
historical  painting,  he  having  discovered  the 
bent  of  his  genius  in  that  direction.  Be- 
sides the  two  pictures  in  the  Capitol  at 
Washington — "DeSoto  Discovering  the  Mis- 
sissippi" and  "Patrick  Henry  Before  the 
Virginia  House  of  Burgesses" — Rothermel 
painted  many  others,  chief  among  which 
are:  "Columbus  Before  Queen  Isabella," 
"Martyrs  of  the  Colosseum,"  "Cromwell 
Breaking  Up  Service  in  an  English  Church," 
and  the  famous  picture  of  the  "Battle 
of  Gettysburg."  The  last  named  was 
painted  for  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  for 
which  Rothermel  received  the  sum  of  $25,- 
000,  and  which  it  took  him  four  years  to 
plan  and  to  paint.  It  represents  the  portion 
of  that  historic  field  held  by  the  First  corps, 
an  exclusively  Pennsylvania  body  of  men, 
and  was  selected  by  Rothermel  for  that 
reason.  For  many  years  most  of  his  time 
was  spent  in  Italy,  only  returning  for  short 
periods.  He  died  at  Philadelphia,  August 
16,  1895. 

EDMUND  KIRBY  SMITH,  one  of  the 
distinguished  leaders  upon  the  side  of  the 
south  in  the  late  Civil  war,  was  born  at  St. 
Augustine,  Florida,  in  1824.  After  receiv- 
ing the  usual  education  he  was  appointed  to 
the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1845  and 
entered  the  army  as  second  lieutenant  of 
infantry.  During  the  Mexican  war  he  was 
made  first  lieutenant  and  captain  for  gallant 
conduct  at  Cerro  Gordo  and  Contreras. 
From  1849  to  1852  he  was  assistant  pro- 
fessor of  mathematics  at  West  Point.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  Second  cavalry  with 
the  rank  of  captain  in   1855,  served  on  the 


frontier,  and  was  wounded  in  a  fight  with 
Comanche  Indians  in  Texas,  May  13,  1859. 
In  January,  1861,  he  became  major  of  his 
regiment,  but  resigned  April  9th  to  fol- 
low the  fortunes  of  the  southern  cause. 
He  was  appointed  brigadier-general  in  the 
Confederate  army  and  served  in  Virginia. 
At  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861, 
he  arrived  on  the  field  late  in  the  day,  but 
was  soon  disabled  by  a  wound.  He  was 
made  major-general  in  1 862,  and  being  trans- 
ferred to  East  Tennessee,  was  given  com- 
mand of  that  department.  Under  General 
Braxton  Bragg  he  led  the  advance  in  the 
invasion  of  Kentucky  and  defeated  the  Union 
forces  at  Richmond,  Kentucky,  August  30, 

1862,  and  advanced  to  Frankfort.  Pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general,  he 
was  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
October  10,  and  in  the  battle  of  Murfrees- 
boro,    December  31,    1862,    and  January  3, 

1863.  He  was  soon  made  general,  the 
highest  rank  in  the  service,  and  in  com- 
mand of  the  trans-Mississippi  department 
opposed  General  N.  P.  Banks  in  the  famous 
Red  River  expedition,  taking  part  in  the 
battle  of  Jenkins  Ferry,  April  30,  1864,  and 
other  engagements  of  that  eventful  cam- 
paign. He  was  the  last  to  surrender  the 
forces  under  his  command,  which  he  did 
May  26,  1865.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
he  located  in  Tennessee,  where  he  died 
March  28,  1893. 


JOHN  JAMES  INGALLS,  a  famous 
American  statesman,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 29,  1833,  at  Middleton,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  was  reared  and  received  his  early 
education.  He  went  to  Kansas  in  1858 
and  joined  the  free-soil  army,  and  a  year 
after  his  arrival  he  was  a  member  of  the  his- 
torical Wyandotte  convention,  which  drafted 
a   free-state   constitution.      In  i860  he  was 


COM/'FX/>/l\U   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


Vh 


made  secretary  of  the  territorial  council, 
and  in  1861  was  secretary  of  the  state  sen- 
ate. The  next  year  he  was  duly  elected  to 
the  legitimate  state  senate  from  Atchison, 
where  he  had  made  his  home.  From  that 
time  he  was  the  leader  of  the  radical  Re- 
publican element  in  the  state.  He  became 
the  editor  of  the  "  Atchison  Champion  "  in 
1863,  which  was  a  "red-hot  free-soil  Re- 
publican organ."  In  1862  he  was  the  anti- 
Lane  candidate  for  lieutenant-governor,  but 
was  defeated.  He  was  elected  to  the  Unit- 
ed States  senate  to  succeed  Senator  Pom- 
eroy,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  forty-third 
congress  and  served  until  the  fiftieth.  In 
the  forty-ninth  congress  he  succeeded  Sen- 
ator Sherman  as  president  pro  tern.,  which 
position  he  held  through  the  fiftieth  con- 
gress. 

BENJAMIN  WEST,  the  greatest  of  the 
early  American  painters,  was  of  Eng- 
lish descent  and  Quaker  parentage.  He  was 
born  in  Springfield,  Pennsylvania,  in  1738. 
From  what  source  he  inherited  his  genius  it 
is  hard  to  imagine,  since  the  tenets  and 
tendencies  of  the  Quaker  faith  were  not  cal- 
culated to  encourage  the  genius  of  art,  but 
at  the  age  of  nine  years,  with  no  suggestion 
except  that  of  inspiration,  we  find  him  choos- 
ing his  model  from  life,  and  laboring  over 
his  first  work  calculated  to  attract  public 
notice.  It  was  a  representation  of  a  sleep- 
ing child  in  its  cradle.  The  brush  with 
which  he  painted  it  was  made  of  hairs 
which  he  plucked  from  the  cat's  tail,  and 
the  colors  were  obtained  from  the  war  paints 
of  friendly  Indians,  his  mother's  indigo  bag, 
and  ground  chalk  and  charcoal,  and  the  juice 
of  berries,  but  there  were  touches  in  the  rude 
production  that  he  declared  in  later  days 
were  a  credit  to  his  best  works.  The  pic- 
ture  attracted    notice,    for    a   council    was 


called  at  once  to  pass  upon  the  boy's  con- 
duct in  thus  infringing  the  laws  of  the  so- 
ciety. There  were  judges  among  them  who 
saw  in  his  genius  a  rare  gift  and  their  wis- 
dom prevailed,  and  the  child  was  given  per- 
mission to  follow  his  inclination.  He  studied 
under  a  painter  named  Williams,  and  then 
spent  some  years  as  a  portrait  painter  with 
advancing  success.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  he  went  to  Italy,  and  not  until  he  had 
perfected  himself  by  twenty-three  years  of 
labor  in  that  paradise  of  art  was  he  satisfied 
to  turn  his  face  toward  home.  However,  he 
stopped  at  London,  and  decided  to  settle 
there,  sending  to  America  for  his  intended 
bride  to  join  him.  Though  the  Revolution- 
ary war  was  raging,  King  George  III  showed 
the  American  artist  the  highest  considera- 
tion and  regard.  His  remuneration  from 
works  for  royalty  amounted  to  five  thou- 
sand dollars  per  year  for  thirty  years. 

West's  best  known  work  in  America  is, 
perhaps,  "The  Death  of  General  Wolf." 
West  was  one  of  the  thirty-six  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Royal  academy  and  succeeded 
Joshua  Reynolds  as  president,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  until  his  death.  His  early 
works  were  his  best,  as  he  ceased  to  display 
originality  in  his  later  life,  conventionality 
having  seriously  affected  his  efforts.  He 
died  in  1820. 


SAMUEL  PORTER  JONES,  the  famous 
Georgia  evangelist,  was  born  October 
16,  1847,  in  Chambers  county,  Alabama. 
He  did  not  attend  school  regularly  during 
his  boyhood,  but  worked  on  a  farm,  and 
went  to  school  at  intervals,  on  account  of 
ill  health.  His  father  removed  to  Carters- 
ville,  Georgia,  when  Mr.  Jones  was  a  small 
boy.  He  quit  school  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
and  never  attended  college.  The  war  inter- 
fered with  his  education,  which  was  intended 


116 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


to  prepare  him  for  the  legal  profession. 
After  the  war  he  renewed  his  preparation 
for  college,  but  was  compelled  to  desist  from 
such  a  course,  as  his  health  failed  him  en- 
tirely. Later  on,  however,  he  still  pursued 
his  legal  studies  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  Soon  after  this  event  he  went  to  Dal- 
las, Paulding  county,  Georgia,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  in  a  few  months  removed  to  Cherokee 
county,  Alabama,  where  he  taught  school. 
In  1869  he  returned  to  Cartersville,  Georgia, 
and  arrived  in  time  to  see  his  father  die. 
Immediately  after  this  event  he  applied  for 
a  license  to  preach,  and  went  to  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  to  the  meeting  of  the  North  Geor- 
gia Conference  of  the  M.  E.  church  south, 
which  received  him  on  trial.  He  became 
an  evangelist  of  great  note,  and  traveled 
extensively,  delivering  his  sermons  in  an 
inimitable  style  that  made  him  very  popular 
with  the  masses,  his  methods  of  conducting 
revivals  being  unique  and  original  and  his 
preaching  practical  and  incisive. 


SHELBY  MOORE  CULLOM,  a  national 
character  in  political  affairs  and  for 
many  years  United  States  senator  from 
Illinois,  was  born  November  22,  1829,  at 
Monticello,  Kentucky.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois  in  1  830  and  spent  his  early 
yearson  a  farm,  but  having  formed  the  purpose 
of  devoting  himself  to  the  lawyer's  profession 
he  spent  two  years  study  at  the  Rock  River 
seminary  at  Mount  Morris,  Illinois.  In  1853 
Mr.  Cullom  entered  the  law  office  of  Stuart 
and  Edwards  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  two 
years  later  he  began  the  independent  prac- 
tice of  law  in  that  city.  He  took  an  active 
interest  in  politics  and  was  soon  elected  city 
attorney  of  Springfield.  In  1S56  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Illinois  house  of 
representatives.     He  identified  himself  with 


the  newly  formed  Republican  party  and  in 
i860  was  re-elected  to  the  legislature  of  his 
state,  in  which  he  was  chosen  speaker  of  the 
house.  In  1862  President  Lincoln  appoint- 
ed a  commission  to  pass  upon  and  examine 
the  accounts  of  the  United  States  quarter- 
masters and  disbursing  officers,  composed 
as  follows:  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  of  Illinois; 
Charles  A.  Dana,  of  New  York,  and 
Gov.  Boutwell,  of  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
Cullom  was  nominated  for  congress  in 
1864,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of 
1,785.  In  the  house  of  representatives  he 
became  an  active  and  aggressive  member, 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  territories 
and  served  in  congress  until  1868.  Mr. 
Cullom  was  returned  to  the  state  legislature, 
of  which  he  was  chosen  speaker  in  1872, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1874.  In  1876  he 
was  elected  governor  of  Illinois  and  at  the 
end  of  his  term  he  was  chosen  for  a  second 
term.  Hewaselected  United  States  senator 
in  1883  and  twice  re-elected. 


RICHARD  JORDAN  GATLING,  an 
American  inventor  of  much  note,  was 
born  in  Hertford  county,  North  Carolina, 
September  12,  .1818.  At  an  early  age  he 
gave  promise  of  an  inventive  genius.  The 
first  emanation  from  his  mind  was  the 
invention  of  a  screw  for  the  propulsion  01 
water  craft,  but  on  application  for  a 
patent,  found  that  he  was  forestalled  but 
a  short  time  by  John  Ericsson.  Subse- 
quently he  invented  a  machine  for  sowing 
wheat  in  drills,  which  was  used  to  a  great 
extent  throughout  the  west.  He  then  stud- 
ied medicine,  and  in  1847-8  attended 
lectures  at  the  Indiana  Medical  College 
at  Laporte,  and  in  1848-9  at  the  Ohio 
Medical  College  at  Cincinnati.  He  later 
discovered  a  method  of  transmitting  power 
through  the  medium  of  compressed  air.      A 


COMP/CX/>/r.\f  OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


119 


double-acting  hemp  break  was  also  invented 
by  him.  The  invention,  however,  by  which 
Dr.  Gatling  became  best  known  was  the 
famous  machine  gun  which  bears  his  Dame. 
This  he  brought  to  light  in  1S61-62,  and  on 
the  first  trial  of  it,  in  the  spring  of  the  latter 
year,  two  hundred  shots  per  minute  were 
fired  from  it.  After  making  some  improve- 
ments which  increased  its  efficiency,  it  was 
submitted  to  severe  trials  by  our  govern- 
ment at  the  arsenals  at  Frankfort,  Wash- 
ington and  Fortress  Monroe,  and  at  other 
points.  The  gun  was  finally  adopted  by 
our  government,  as  well  as  by  that  of  Great 
Britain,  Russia  and  others. 


BENJAMIN  RYAN  TILLMAN,  who  won 
a  national  fame  in  politics,  was  born 
August  II,  1847,  in  Edgefield  county,  South 
Carolina.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
Oldfield  school,  where  he  acquired  the 
rudiments  of  Latin  and  Greek,  in  addition 
to  a  good  English  education.  He  left  school 
in  1864  to  join  the  Confederate  army,  but 
was  prevented  from  doing  so  by  a  severe 
illness,  which  resulted  in  the  loss  of  an  eye. 
In  1867  he  removed  to  Florida,  but  returned 
in  1868,  when  he  was  married,  and  devoted 
himself  to  farming.  He  was  chairman  of 
the  Democratic  organization  of  his  county, 
but  except  a  few  occasional  services  he  took 
no  active  part  in  politics  then.  Gradually, 
however,  his  attention  was  directed  to  the 
depressed  condition  of  the  farming  interests 
of  his  state,  and  in  August,  1885,  before  a 
joint  meeting  of  the  agricultural  society  and 
state  grange  at  Bennettsville,  he  made  a 
speech  in  which  he  set  forth  the  cause  of 
agricultural  depression  and  urged  measures 
of  relief.  From  his  active  interest  in  the 
farming  class  he  was  styled  the  "  Agricult- 
ural  Moses."     He  advocated  an  industrial 

school  for  women  and  for  a  separate  agri- 
7 


cultural  college,  ami  in  1SS7  lie  secured  a 
modification  m  the  final  draft  of  the  will  of 
Thomas  G.  Clemson,  which  resulted  in  the 
erection  of  the  Clemson  Agricultural  Col- 
lege at  Fort  Hill.  In  1S90  he  was  chosen 
governor  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and 
carried  the  election  by  a  large  majority. 
Governor  Tillman  was  inaugurated  Decem- 
ber 4,  1890.  Mr.  Tillman  was  next  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  from  South 
Carolina,  and  gained  a  national  reputation 
by  his  fervid  oratory. 


GEORGE  DENISON  PRENTICE.— 
No  journalist  of  America  was  so  cele- 
brated in  his  time  for  the  wit,  spice,  and 
vigor  of  his  writing,  as  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch.  From  Atlantic  to 
Pacific  he  was  well  known  by  his  witticism 
as  well  as  by  strength  and  force  of  his  edi- 
torials. He  was  a  native  of  Preston,  Con- 
necticut, born  December  18,  1802.  After 
laying  the  foundation  of  a  liberal  education 
in  his  youth,  he  entered  Brown  University, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1823.  Tak- 
ing up  the  study  of  law,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1829.  During  part  of  his  time 
he  was  editor  of  the  "  New  England  Weekly 
Review,"  a  position  which  he  relinquished 
to  go  south  and  was  succeeded  by  John 
Greenleaf  Whittier,  the  Quaker  poet. 

On  arriving  in  Louisville,  whither  he 
had  gone  to  gather  items  for  his  history  of 
Henry  Clay,  Mr.  Prentice  became  identified 
with  the  "Louisville  Journal,"  which,  under 
his  hands,  became  one  of  the  leading  Whig 
newspapers  of  the  country.  At  the  head  of 
this  he  remained  until  the  day  of  his  death. 
This  latter  event  occurred  January  22,  1870, 
and  he  was  succeeded  in  the  control  of  the 
"  Journal  "  by    Colonel    Henry   Watterson. 

Mr.  Prentice  was  an  author  of  consider- 
able celebrity,  chief  among  his  works  being 


120 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPI/V. 


"The  Life  of  Henry  Clay,"  and  "  Prentice- 
ana,"  a  collection  of  wit  and  humor,  that 
passed  through  several  large  editions. 


SAM.  HOUSTON,  in  the  opinion  of  some 
critics  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men 
who  ever  figured  in  American  history,  was  a 
native  of  Rockbridge  count}',  Virginia,  born 
March  2,  1793.  Early  in  life  he  was  left  in 
destitute  circumstances  by  the  death  of  his 
father,  and,  with  his  mother,  removed  to 
Tennessee,  then  almost  a  boundless  wilder- 
ness. He  received  but  little  education, 
spending  the  most  of  his  time  among  the 
Cherokee  Indians.  Part  of  the  time  of  his 
residence  there  Houston  acted  as  clerk  for  a 
trader  and  also  taught  one  of  the  primitive 
schools  of  the  day.  In  1813  he  enlisted  as 
private  in  the  United  States  arm)'  and  was 
engaged  under  General  Jackson  in  the  war 
with  the  Creek  Indians.  When  peace  was 
Houston  was  a  lieutenant,  but  he  re- 
signed his  commission  and  commenced  the 
study  of  law  at  Nashville.  After  holding 
some  minor  offices  he  was  elected  member 
of  congress  from  Tennessee.  This  was  in 
1823.  He  retained  this  office  until  1S27, 
when  he  was  chosen  governor  of  the  state. 
In  1829,  resigning  that  office  before  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term,  Sain  Houston  removed 
to  Arkansas,  and  made  his  home  among  the 
Cherokees,  becoming  the  agent  of  that 
tribe  and  representing  their  interests  at 
Washington.  On  a  visit  to  Texas,  just 
prior  to  the  election  of  delegates  to  a  con- 
vention called  for  the  purpose  of  drawing 
up  a  constitution  previous  to  the  admission 
of  the  state  into  the  Mexican  union,  he  was 
unanimously  chosen  a  delegate.  The  con- 
vention framed  the  constitution,  but,  it  be- 
ing rejected  by  the  government  of  Mexico, 
and  the  petition  for  admission  to  the  Con- 
federacy denied  and  the  Texans  told  by  the 


president  of  the  Mexican  union  to  give  up 
their  arms,  bred  trouble.  It  was  determined 
to  resist  this  demand.  A  military  force  was 
soon  organized,  with  General  Houston  at 
the  head  of  it.  War  was  prosecuted  with 
great  vigor,  and  with  varying  success,  but 
at  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  April  21,  1836, 
the  Mexicans  were  defeated  and  their  leader 
and  president,  Santa  Anna,  captured.  Texas 
was  then  proclaimed  an  independent  repub- 
lic, and  in  October  of  the  same  year  Hous- 
ton was  inaugurated  president.  On  the  ad- 
mission of  Texas  to  the  Federal  Union,  in 
1845,  Houston  was  elected  senator,  and 
held  that  position  for  twelve  years.  Oppos- 
ing the  idea  of  secession,  he  retired  from 
political  life  in  1861,  and  died  at  Hunts- 
ville,  Texas,  July  25,  1863. 


ELI  WHITNEY,  the  inventor  of  the  cot- 
ton-gin, was  born  in  West  borough,  Mas- 
sachusetts, December  8,  1765.  After  his 
graduation  from  Yale  College,  he  went  to 
Georgia,  where  he  studied  law,  and  lived 
with  the  family  of  the  widow  of  General 
Nathaniel  Greene.  At  that  time  the  only 
\\,i\  known  to  separate  the  cotton  seed  from 
the  fiber  was  by  hand,  making  it  extremely 
slow  and  expensive,  and  for  this  reason  cot- 
ton was  little  cultivated  in  this  country. 
Mrs.  Greene  urged  the  inventive  Whitney 
to  devise  some  means  for  accomplishing 
this  work  by  machinery.  This  he  finally 
succeeded  in  doing,  but  he  was  harassed  by 
attempts  to  defraud  him  by  those  who  had 
stolen  his  ideas.  He  at  last  formed  a  part- 
nership with  a  man  named  Miller,  and  they 
began  the  manufacture  of  the  machines  at 
Washington,  Georgia,  in  1795.  The  suc- 
cess of  his  invention  was  immediate,  and  the 
legislature  of  South  Carolina  voted  the  sum 
of  $50,000  for  his  idea.  This  sum  he  had 
great  difficulty  in  collecting,  after  years  of 


\fPBNDIUM'OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


v:\ 


litigation  and  delay.  North  Carolina  al- 
lowed him  a  royalty,  and  the  same  \<..is 
agreed  to  by  Tennessee,  but  was  never  paid. 

While  his  fame  rests  upon  the  invention 
of  the  cotton-gin,  his  fortune  came  from  his 
improvements  in  the  manufacture  and  i  in- 
struction of  firearms,  fn  1798  the  United 
States  government  gave  him  a  contract  for 
this  purpose,  and  he  accumulated  a  fortune 
from  it.  The  town  of  Whitneyville,  (  a- 
necticut,  was  founded  by  this  fortune. 
Whitney  died  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
January  8,   1825. 

The  cotton-gin  made  the  cultivation  of 
cotton  profitable,  and  this  led  to  rapid  in- 
troduction of  slavery  in  the  south.  His  in- 
vention thus  affected  our  national  history  in 
a  manner  little  dreamed  of  by  the  inventor. 


LESTER  WALLACE  ( John  Lester  Wal- 
lacki,  formany  years  the  leading  light 
comedian  upon  the  American  stage,  was 
the  son  of  James  W.  Wallack,  the  "  Brum- 
mell  of  the  Stage."  Both  father  and  son 
were  noted  for  their  comeliness  of  feature 
and  form.  *  Lester  Wallack  was  born  in 
New  York,  January  i,  1819.  He  received 
his  education  in  England,  and  made  his  first 
appearance  on  the  stage  in  1  848  at  the  New 
Broadway  theater,  New  York.  He  acted 
light  comedy  parts,  and  also  occasion- 
ally in  romantic  plays  like  Monte  Cristo, 
which  play  made  him  his  fame.  He  went 
to  England  and  played  under  management 
of  such  men  as  Hamblin  and  Burton, and  then 
returned  to  New  York  with  his  father,  who 
opened  the  first  Wallack's  theater,  at  the 
corner  of  Broome  and  Broadway,  in  1852. 
The  location  was  afterward  changed  to 
Thirteenth  and  Broadway,  in  1861,  and 
later  to  its  present  location,  Broadway  and 
Thirteenth,  in  1882.  The  elder  Wallack 
died   in    1864,    after  which  Lester  assumed 


management,  jointly  with  Theodore  Moss. 
Lester  Wallack  was  commissioned  in  the 
queen's  service  while  in  England,  and  there 
he  also  married  a  sister  to  the  famous  artist, 
the  late  John  Everett  Millais.  While  Les- 
ter  Wallack  never  played  in  the  interior 
cities,  his  name  was  as  familiar  to  the  public 
as  that  of  our  greatest  stars.  He  died  Sep- 
tember 6,  1888,  at  Stamford,   Connecticut. 


GEORGE  MORTIMER  PULLMAN, 
the  palace  car  magnate,  inventor, 
multi-millionaire  and  manufacturer,  may 
well  be  classed  among  the  remarkable 
self-made  men  of  the  century.  He  was 
born  March  3,  1831,  in  Chautauqua  count)-, 
New  York.  His  parents  were  poor,  and 
his  education  was  limited  to  what  he  could 
learn  of  the  rudimentary  branches  in  the 
district  school.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
went  to  work  as  clerk  for  a  country  mer- 
chant. He  kept  this  place  three  year-, 
studying  at  night.  When  seventeen  he 
went  to  Albion,  New  York,  and  worked  for 
his  brother,  who  kept  a  cabinet  shop  there. 
Five  years  later  he  went  into  business  for 
himself  as  contractor  for  moving  buildings 
along  the  line  of  the  Erie  canal,  which  was 
then  being  widened  by  the  state,  and  was 
successful  in  this.  In  1858  he  removed  to 
Chicago  and  engaged  in  the  business  of 
moving  and  raising  houses.  The  work  was 
novel  there  then  and  he  was  quite  success- 
ful. About  this  time  the  discomfort  attend- 
ant on  traveling  at  night  attracted  his  at- 
tention. He  reasoned  that  the  public  would 
gladly  pay  for  comfortable  sleeping  accom- 
modations. A  few  sleeping  cars  were  in 
use  at  that  time,  but  they  were  wretchedly 
'  crude,  uncomfortable  affairs.  In  1S59  he 
■  bought  two  old  day  coaches  from  the  Chi- 
cago &  Alton  road  and  remodeled  them  some- 
thing like  the  general  plan  of   the  sleeping 


122 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGJRAPffr. 


cars  of  the  present  day.  They  were  put 
into  service  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  and 
became  popular  at  once.  In  1863  he  built 
the  first  sleeping-car  resembling  the  Pullman 
cars  of  to-day.  It  cost  $18,000  and  was 
the  "Pioneer."  After  that  the  Pullman 
Palace  Car  Company  prospered.  It  had 
shops  at  different  cities.  In  1880  the  Town 
of  Pullman  was  founded  by  Mr.  Pullman 
and  his  company,  and  this  model  manufac- 
turing community  is  known  all  over  the 
world.    Mr.  Pullman  died  October  19,  1897. 


JAMES  E.  B.  STUART,  the  most  famous 
cavalry  leader  of  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy during  the  Civil  war,  was  born  in 
Patrick  county,  Virginia,  in  1833.  On 
graduating  from  the  United  States  Military 
Academy,  West  Point,  in  1854,  he  was  as- 
signed, as  second  lieutenant,  to  a  regiment 
of  mounted  rifles,  receiving  his  commission 
in  October.  In  March,  1S55,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  newly  organized  First  cavalry, 
and  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  the 
following  December,  and  to  captain  April 
22,  1861.  Taking  the  side  of  the  south, 
May  14,  1861,  he  was  made  colonel  of  a 
Virginia  cavalry  regiment,  and  served  as 
such  at  Bull  Run.  In  September,  1861,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-gen- 
erai,  and  major-general  early  in  1862.  On 
the  reorganization  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  in  June  of  the  latter  year,  when 
R.  E.  Lee  assumed  command,  General  Stu- 
art made  a  reconnoissance  with  one  thou- 
sand five  hundred  cavalry  and  four  guns, 
and  in  two  days  made  the  circuit  of  McClel- 
lan's  army,  producing  much  confusion  and 
gathering  useful  information,  and  losing  but 
one  man.  August  25,  1862,  he  captured 
part  of  Pope's  headquarters'  train,  including 
that  general's  private  baggage  and  official 
correspondence,    and  the  next  night,    in  a 


descent  upon  Manasses,  capturing  immense 
quantities  of  commissary  and  quartermaster 
store,  eight  guns,  a  number  of  locomotives 
and  a  few  hundred  prisoners.  During  the 
invasion  of  Maryland,  in  September,  1862, 
General  Stuart  acted  as  rearguard,  resisting 
the  advance  of  the  Federal  cavalry  at  South 
Mountain,  and  at  Antietam  commanded  the 
Confederate  left.  Shortly  after  he  crossed 
the  Potomac,  making  a  raid  as  far  as  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pennsylvania.  In  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862,  Gen- 
eral Stuart's  command  was  on  the  extreme 
right  of  the  Confederate  line.  At  Chancel- 
lorsville,  after  "Stonewall  "  Jackson's  death 
and  the  wounding  of  General  A.  P.  Hill, 
General  Stuart  assumed  command  of  Jack- 
son's corps,  which  he  led  in  the  severe  con- 
test of  May  3,  1863.  Early  in  June,  the 
same  year,  a  large  force  of  cavalry  was 
gathered  under  Stuart,  at  Culpepper,  Vir- 
ginia, which,  advancing  to  join  General  Lee 
in  his  invasion  of  Pennsylvania,  was  met  at 
Brandy  Station,  by  two  divisions  of  cavalry 
and  two  brigades  of  infantry,  under  General 
John  I.  Gregg,  and  driven  back.  During  the 
movements  of  the  Gettysburg  campaign  he 
rendered  important  services.  In  May,  1S64, 
General  Stuart  succeeded,  by  a  detour,  in 
placing  himself  between  Richmond  and 
Sheridan's  advancing  column,  and  at  Yellow 
Tavern  was  attacked  in  force.  During  the 
fierce  conflict  that  ensued  General  Stuart 
was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  at  Rich- 
mond, May  1 1,   1864. 


FRANKLIN  PIERCE,  the  fourteenth 
president  of  the  United  States — from 
1853  until  1857 — was  born  November  23, 
1804,  at  Hillsboro,  New  Hampshire.  He 
came  of  old  revolutionary  stock  and  his 
father  was  a  governor  of  the  state.  Mr. 
Pierce  entered  Bowdoin    College  in    1820, 


\fPENDIUM   OF    lUtx.NM'lIV. 


128 


was  graduated  in  1S24.  and  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Wood- 
bury, and  later  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
Mr.  Pierce  practiced  his  profession  with 
varying  successes  in  his  native  town  and 
also  in  Concord.  He  was  elected  to  the 
state  legislature  in  1S33  and  served  in  that 
body  until  1837,  the  last  two  years  of  his 
term  serving  as  speaker  of  the  house.  He 
was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate  in 
1837,  just  as  President  Van  Buren  began 
his  term  of  office.  Mr.  Pierce  served  until 
1842.  and  many  times  during  Polk's  term  he 
declined  important  public  offices.  During 
the  war  with  Mexico  Mr.  Pierce  was  ap- 
pointed brigadier-general,  and  he  embarked 
with  a  portion  of  his  troops  at  Newport, 
Rhode  Island,  May  27,  1847,  and  went  with 
them  to  the  field  of  battle.  He  served 
through  the  war  and  distinguished  himself 
by  his  skill,  bravery  and  excellent  judg- 
ment. When  he  reached  his  home  in  his 
native  state  he  was  received  coldly  by  the 
opponents  of  the  war,  but  the  advocates  of 
the  %var  made  up  for  his  cold  reception  by 
the  enthusiastic  welcome  which  they  ac- 
corded him.  Mr.  Pierce  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  and  in  the  political 
strife  that  followed  he  gave  his  support  to 
the  pro-slavery  wing  of  the  Democratic 
party.  The  Democratic  convention  met  in 
Baltimore,  June  12,  1852,  to  nominate  a 
candidate  for  the  presidency,  and  they  con- 
tinued in  session  four  days,  and  in  thirty- 
five  ballotings  no  one  had  secured  the  re- 
quisite two-thirds  vote.  Mr.  Pierce  had  not 
received  a  vote  as  yet,  until  the  Virginia 
delegation  brought  his  name  forward,  and 
finally  on  the  forty-ninth  ballot  Mr.  Pierce 
received  282  votes  and  all  the  other  candi- 
dates eleven.  His  opponent  on  the  Whig 
ticket  was  General  Winfield  Scott,  who 
only  received    the  electoral  votes    of    four 


states.  Mr.  Pierce  was  inaugurated  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  March  4,  1853, 
with  W.  R.  King  as  vice  president,  and  the 
following  named  gentlemen  were  afterward 
chosen  to  fill  the  positions  in  the  cabinet: 
William  S.  Marcy,  James  Guthrie,  Jeffer- 
son Davis,  James  C.  Dobbin,  Robert  Mc- 
Clelland, James  Campbell  and  Caleb  Cush- 
ing.  During  the  administration  of  President 
Pierce  the  Missouri  compromise  law  was 
repealed,  and  all  the  territories  of  the  Union 
were  thrown  open  to  slavery,  and  the  dis- 
turbances in  Kansas  occurred.  In  1857  he 
was  succeeded  in  the  presidency  by  James 
Buchanan,  and  retired  to  his  home  in  Con- 
cord, New  Hampshire.  He  always  cherished 
his  principles  of  slavery,  and  at  the  out- 
break of  the  rebellion  he  was  an  adherent  of 
the  cause  of  the  Confederacy.  He  died  at 
Concord,  New  Hampshire,  October  8,  1869. 


JAMES  B.  WEAVER,  well  known  as  a 
leader  of  the  Greenback  and  later  of  the 
Populist  party,  was  born  at  Dayton,  Ohio, 
June  12,  1S33.  He  received  his  earlier 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town, 
and  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Ohio 
University,  at  Cincinnati,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1854.  Removing  to  the  grow- 
ing state  of  Iowa,  he  became  connected 
with  "The  Iowa  Tribune,"  at  the  state 
capital,  Dt-s  Moines,  as  one  of  its  editors. 
He  afterward  practiced  law  and  was  elected 
district  attorney  for  the  second  judicial  dis- 
trict of  Iowa,  on  the  Republican  ticket  in 
1866,  which  office  he  held  for  a  short  time. 
In  1867  Mr.  Weaver  was  appointed  assessor 
of  internal  revenue  for  the  first  district  of 
Iowa,  and  filled  that  position  until  some- 
time in  1873.  He  was  elected  and  served 
in  the  forty-sixth  congress.  In  1880  the 
National  or  Greenback  party  in  convention 
at  Chicago,  nominated  James  B.  Weaver  as 


121 


COMPENDIUM    OF   BIOGRAPin  . 


its  candidate  for  the  presidency.  By  a 
union  of  the  Democratic  and  National 
parties  in  his  district,  he  was  elected  to  the 
forty-ninth  congress,  and  re-elected  to  the 
same  office  in  the  fall  of  1886.  Mr.  Weaver 
was  conceded  to  be  a  very  fluent  speaker, 
and  quite  active  in  all  political  work.  On 
July  4,  1892,  at  the  National  convention 
of  the  People's  party,  General  James  B. 
Weaver  was  chosen  as  the  candidate  for 
president  of  that  organization,  and  during 
the  campaign  that  followed,  gained  a  na- 
tional reputation. 


ANTHONY    JOSEPH     DREXEL,    one 
of  the  leading  bankers  ami  financiers  of 

the  United  States,  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1826,  ami  was  the  son  of 
Francis  M.  Drexel,  who  had  established 
the  large  banking  institution  of  Drexel  & 
Co.,  so  well  known.  The  latter  was  a  native 
of  Dornbirn,  in  the  Austrian  Tyrol.  He 
studied  languages  and  fine  arts  at  Turin, 
Italy.  On  returning  to  his  mountain  home. 
in  1809,  and  finding  it  in  the  hands  of  the 
French,  he  went  to  Switzerland  and  later 
to  Paris.  In  181 2,  after  a  short  visit  home, 
he  went  to  Berlin,  where  he  studied  paint- 
ing until  1S17,  in  which  year  he  emigrated 
to  America,  and  settled  in  Philadelphia.  A 
few  years  later  he  went  to  Chili  and  Peru, 
where  he  executed  some  fine  portraits  of 
notable  people,  including  General  Simon 
Bolivar.  After  spending  some  time  in  Mex- 
ico, he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  banking  business.  In  1837  he 
founded  the  house  of  Drexel  &  Co.  He 
died  in  1857,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  two 
sons,  Anthony  J.  and  Francis  A.  His  son, 
Anthony  J.  Drexel,  Jr. ,  entered  the  bank 
when  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age,  before  he 
was  through  with  his  schooling,  and  after 
that  the  history  of  the  banking  business  of 


which  he  was  the  head,  was  the  history  of  his 
life.  The  New  York  house  of  Drexel,  Mor- 
gan &  Co.  was  established  in  1850;  the 
Paris  house,  Drexel,  Harjes  &  Co., in  1867. 
The  Drexel  banking  houses  have  supplied 
iand  placed  hundreds  of  millions  of  dollars 
n  government,  corporation,  railroad  and 
other  loans  and  securities.  The  reputation 
of  the  houses  has  always  been  held  on  the 
highest  plane.  Mr.  Drexel  founded  and 
heavily  endowed  the  Drexel  Institute,  in 
Philadelphia,  an  institution  to  furnish  better 
and  wider  avenues  of  employment  to  young 
people  of  both  sexes.  It  has  departments 
of  arts,  science,  mechanical  arts  and  domes- 
tic economy.  Mr.  Drexel, Jr. .departed  this 
life  June  30,  1893. 


SAMUEL  FINLEY  BREESE  MORSE, 
inventor  of  the  recording  telegraph  in- 
strument, was  born  in  Charlestown,  Massa- 
chusetts, April  27,  1791.  He  graduated 
from  Yale  College  in  1810,  and  took  up  art 
as  his  profession.  He  went  to  London  with 
the  great  American  painter,  Washington 
Allston,  and  studied  in  the  Royal  Academy 
under  Benjamin  West.  His  "  Dying  Her- 
cules," his  first  effort  in  sculpture,  took  the 
gold  medal  in  181 3.  He  returned  to  Amer- 
ica in  181 5  and  continued  to  pursue  his 
profession.  He  was  greatly  interested  in 
scientific  studies,  which  he  carried  on  in 
connection  with  other  labors.  He  founded 
the  National  Academy  of  Design  and  was 
many  years  its  president.  He  returned  to 
Europe  and  spent  three  years  in  study 
in  the  art  centers,  Rome,  Florence,  Venice 
and  Paris.  In  1 832  he  returned  to  America 
and  while  on  the  return  voyage  the  idea  of 
a  recording  teiegraph  apparatus  occurred  to 
him,  and  he  made  a  drawing  to  represent  his 
conception.  He  was  the  first  to  occupy  the 
chair  of    fine  arts  in  the  University  of  New 


•/I  M    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


York  City,  and  in  1835  he  sot  up  his  rude 
instrument  in  his  100m  in  the  university. 
But  it  was  not  until  after  many  years  of 
discouragement  and  reverses  of  fortune  that 
le  finally  was  successful  in  placing  his  inven- 
tion before  the  public.  In  1844.  by 
the  I  ites  government,   he  had  con- 

structed a  telegraph  line  forty  miles  in  1 
from  Washington  to  Baltimore.  Over  this 
line  the  test  was  made,  and  the  first  tele- 
Ijaphic  message  was  flashed  May  24,  1844. 
from  the  United  States  supreme  court  rooms 
to  Baltimore.  It  read,  "What  hatl 
wrought!"  His  fame  and  fortune  were  es- 
tablished in  an  instant.  Wealth  and  honors 
poured  in  upon  him  from  that  day  The 
nations  of  Europe  vied  with  each  other 
in  honoring  the  great  inventor  with  medals, 
titles  and  decorations,  and  the  learned 
societies  of  Europe  hastened  to  enroll  his 
name  upon  their  membership  lists  and  confer 
degrees.  In  1S5S  he  was  the  recipient  of  an 
honor  never  accorded  to  an  inventor  before. 
The  ten    leading  nations  of  Europe,  at  the 

stion  of  the  Emporer  Napoleon,  ap- 
pointed representatives  to  an  international 
congress,  which  convened  at  Paris  for  the 
special  purpose  of  expressing  gratitude  of  the 
nations,  and  they  voted  him  a  present  of 
400,000  francs. 

Professor  Morse  was  present  at  the  unveil- 
ing of  a  bronze  statue  erected  in  his  honor  in 
Central  Park,  New  York,  in  1S71.  His  last 
appearance  in  public  was  at  the  unveiling 
of  the  statue  of  Benjamin  Franklin  in  New 
York  in   1872,    when  he  made  the  dedica- 

;.eech  and  unveiled  the  statue.  He 
died  April  2.    1  872,  in  the  city  of  New  York. 


in  the  class  with  William  M. 
Evarts.  His  father  was  judge  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  errors  of  the  state  of  I 
necticut,  and  in  his  office  young  Waite 
studied  law.  He  subsequently  removed  to 
Ohio,  and  was  elected  to  the  legislature  of 
that  state  in  1849.  He  removed  from 
Maumee  City  to  Toledo  and  became  a  prom- 
inent legal  ] ijl; ht  in  that  state.  He  was 
nominated  as  a  candidate  for  congress  re- 
peatedly but  declined  to  run,  and  also  de- 
clined a  place  on  the  supreme  bench  of  the 
state.  He  won  great  distinction  for  his  able 
handling  of  the  Alabama  claims  at  Geneva, 
before  the  arbitration  tribunal  in  1S71,  and 
was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States  in  1874  on  the 
death  of  Judge  Chase.  When,  in  1876,  elec- 
toral commissioners  were  chosen  to  decide 
the  presidential  election  controversy  between 
Tilden  and  Hayes,  Judge  Waite  refused  to 
serve  on  that  commission. 

His  death  occurred  March  23,   1 


MKISON  REMICHW> 
chief  justice  of  the  Unite 


AITE,  seventh 
was 

1  at  Lyme.  (  .  ember  2 

1816.      He  was  a  graduate   from  Yale   C 


ELISHA  KENT  KANE  was  one  of  the 
distinguished  American  explorers  of  the 
unknown  regions  of  the  frozen  north,  and 
gave  to  the  world  a  more  accurate  knowl- 
edge of  the  Arctic  zone.  Dr.  Kane  was 
born  February  3,  1S20,  at  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the 
universities  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania, 
and  took  his  medical  degree  in  1843.  He 
entered  the  service  of  the  United  States 
navy,  and  was  physician  to  the  Chinese 
Dr.  Kane  traveled  extensively 
in  the  Levant,  Asia  and  Western  Africa, 
and  also  served  in  the  Mexican  war,  in 
which  he  was  severely  wounded.  His 
first  Arctic  expedition  was  under  De  II 
in  the  first  Grinnell  expedition  in  search 
of  Sir  John  Franklin  in  1S50.  He 
manded    the    second    Grinnell    expedition 


126 


COMPENDIUM  OF    BIOGRAPIIV. 


in  1853-55,  and  discovered  an  open  polar 
sea.  For  this  expedition  he  received  a  gold 
medal  and  other  distinctions.  He  published 
a  narrative  of  his  first  polar  expedition  in 
1853,  and  in  1856  published  two  volumes 
relating  to  his  second  polar  expedition.  He 
was  a  man  of  active,  enterprising  and  cour- 
ageous spirit.  His  health,  which  was  al- 
ways delicate,  was  impaired  by  the  hard- 
ships of  his  Arctic  expeditions,  from  which 
he  never  fully  recovered  and  from  which  he 
died  February  16,   1857,  at  Havana. 


ELIZABETH  CADY  STANTON  was  a 
daughter  of  Judge  Daniel  Cady  and 
Margaret  Livingston,  and  was  born  Novem- 
ber 12,  [81  5,  at  Johnstown,  New  York.  She 
was  educated  at  the  Johnstown  Academy, 
inhere  she  studied  with  a  class  of  boys,  and 
ivas  fitted  for  college  at  the  age  of  fifteen, 
ifter  which  she  pursued  her  studies  at  Mrs. 
YVillard's  Seminary,  at  Troy.  Her  atten- 
tion was  called  to  the  disabilities  of  her  sex 
by  her  own  educational  experiences,  and 
through  a  study  of  Blackstone,  Story,  and 
Kent.  Miss  Cady  was  married  to  Henry  B. 
Stanton  in  1 S40,  and  accompanied  him  to 
the  world's  anti-slavery  convention  in  Lon- 
don. While  there  she  made  the  acquain- 
tance of  Lucretia  Mott.  Mrs.  Stanton 
resided  at  Boston  until  1847,  when  the 
family  moved  to  Seneca  Falls,  New  York, 
and  she  and  Lucretia  Mott  signed  the  first 
call  for  a  woman's  rights  convention.  The 
meeting  was  held  at  her  place  of  residence 
July  19-20,  1848.  This  was  the  first  oc- 
casion of  a  formal  claim  of  suffrage  for 
women  that  was  made.  Mrs.  Stanton  ad- 
dressed the  New  York  legislature,  in  1854, 
on  the  rights  of  married  women,  and  in 
i860,  in  advocacy  of  the  granting  of  di- 
vorce for  drunkenness.  She  also  addressed 
the  legislature  and  the    constitutional   con- 


vention, and  maintained  that  during  the 
revision  of  the  constitution  the  state  was 
resolved  into  its  original  elements,  and  that 
all  citizens  had,  therefore,  a  right  to  vote 
for  the  members  of  that  convention.  After 
1869  Mrs.  Stanton  frequently  addressed 
congressional  committees  and  state  consti- 
tutional conventions,  and  she  canvassed 
Kansas,  Michigan,  and  other  states  when 
the  question  of  woman  suffrage  was  sub- 
mitted  in  those  states.  Mrs.  Stanton  was 
one  of  the  editors  of  the  "  Revolution,"  and 
most  of  the  calls  and  resolutions  for  con- 
ventions have  come  from  her  pen.  She 
was  president  of  the  national  committee, 
also  of  the  Woman's  Loyal  League,  and 
of  the  National  Association,  for  many  years. 


DAVID  DUDLEY  FIELD,  a  great 
American  juris*,  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut in  1S05.  Heen.,  .,ii  Williams  College 
when  sixteen  years  old,  and  commenced  the 
studyoflaw  in  1825.  In  1828  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  went  to  New  York, 
where  he  soon  came  into  promim  nee  be- 
tore  the  bar  of  that  state.  He  entered  upon 
the  labor  of  reforming  the  practice  and 
procedure,  which  was  then  based  upon  the 
common  law  practice  of  England,  and  had 
become  extremely  complicated,  difficult  and 
uncertain  in  its  application.  His  first  paper 
on  this  subject  was  published  in  1839,  and 
after  eight  years  of  continuous  efforts  in  this 
direction,  he  was  appointed  one  of  a  com- 
mission by  New  York  to  reform  the  practice 
of  that  state.  The  result  was  embodied  in 
the  two  codes  of  procedure,  civil  and  crimi- 
nal, the  first  of  which  was  adopted  almost 
entire  by  the  state  of  New  York,  and  has 
since  been  adopted  by  more  than  half  the 
states  in  the  Union,  and  became  the  basis 
of  the  new  practice  and  procedure  in  Eng- 
land, contained  in  the  Judicature  act.      He 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


127 


was  later  appointed  chairman  cf  a  new  com- 
mission to  codify  the  entire  body  of  laws. 
This  great  work  employed  many  years  in  its 
completion,  but  when  finished  it  embraced 
a  civil,  penal,  and  political  code,  covering 
the  entire  field  of  American  laws,  statutory 
and  common.  This  great  body  of  law  was 
adopted  by  California  and  Dakota  territory 
in  its  entirety,  and  many  other  states  have 
since  adopted  its  substance.  In  1867  tin- 
British  Association  for  Social  Science  heard 
a  proposition  from  Mr.  Field  to  prepare  an 
international  code.  This  led  to  the  prepara- 
tion of  his  "  Draft  Outlines  of  an  Interna- 
tional Code, "which  was  in  fact  a  complete 
body  of  international  laws,  and  introduced 
the  principle  of  arbitration.  Other  of  his 
codes  of  the  state  of  New  York  have  since 
been  adopted  by  that  state. 

In  addition  to  his  great  works  on  law, 
Mr.  Field  indulged  his  literary  tastes  by  fre- 
quent contributions  to  general  literature, 
and  his  articles  on  travels,  literature,  and 
the  political  questions  of  the  hour  gave 
him  rank  with  the  best  writers  of  his  time. 
His  father  was  the  Rev.  David  Dudley  Field, 
and  his  brothers  were  Cyrus  W.  Field,  Rev. 
Henry  Martin  Field,  and  Justice  Stephen 
J.  Field  of  the  United  States  supreme 
court.  David  Dudley  Field  died  at  New 
York,  April  1  3,   1894. 


HENRY  M.  TELLER,  a  celebrated 
American  politician,  and  secretary  of 
the  interior  under  President  Arthur,  was  born 
May  23,  1830,  in  Allegany  county,  New 
York.  He  was  of  Hollandish  ancestry  and 
received  an  excellent  education,  after  which 
he  took  up  the  study  of  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  the  state  of  New  York. 
Mr.  Teller  removed  to  Illinois  in  January, 
1858,  and  practiced  for  three  years  in  that 
state.      From  thence  he  moved  to  Colorado 


in  1861  and  lo  at   Central  City,  which 

was  then  one  of  the  principal  mining  towns 
in  the  state.  His  exceptional  abilities  as 
a  lawyer  soon  brought  him  into  prominence 
and  gained  for  him  a  numerous  and  profit- 
able clientage.  In  politics  he  affiliated  with 
the  Republican  party, but  declined  to  become 
a  candidate  for  office  until  the  admi  ision  ol 
Colorado  into  the  Union  as  a  state,  when 
he  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate. 
Mr.  Teller  drew  the  term  ending  March 
4,  1877,  but  was  re-elected  December  11, 
1876,  and  served  until  April  17,  [882,  when 
he  was  appointed  by  President  Arthur  as 
secretary  of  the  interior.  He  accepted  ;t 
cabinet  position  with  reluctance,  and  on 
March  3,  1885,  he  retired  from  the  cabinet, 
having  been  elected  to  the  senate  a  short 
time  before  to  succeed  Nathaniel  P.  Hill. 
Mr.  Teller  took  his  seat  on  March  4,  1885, 
in  the  senate,  to  which  he  was  afterward 
re-elected.  He  served  as  chairman  on  the 
committee  of  pensions,  patents,  mines  and 
mining,  and  was  also  a  member  of  commit- 
tees on  claims,  railroads,  privileges  and 
elections  and  public  lands.  Mr.  Teller  came 
to  be  recognized  as  one  of  the  ablest  advo- 
cates of  the  silver  cause.  He  was  one  of  the 
delegates  to  the  Republican  National  conven- 
tion at  St.  Louis  in  1896,  in  which  he  took 
an  active  part  and  tried  to  have  a.  silver 
plank  inserted  in  the  platform  of  the  party 
Failing  in  this  he  felt  impelled  to  bolt  the 
convention,  which  he  did  and  joined  forces 
with  the  great  silver  movement  in  the  cam- 
paign which  followed,  being  recognized  in 
that  campaign  as  one  of  the  most  able  and 
eminent  advocates  of  "silver"   in   America. 


J  (MIX  ERICSSON,  an  eminent  inven- 
tor and  machinist,  who  won  fame  [a 
America,  was  born  in  Sweden,  July  31,1  803. 
In  early  childhood  he  evinced  a  decided  in- 


128 


COMPENDIUM    (>/■'    BIOGRAPHY, 


clination  I  >  mechanical  pursuits,  and  at  the 
age  of  eleven  he  was  appointed  to  a  cadet- 
ship  i  i  the  engineer  corps,  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy. 
In  [826  he  introduced  a  "flame  engine," 
which  he  had  invented,  and  offered  it  to 
English  capitalists,  but  it  was  found  that  it 
could  be  operated  only  by  the  use  of  wood 
for  fuel.  Shortly  after  this  he  resigned  his 
commission  in  the  army  of  Sweden,  ami  de- 
voted himself  to  mechanical  pursuits.  He 
discovered  and  introduced  the  principle  of 
artificial  draughts  in  steam  boilers,  and  re- 
ceived a  prize  of  two  thousand  the  hundred 
dollars  for  his  locomotive,  the  "Novelty," 

which  attained  a  great  Speed,  for  that  day. 
The  artificial  iii  fected  a  great  saving 

in    fuel    and     made     uni  .     the    hi 

smoke-. stacks  formerly  used,  ami  the  011 
pie  is  --till  applied,  in  modified  form,  in  hoi1 
ers.     He  also  invented  a  steam  fire-engine, 
ami    later  a   hot  air    engine,    which   he   at- 
tempted    \<<   apply   in   the   operation  of  his 
ship,   •    I  1,"  hut  as  it  did  not  give  the 

'd  required,  he  abandoned  it.  but  after- 
wards applied  it  to  machinery  f  1  pumping, 
hoisting, 

Ericsson  was  first  to  apply  the  screw 
propeller  to  navigation.  The  1-  1-lish  peo- 
ple not  receiving  this  new  depart  ire  readily, 
Ericsson  came  to  America  in  1839,  and 
built  the  United  States  steamer,  "Prince- 
ton," in  which  the  screw-propeller  was  util- 
ized, the  first  steamer  ever  built  in  which 
the  propeller  was  under  water,  out 
of  the  enemy's  shots.  The  achievement 
which  gave  him  greatest  renown,  however, 
was  the  ironclad  vessel,  the  "Monitor,"  an 
i  1  t  ire  ly  new  type  of  vessel,  which,  in  March, 
1S62,  attacked  the  Confederate  monster 
ironclad  ram,  "Virginia,"  and  after  a  fierce 
struggle,  compelled  her  to  withdraw  from 
Hampton  Roads  for  repairs.      After  the  war 


one  of  his  most  noted  inventions  was  his 
vessel,  "  Destroyer,"  with  a  submarine  gun, 
which  carried  a  projectile  torpedo.  In  1S86 
the  king  of  Spain  conferred  on  him  the 
grand  cross  of  the  Order  of  Naval  Merit. 
He  died  in  March,  [889,  and  his  body  was 
transferred,  with  naval  honors,  to  the  country 
of   his  birth. 

JAMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fifteenth  presi- 
dent of  the  Unite. I  States,  was  a  native 
■  t  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born    in  Franklin 

nty,  April  23,  [791.  He  was  of  Irish 
ancestry,    his  father    having    conn-    to    this 

lit ry  in  [783,  in  quite  humble  circum- 
stances, and  settled  in  the  western  part  of 
the  Keystone  state. 

[ames  Buchanan  remained  in  his  se- 
cluded home  for  eight  years,  enjoying  but 
few  social  or  intellectual  advantages.  His 
parents    were    industrious    and     frugal,     and 

pr  spered,  and,  in  1  700,  the  family  re ved 

to     Mercersbur       Pennsylvania,    where    he 
was    placed    in    school.      His    |  was 

rapid,    and  in    1801    he    entered    Dickinson 

ee;e,  at  Carlisle,  whi  1  'k  his  place 

among  the  bi  st  Si  holars  in  the  institution. 
In  1S09  he  graduated  with  the  highesl  hon- 
I  b-  was  thin  eighteen,  tall, 
graceful  and  in  vigorous  health.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  at  Lancaster,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812.  He  rose 
very  rapidl)  in  lus  profession  and  took  a 
stand  with  the  ablest  of  his  fellow  lawyers. 
When  but  twenty-six  years  old  he  success- 
fully defended,  unaided  by  counsel,  one  of 
the  judges  of  the  state  who  was  before  the 
bar  of  the  state  senate  under  articles  of  im- 
peachment. 

During  the  war  of  1812-15,  Mr.  Buch- 
anan sustained  the  government  with  all  his 
power,  eloquently  urging  the  vigorous  prose- 
cution of  the  war,  and  enlisted  as   a  private 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


129 


volunteer  to  assist  in  repelling  the  British 
who  had  sacked  and  burned  the  public 
buildings   of    Washington    and    threatened 

Baltimore.  At  that  time  Buchanan  was 
a  Federalist,  but  the  opposition  of  that 
party  to  the  war  with  Great  Britain  and  the 
alien  and  sedition  laws  of  John  Adams, 
brought  that  party  into  disrepute,  and  drove 
many,  among  them  Buchanan,  into  the  Re- 
publican, or  anti-Federalist  ranks.  He  «  is 
elected  to  congress  in  1828.  In  [83]  he 
was  sent  as  minister  to  Russia,  and  upon 
his  return  to  this  country,  in  1833,  was  ele- 
vated to  the  United  States  senate,  and  re- 
mained in  that  position  for  twelve  years. 
Upon  the  accession  of  President  Polk  to 
office  he  made  Mr.  Buchanan  secretary  of 
state.  Four  years  later  he  retired  to  pri- 
vate life,  and  in  1853  he  was  honored  with 
the  mission  to  England.  In  1S56  the  na- 
tional Democratic  convention  nominated 
him  for  the  presidency  and  he  was  elected. 
It  was  during  his  administration  that  the 
rising  tide  of  the  secession  movement  over- 
took the  country.  Mr.  Buchanan  declared 
that  the  national  constitution  gave  him  no 
j>'  iwer  to  do  anything  against  the  movement 
to  break  up  the  Union.  After  his  succession 
by  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860,  Mr.  Buchanan 
retired  to  his  home  at  Wheatland,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  died  June  1,   1868. 


JOHN  HARVARD,  the  founder  of  the 
Harvard  University,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land about  the  year  1G08.  He  received  his 
education  at  Emanuel  College,  Cambridge, 
and  came  to  America  in  1637,  settling  in 
Massachusetts.  He  was  a  non-conformist 
minister,  and  a  tract  of  land  was  set  aside 
for  him  in  Charlestown,  near  Boston.  He 
was  at  once  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to 
formulate  a  body  of  laws  for  the  colony. 
One  year  before  his  arrival  in   the  colony 


the  general  court  had  voted  the  sum  of  four 
hundred  pounds  toward  the  establishment  oi 

a  school  or  college,  half  of  which  was  to  1"' 
pud  the  next  year  In  1637  preliminary 
plans  were  made  for  starting  the  school.  In 
163S  John  Harvard,  who  had  shown  great 
interest  in  «the  new  institution  of  learning 
proposed,  died,  leaving  his  entire  property, 
about  twice  the  sum  originally  voted,  to  the 
school,  together  with  three  hundred  volumes 
as  a  nucleus  for  a  library.  The  institution 
was  then  given  the  name  of  Harvard,  and 
established  at  Newton  (now  Cambridge), 
Massachusetts.  It  grew  to  he  one  of  the  two 
principal  seats  of  learning  in  the  new  world, 
and  has  maintained  its  reputation  since.  It 
now  consists  of  twenty-two  separate  build- 
ings, and  ts  curriculum  embraces  over  one 
hundred  and  seventy  elective  courses,  and  it 
ranks  among  the  great  universities  of  the 
world. 

ROGER  BROOKE  TANEY,  a  noted 
jurist  and  chief  justice  of  the  United 
States  suprerns  court,  was  born  in  Calvert 
county,  Maryland,  March  17,  1777.  He 
graduated  fi  Jin  Dickinson  College  at  the 
age  of  eighteen,  took  up  the  study  of  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1799.  He 
was  chosen  to  the  legislature  from  his  county, 
and  in  1 801  removed  to  Frederick,  Mary- 
land. He  became  United  States  senator 
from  Maryland  in  1816,  and  took  up  his 
permanent  residence  in  Baltimore  a  few 
years  later.  In  1824  he  became  an  ardent 
admirer  and  supporter  of  Andrew  Jackson; 
and  upon  Jackson's  election  to  the  presi- 
dency, was  appointed  attorney  general  of 
tin-  United  States.  Two  years  later  he  was 
appointed  secretary  of  the  treasury,  and 
after  serving  in  that  capacity  for  nearly  one 
year,  the  senate  refused  to  confirm  the  ap- 
pointment.     In    1835,   upon    the    death  of 


130 


C OMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAP II ) ". 


Chief-justice  Marshall,  he  was  appointed  to 
that  place,  and  a  political  change  having 
occurred  in  the  make  up  of  the  senate,  he 
was  confirmed  in  1836.  He  presided  at 
his  first  session  in  January  of  the  following 
year. 

The  case  which  suggests  itself  first  to 
the  average  reader  in  connection  with  this 
jurist  is  the  celebrated  "  Dred  Scott  "  case, 
which  came  before  the  supreme  court  for 
decision  in  1856.  In  his  opinion,  delivered 
imi  behalf  of  a  majority  of  the  court,  one 
remarkable  statement  occurs  as  a  result  of 
an  exhaustive  survey  of  the  historical 
grounds,  to  the  effect  that  "  for  more  than 
a  century  pi  or  to  the  adoption  of  the  con- 
stitution they  (Africans)  had  hern  regarded 
so  far  inferior  that  they  had  no  rights  which 
a  white  man  was  bound  to  respect."  Judge 
Taney  retaim  '1  the  office  of  chief  justice 
until  his  death,  in   1864, 


JOHN  LOTHROP  MOTLEY.— This 
tleman  had  a  world-wide  reputation  as 
an  historian,  which  placed  him  in  the  front 
rank  of  the  great  men  of  America.  He  was 
born  April  15,  1814,  at  Dorchester,  M 
chusttts,  was  given  a  thorough  preparatory 
iti hi  and  then  attended  1  Ian ard,  fn  >m 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1831.  11 
studied  at  Gottingen  and  Berlin,  read  law 
and  m  1X36  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In 
1 S4 1  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the 
legation  at  St.  Petersburg,  and  in  1866-67 
1  as  United  Sta'es  minister  to  Austria, 
serving  in  the  same  capacity  during  [869 
and  1870  to  England.  In  1856,  after  long 
and  exhaustive  research  and  preparation, he 
published  in  London  "The  Rise  of  the 
Dutch  Republic."  It  embraced  three  vol- 
umes and  immediately  attracted  great  at- 
tention throughout  Lurope  and  America  as 
a  work  of  unusual   merit.      From    1 861    to 


1868  he  produced  "The  History  of  the 
United  Netherlands,"  in  four  volumes. 
Other  works  followed,  with  equal  success, 
and  his  position  as  one  of  the  foremost  his 
torians  and  writers  of  his  day  was  firmly 
established.  His  death  occured  May  29, 
1877. 

ELIAS  HOWE,  the  inventor  of  the  sew- 
ing machine,  well  deserves  to  be  classed 
among  the  great  and  noted  men  of  Amer- 
ica. He  was  the  son  of  a  miller  and  (.inner 
and  was  born  at  Spencer,  Massachusetts, 
July  9,  1819.  In  [835  lu-  unit  to  Lowell 
ami  worked  there,  and  later  at  Boston,  in  the 
machine  shops.  His  hist  sewing  machine 
was  completed  in  1845,  and  he  patented  it  in 
1X41'),   laboring  with  the  greatest  persistency 

in  spite  of  poverty  and   hardships,  working 

for  a  tune  as  an  engine  driver  on  a  railroad 
at  pauper  wages  and  with  broken  health. 
Hi  then  spent  two  years  of  unsuccessful  ex- 
ertion  in  England,  striving  in  vain  to  bring 
his  invention  into  public,  notice  and  use. 
lie  returned  t"  tin-  United  States  in  aim  I 
hopeless  poverty,  to  find  that  his  patent 
hid  been  violated.  At  last,  however,  he 
found  friends  who  assist,  d  him  financially, 
an  I  after  v<-ars  of  litigation  he  made-  good 
his  claims  in  the  courts  in  1  X54.  His  inven- 
tion afterward  brought  him  a  large  fortune. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  volunteered  a 
private  in  the  Seventeenth  Connecticut  Vol- 
unteers, and  served  for  some  time.  During 
his  life  time  he  received  the  cross  of  the 
■  u  "f  Honor  and  many  other  medals. 
His  death  occurred  October  3,  1867,  at 
Brook!  vn,   New  York. 


PHILLIPS  BROOKS,  celebrated  as  an 
eloquent  preacher  and  able  pulpit  ora- 
tor, was  born  in  Boston  on  the  13th  day  of 
December,     I  S3  5.       He    received    excellent 


coMri:xmc.\[  of  biography. 


131 


educational  advantages,  and  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1855.  Early  in  life  he  decided 
upon  the  ministry  as  his  life  work  and 
studied  theology  in  the  Episcopal  Theolog- 
ical Seminary,  at  Alexandria,  Virginia.  In 
1S59  he  was  ordained  and  the  same  year 
became  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Advent, 
in  Philadelphia.  Three  years  later  he  as- 
sumed the  pastorate  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Trinity,  where  he  remained  until  1870. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  accepted 
the  pastoral  charge  of  Trinity  Church  in 
Boston,  where  his  eloquence  and  ability  at- 
tracted much  attention  and  built  up  a  pow- 
erful church  organization.  Dr.  Brooks  also 
devoted  considerable  time  to  lecturing  and 
literary  work  and  attained  prominence  in 
these  lines. 

WILLIAM  B.  ALLISON,  a  statesman 
of  national  reputation  and  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Republican  party,  was  born 
March  2,  1829,  at  Perry,  Ohio.  He  grew 
up  on  his  father's  farm,  which  he  assisted 
in  cultivating,  and  attended  the  district 
school.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  went 
to  the  academy  at  Wooster,  and  subse- 
quently spent  a  year  at  the  Allegheny  Col- 
lege, at  Meadville,  Pennsylvania.  He  next 
taught  school  and  spent  another  year  at  the 
rn  Reserve  College,  at  Hudson,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Allison  then  took  up  the  study  of  law 
at  Wooster,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1S51,  and  soon  obtained  a  position 
as  deputy  county  clerk.  His  political  lean- 
ings were  toward  the  old  line  Whigs,  who 
afterward  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  state 
convention  in  1S56.  in  the  campaign  of 
which  he  supported  Fremont  for  president. 
Mr  Allison  removed  to  Dubuque,  Iowa, 
in  the  following  year.  He  rapidly  rose  to 
prominence  at  the  bar  and   in  politics.      In 


i860  he  was  chosen  as  a  delegate  to  the 
Republican  convention  held  in  Chicago,  of 
which  he  was  elected  one  of  the  secretaries. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  he  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  staff  of  the  governor.  His 
congressional  career  opened  in  1S62,  when 
he  was  elected  to  the  thirty-eighth  congress; 
he  was  re-elected  three  times,  serving  from 
March  4,  1863,  to  March  3,  1871.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  ways  and  means  committee 
a  good  part  of  his  term.  His  career  in  the 
United  States  senate  began  in  1873,  and  he 
rapidly  rose  to  eminence  in  national  affairs, 
his  service  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  that 
body  being  marked  by  close  fealty  to  the 
Republican  party.  He  twice  declined  the 
portfolio  of  the  treasury  tendered  hitn  by 
Garfield  and  Harrison,  and  his  name  was 
prominently  mentioned  for  the  presidency 
at  several  national  Republican  conventions. 


MARY  ASHTOX  LIVERMORE,  lec- 
turer and  writer,  was  born  in  Boston, 
December  19.  1821.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Timothy  Rice,  and  married  D.  P.  Liver- 
more,  a  preacher  of  the  Universalist  church. 
She  contributed  able  articles  to  many  of  the 
most  noted  periodicals  of  this  country  and 
England.  During  the  Civil  war  she  labored 
zealously  and  with  success  on  behalf  of  the 
sanitary  commission  which  played  so  impor- 
tant a  part  during  that  great  struggle.  She 
became  editor  of  the  "  Woman's  Journal," 
published  at  Boston  in  1S70. 

She  held  a  prominent  place  as  a  public 
speaker  and  writer  on  woman's  suffrage, 
temperance,  social  and  religious  questions, 
and  her  influence  was  great  in  every  cause 
she  advocated. 


JOHN  B.    GOUGH.  a  noted   temperance 
lecturer,  who  won   his  fame  in  America, 
was  born  in  the  village  of  Sandgate,  Kent, 


132 


COMPEXPIl ■-.]/    OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


England,  August  22,  1817.  He  came  to 
the  United  States  at  the  age  of  twelve. 
He  followed  the  trade  of  bookbinder,  and 
lived  in  great  poverty  on  account  of  the 
liquor  habit.  In  1843,  however,  he  re- 
formed, and  began  his  career  as  a  temper- 
ance lecturer.  He  worked  zealously  in  the 
cause  of  temperance,  and  his  lectures  and 
published  articles  revealed  great  earnestness. 
He  formed  temperance  societies  throughout 
the  entire  country,  and  labored  with  great 
success.  He  visited  England  in  the  same 
cause  about  the  year  1853  and  again  in 
1878,  He  also  lectured  upon  many  other 
topics,  in  which  he  attained  a  wide  reputa- 
tion. His  death  occurred  February  18, 


THOMAS  BUCHANAN  READ,  author, 
sculptor  and  painter,  was  born  in  Ch 
ter  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  12,  [822, 
He  early  evinced  a  taste  for  art,  and  began 
the  study  of  sculpture  in  Cincinnati.  Later 
he  found  painting  more  to  his  liking.  He 
went  to  New  York,  where  he  followed  this 
profession,  and  later  to  Boston.  In  1846 
he  located  in  Philadelphia.  He  visited 
Italy  in  1S50,  and  studied  at  Florence, 
where  he  resided  almost  continuously  for 
twenty-two  years.  He  returned  to  America 
in  1  S 7 2 .  and  died  in  New  York  May  11  of 
the  same  year. 

He  was  the  author  of  many  heroic 
poems,  but  the  one  giving  him  the  most  re- 
nown is  his  famous  "Sheridan's  Ride,'  of 
which  he  has  also  left  a  representation  in 
painting. 

EUGENE  V.  DEBS,  the  former  famous 
president  of  the  American  Railway 
Union,  and  great  labor  leader,  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  in  1855, 
He  received    his   education    in   the    public 


schools  of  that  place  and  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  began  work  as  a  painter  in 
the  Yandalia  shops.  After  this,  for  some 
three  years,  he  was  employed  as  a  loco- 
motive fireman  on  the  same  road.  His 
first  appearance  in  public  life  was  in  his 
canvass  for  the  election  to  the  office  of  city 
clerk  of  Terre  Haute.  In  this  capacity  he 
served  two  terms,  and  when  twenty  six 
yearsof  age  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
legislature  of  the  state  of  Indiana.  While 
a  member  of  that  body  he  secured  the 
passage  of  several  bills  in  the  interest  of 
organized  labor,  of  which  he  was  always 
a  faithful  champion.  Mr.  Debs'  speech 
nominating  Daniel  Voorhees  for  the  United 
Slates  senate  gave  him  a  wide  reputation  for 
oratory.  On  the  expiration  of  his  term  in 
the  legislature,  he  was  elected  grand  secre- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  Brotherhood  of 
Locomotive  Fireman  and  filled  that  office 
for  fourteen  successive  years.  He  was 
always  an  earnest  advocate  of  confederation 
of  railroad  men  ami  it  was  mainly  through 
his  efforts  that  the  United  Order  of  Railway 
Employes,  composed  of  the  Brotherhood 
of  Railway  Trainmen  and  Conducl 
Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Firemen  and 
the  Switchmen's  Mutual  Aid  Association  was 
formed,  and  he  became  a  member  of  its 
supreme  council.  The  order  was  dissolved 
by  disagreement  between  two  of  its  leading 
orders,  and  then  Mr.  Debs  conceived  the 
idea  of  the  American  Railway  Union.  He 
worked  on  the  details  and  the  union  came 
into  existence  in  Chicago,  June  20, 1893.  For 
a  time  it  prospered  and  became  One  of  the 
largest  bodies  of  railway  men  in  the  world. 
It  won  in  a  contest  with  the  Great  Northern 
Railway.  In  the  strike  made  by  the  union 
in  sympathy  with  the  Pullman  employes 
inaugurated  in  Chicago  June  25,  iS'j.4,  and 
the  consequent  rioting,    the    Railway  Uni    n 


COMPENDIUM   OF    B '/<  >G  AM  /' //  )\ 


lost  much  prestige  and  Mr.  Debs,  in  company 

with  others  of  the  officers,  being  heldas  in  con- 
tempt of  the  United  Stat  s  courts,  he  suffered 

a  sentence  of  six  months  in  jail  ;it  W 
stock.  McHenry  count}-,  Illinois.  In 
Mr  Debs,  on  the  demise  of  the  American 
Railway  Union.  organized  the  Social 
Democracy,  an  institution  founded  on  the 
best  lines  of  the  communistic  idea,  which 
>  provide  homes  and  employment  for 
its  members. 


JOHN'  G.  CARLISLE,  famous  as  a  law- 
yer, congressman,  senator  and  cabinet 
officer,  was  born  in  Campbell  i  now  Kenton) 
county,  Kentucky,  September  5,  1835,  on  a 
farm.  He  received  the  usual  education  of 
the  time  and  began  at  an  early  age  to  teach 
school  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  study  of 
iaw.  Soon  opportunity  offered  and  he 
entered  an  office  in  Covington,  Kentucky, 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  bar  in 
Politics  attracted  his  attention  and 
in  1S59  he  was  elected  to  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives in  the  legislature  of  his  native 
state.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  war  in  1861, 
he  embraced  the  cause  of  the  Union  and  was 
largely  instrumental  in  preserving  Kentucky 
to  the  federal  cause.  He  resumed  his  legal 
practice  for  a  time  and  declined  a  nomina- 
tion as  presidential  elector  in  1864.  In 
1866  and  again  in  1869  Mr.  Carlisle  was 
elected  to  the  senate  of  Kentucky.  He  re- 
signed this  position  in  1871  and  was  chosen 
lieutenant  governor  of  the  state,  which  office 
he  held  until  1875.  He  was  one  of  the 
presidential  electors-at- large  f>  >r  Ken- 
tucky in  [876.  He  first  entered  congress  in 
1S77,  and  soon  became  a  prominent  leader 
on  the  Democratic  side  of  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives, and  continued  a  member  of 
that  body  through  the  forty-sixth,  forty- 
seventh,   forty-eighth    and   forty-ninth   con- 


gresses, and  was  speaker  of  the  house  during 
(TO  latter.  He  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate  to  succeed  Senator 
Blackburn,  and  remained  a  member  of  that 
brani  h  of  congress  until  M  93,  when 

he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  treasury. 
He  performed  the  duties  of  that  high  office 
until  March  4,  1897,  throughout  the  en- 
tire second  administration  of  President 
Cleveland.  His  ability  and  many  years  of 
public  service  gave  him  a  national  reputa- 
tion. 


FRANCES  E.  WILLARD,  for  many  years 
president  of  the  'Woman's  Christian 
Temperance  Union,  and  a  noted  American 
lecturer  and  writer,  was  born  in  Rochester, 
New  York,  September  28,  1839.  Graduating 
from  the  Northwestern  Female  College  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  she  began  teaching  and  met 
with  great  success  in  many  cities  of  the  west. 
She  was  made  directress  of  Genesee  Wes- 
leyan  Seminary  at  Lima,  Ohio,  in  1867,  and 
four  years  later  was  elected  president  of  the 
Evanston  College  for  young  ladies,  a  branch 
of  the  Northwestern  University. 

During  the  two  years  succeeding  1869 
she  traveled  extensively  in  Europe  and  the 
east,  visiting  Egypt  and  Palestine,  a  id 
gathering  materials  for  a  valuable  course  of 
lectures,  which  she  delivered  at  Chicago  on 
her  return.  She  became  very  popular,  and 
won  great  influence  in  the  temperance 
cause.  Her  work  as  president  of  the  Wo- 
man's Christian  Temperance  Union  greatly 
strengthened  that  society,  and  she  made 
frequent  trips  to  Europe  in  the  interest  of 
that  cause. 

RICHARD  OLNEY.  —Among  the  promi- 
nt  men  who  were  members  of  the 
cabinet  of  President  Cleveland  in  his  second 
administration,  the  gentleman  whose  nama 


184 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


heads  this  sketch  held  a  leading  place,  oc- 
cupying the  positions  of  attorney  general 
and  secretary  of  state. 

Mr.  Olney  came  from  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  honored  New  England  families; 
the  first  of  his  ancestors  to  come  from  Eng- 
land settled  in  Massachusetts  in  1635.  This 
was  Thomas  Olney.  He  was  a  friend  and 
co-religionist  of  Roger  Williams,  and  when 
the  latter  moved  to  what  is  now  Rhode 
Island,  went  with  him  and  became  one  of 
the  founders  of  Providence  Plantations. 

Richard  Olney  was  born  in  Oxford, 
Massachusetts,  in  1835,  and  received  t he 
elements  of  his  earlier  education  in  the  com- 
mon  schools  which  New  England  isso  proud 
of.  He  entered  Brown  University,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1856,  and  passed  the 
Harvard  law  school  two  years  later.  He 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  with 
judge  B.  F.  Thomas,  a  prominent  man  of 
that  locality.  For  years  Richard  Olney  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 
learned  lawyers  in  Massachusetts.  Twice 
he  was  offered  a  place  on  the  bench  of  the 
supreme  court  of  the  state,  but  both  times 
he  declined.  He  was  always  a  Democrat 
in  his  political  tenets,  and  for  many  years 
was  a  trusted  counsellor  of  members  of  that 
party.  In  1874  Mr.  Olney  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  legislature.  In  [876,  during 
the  heated  presidential  campaign,  to 
strengthen  the  cause  of  Mr.  Tilden  in  the 
New  England  states,  it  was  intimated  that 
m  the  event  of  that  gentleman's  election  to 
the  presidency,  Mr.  Olney  would  be  attor- 
ney general. 

w  nen  Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  presi- 
'••>nt  of  the  United  States,  on  his  inaugura- 
tion in  March,  1893,  he  tendered  the  posi- 
tion of  attorney  general  to  Richard  Olney. 
This  was  accepted,  and  that  gentleman  ful- 
filled the  duties  of  the  office  until  the  death 


of  Walter  Q.  Gresham,  in  May,  1895,  made 
vacant  the  position  of  secretary  of  state. 
This  post  was  filled  by  the  appointment  of 
Mr.  Olney.  While  occupying  the  later 
office,  Mr.  Olney  brought  himself  into  inter- 
national prominence  by  some  very  able  state 
papers. 

JOHN  JAY  KNOX,  for  many  years  comp- 
troller of  the  currency,  and  an  eminent 
financier,  was  born  in  Knoxboro,  Oneida 
county.  New  York,  May  19,  1S2S,  He  re- 
ceived  a  good  education  and  graduated  at 
Hamilton  College  in  1849.  For  about 
thirteen  years  he  was  engaged  as  a  private 
hanker,  or  in  a  position  in  a  bank,  where 
he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  knowledge  of 
the  laws  of  finance.  In  1862,  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  then  secretary  of  the  treasury,  ap- 
pointed him  to  an  office  in  that  department 
of  the  government,  and  later  he  had  charge 
of  the  mint  coinage  correspondence.  In  [867 
Mr.  Knox  was  made  deputy  comptroller 
of  the  currency,  and  in  that  capacity,  in 
1870,  he  made  two  reports  on  the  mint 
service,  with  a  codification  of  the  mint  and 
coinage  laws  of  the  United  States,  and 
suggesting  many  important  amendments 
These  reports  were  ordered  printed  by  reso- 
lution of  congress.  The  bill  which  he  pre- 
pared,  with  some  slight  changes,  was  sub- 
sequently passed,  and  has  been  known  in 
history  as  the  "  Coinage  Act  of  1873." 

In  [872  Mr.  Knox  was  appointed  comp- 
troller of  the  currency,  anil  held  that  re- 
sponsible position  until  1884,  when  he  re- 
signed. He  then  accepted  the  position  of 
president  of  the  National  Bank  of  the  Re- 
public, of  New  York  City,  which  institution 
he  served  for  many  years.  He  was  the 
author  of  "  United  States  Notes,"  published 
in  1884.  In  the  reports  spoken  of  above,  a 
history  of  the  two  United   States    banks  is 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAriir. 


185 


given,  together  with  that  of  the  state  and 
national  banking  system,  and  much  valuable 
statistical  matter  relating  to  kindred  sub- 
jects. 

NATHANIEL  HAWTHORNE.— In  the 
opinion  of  many  critics  Hawthorne  is 
pronounced  the  foremost  American  novelist. 
and  in  his  peculiar  vein  of  romance  is  said 
to  be  without  a  peer.  His  reputation  is 
world-wide,  and  his  ability  as  a  writer  is 
recognized  abroad  as  well  as  at  home. 
He  was  born  July  4,  1S04,  at  Salem,  Massa- 
chusetts. On  account  of  feeble  health  he 
spent  some  years  of  his  boyhood  on  a  (arm 
near  Raymond,  Maine.  He  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  a  liberal  education  in  his  youth, 
and  entered  Bowdoin  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1825  in  the  same  class  with 
H  W  Longfellow  and  John  S.  C.  Abbott. 
He  then  returned  to  Salem,  where  he  gave 
his  attention  to  literature,  publishing  several 
tales  and  other  articles  in  various  periodi- 
cals. His  first  venture  in  the  field  of  ro- 
mance, "  Fanshaw,'  proved  a  failure.  In 
1836  he  removed  to  Boston,  and  became 
editor  of  the  "American  Magazine,"  which 
soon  passed  out  of  existence.  In  1837  he 
published  "  Twice  Told  Tales,"  which  were 
chiefly  made  up  of  his  former  contributions 
to  magazines.  In  1838-41  he  held  a  posi- 
tion in  the  Boston  custom  house,  but  later 
took  part  in  the  "Brook  farm  experiment," 
a  socialistic  idea  after  the  plan  of  Fourier. 
In  1843  he  was  married  and  took  up  his 
nee  at  the  old  parsonage  at  Concord, 
ichusetts,  which  he  immortalized  in 
his  next  work,  "Mosses  From  an  Old 
Manse,"  published  in  1846.  From  the  lat- 
ter date  until  1850  he  was  surveyor  of  the 
port  of  Salem,  and  while  thus  employed 
wrote  one  of  his  strongest  works,  "The 
Scarlet   Letter."     For  the  succeeding  two 

8 


years  Lenox,  Massachusetts,  was  his  home, 
and  the  "  House  of  the  Seven  Gables"  was 
produced  there,  as  well  as  the  "Blitbedale 
Romance."  In  1852  he  published  a  "Life 
of  Franklin  Pierce."  a  college  friend  whom 
he  warmly  regarded.  In  1853  he  was  ap- 
pointed United  States  consul  to  Liverpool, 
England,  where  he  remained  some  years, 
after  which  he  spent  some  time  in  Italy. 
On  returning  to  his  native  land  he  took  up 
his  residence  at  Concord,  Massachusetts. 
While  taking  a  trip  for  his  health  with  ex- 
President  Pierce,  he  died  at  Plymouth,  N<  • 
Hampshire,  May  '.9,  1S64.  In  addition  to 
the  works  mentioned  above  Mr.  Hawthorne 
gave  to  the  world  the  following  books: 
"  True  Stories  from  History,"  "The  Won- 
der Book,"  "  The  Snow  Image,"  "Tangle- 
wood  Tales,"  "The  Marble  Faun,"  and 
' '  Our  Old  Home. "  After  his  death  appeared 
a  series  of  "Notebooks,"  edited  by  his  wife, 
Sophia  P.  Hawthorne;  "  Septimius  Felton, " 
edited  by  his  daughter,  Una,  and  "  Dr. 
Grimshaw's  Secret,"  put  into  shape  by  his 
talented  son,  Julian.  He  left  an  unfinished 
work  called  "  Dolliver  Romance,"  which  has 
been  published  just  as  he  left  it. 


ABRAHAM   LINCOLN,  sixteenth   presi- 
dent   of   the  United    States,  was    born 
February  12,  1809,  in   Larue   county  (11  ar 
din  county),  Kentucky,  in  a  log-cabin   near 
Hudgensville.      When    he   was  eight  years 
old  he  remi  ived  with  his  parents  to  Indiana, 
near  the  Ohio  river,    and   a  year   later  his 
mother  died.     His  father  then  married  Mrs. 
Elizabeth    (Bush)   Johnston,    of    Elizabeth- 
town,   Kentucky,  who  proved  a  kind  ol 
ter-mother    to    Abraham,     and    encoin 
him  to  study.      He  worked  as  a    farm    hand 
and  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  Gentrvville,  and 
was  noted  (or  his  athletic  feats  and  strength, 
fondness    for  debate,    a  fund  of    hum 


186 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


anecdote,  as  well  as  the  composition  of  rude 
verses.  He  made  a  trip  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen to  New  Orleans  on  a  flat-boat,  and  set- 
tled in  Illinois  in  1830.  He  assisted  his 
father  to  build  a  log  house  and  clear  a  farm 
on  the  Sangamon  river  near  Decatur,  Illinois, 
and  split  the  rails  with  which  to  fence  it.  In 
185  1  he  was  employed  in  the  building  of  a 
flat-boat  on  the  Sangamon,  and  to  run  it  to 
New  (  >i  leans.  Tin:  voyage  gave  him  a 
insight  into  the  horrors  of  slavery  in  the 
south.  On  his  return  he  settled  at  New 
Salem  and  engaged,  first  as  a  clerk  in  a  store, 
then  as  grocer,  surveyor  and  postmaster,  and 
he  piloted  the  first  steamboat  that  as- 
cended the  Sangamon.  lie  parti*  ipated  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war  as  captain  oi  volun- 
teers, and  after  his  return  he  studied  law, 
interested  himseli  in  polil 
prominent  locally  as  a  public  He 

lected  to  the  legislature  in    1834 
"  Clay  Whig, "  and  began   at  once   to  dis- 
play a  command  of  language  and    foi 
rhetoric    that    made    him   a  match  for  his 
more    cultured    opponents.       He    was    ad- 

1  t.'  the  bar  in  1857,  and  began  prac- 
tice at  Springfield  He  married  a  lady  of  a 
prominent  Kentucky  family  in  18. 12.  He 
was  active  in  the  presidential  campaigns  of 
1840  and  1844  and  was  an  elector  on  the 
Harrison  and  Clay  tickets,  and  was  elected 
to  congress  in  1846,  over  Peter  Cartwright. 
lb  voted  for  the  Wilmot  proviso  and  the 
abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia, and  opposed  the  war  with  Mexico,  hut 
gained  little  prominence  during  his  two 
years'  service.  He  then  returned  to  Spring- 
field and  devoted  his  attention  to  law,  tak- 
ing little  interest  in  politics,  until  the  repeal 
of  the  Missouri  compromise  and  the  p,i 
of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  in  1^54.  This 
awakened  his  interest  in  politics  again  and 
he  attacked  the  champion  of  that  measure, 


Stephen  A.  Douglas,  in  a  speech  at  Spring- 
field that  made  him  famous,  and  is  said 
by  those  who  heard  it  to  be  the  greatest 
speech  of  his  life.  Lincoln  was  selected  as 
candidate  for  the  United  States  senate,  but 
was  defeated  by  Trumbull.  Upon  the  pas- 
sage of  the  Kansas- Nebraska  bill  the  Whig 
party  suddenly  went  to  pieces,  and  the  Re- 
publican part\-  gathered  head.  At  the 
Bloomington  Republican  convention  in  1856 
Lincoln  made  an  effective  address  in  which 
he  first  took  a  position  antagonistic  to  the  ex- 
istence of  slavery.  He  was  a  Fremont  elector 
and  received  a  strong  support  for  nomina- 
tion as  vice-president  in  the  Philadelphia 
mention.  In  1S58  he  was  the  unanimous 
choice  of  the  Republicans  for  the  United 
States  senate,  and  the  gn  I  campaign  of  de- 
bate whn  h  fi  klli  iwi-d  resulted  111    the  eh'i  I  mn 

of  Douglas,  but  established    Lincoln's  repu- 
tation as  the  leading  exponent  of  Republican 

doctrines.      He  beg. in    to    be   mentioned   in 

Illinois  as  candidate  for  the  presidency,  and 
a  course  of  addresses  in  the  eastern  states 
attracted  favorable  attention.  When  the 
national  convention  met  at  Chicago,  his 
rivals,  Chase,  Seward,  Bates  and  othi 
were  compelled  to  retire  before  the  western 
giant,  and  he  was  nominated,  with  Hannibal 
Hamlin  as  his  running  mate.  The  Demo- 
cratic party  had  now  been  disrupted,  and 
Lincoln's  election  assured.  He  carried 
practically  every  northern  state,  and  the 
secession  of  South  Carolina,  followed  by  a 
number  of  the  gulf  states,  took  place  before 
his  inauguration.  Lincoln  is  the  only  presi- 
dent who  was  ever  compelled  to  reach 
Washington  in  a  secret  manner.  He  es- 
caped assassination  by  avoiding  Baltimore, 
and  was  quietly  inaugurated  March  4,  1861. 
His  inaugural  address  was  firm  but  con- 
ciliatory, and  he  said  to  the  secessionist^: 
"  You  have    no  oath  registered  in  heaven 


com r endium  of  biographt. 


187 


to  destroy  the  government,  while  I  have  tin- 
most  solemn  one  to  preserve,  protect  and 
defend  it.'  He  made  up  his  cabinet  chiefly 
of  those  political  rivals  in  his  own  party— 
Seward,  Chase,  Cameron,  Bates — and  se- 
cured the  co-operation  of  the  l)i  tuglas  Dem- 
ocrats. His  great  deeds,  amidst  the  heat 
and  turmoil  of  war,  were:  His  call  for 
seventy-rive  thousand  volunteers,  and  the 
blockading  of  southern  ports;  calling  of  con- 
gress in  extra  session,  July  14,  1861,  and 
obtaining  four  hundred  thousand  men  and 
four  hundred  million  dollars  for  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war;  appointing  Stanton  secre- 
tary of  war;  issuing  the  emancipation  proc- 
lamation; calling  three  hundred  thou- 
sand volunteers;  address  at  Gettysburg 
cemetery;  commissioned  Grant  as  lieuten- 
ant-general and  commander-in-chief  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  States;  his  second 
inaugural  address;  his  visit  to  the  army  be- 
fore Richmond,  and  his  entry  into  Rich- 
mond the  day  after  its  surrender. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  shot  by  John 
\Yi'kes  Booth  in  a  box  in  Fords  theater 
at  Washington  the  night  of  April  14,  [865, 
and  expired  the  following  morning.  His 
body  was  buried  at  Oak  Ridge  cemetery, 
Springfield,  Illinois,  and  a  monument  com- 
memorating his  great  work  marks  his  resting 
place. 

STEPHEN  GIRARD,  the  celebrated 
philanthropist,  was  born  in  Bordeaux, 
France,  May  24,  1750.  He  became  a  sailor 
engaged  in  the  American  coast  trade,  and 
also  made  frequent  trips  to  the  West  Indies. 
During  the  Revolutionary  war  he  was  a 
grocer  and  liquor  seller  in  Philadelphia. 
He  married  in  that  city,  and  afterward 
separated  from  his  wife.  After  the  war  he 
again  engaged  in  the  coast  and  West  India 
trade,  and  his  fortune  began  to  accumulate 


from  receiving  goods  from  West  Indian 
planters  during  the  insurrection  in  H.tyti, 
little  of  which  was  ever  called  for  again. 
He  became  a  private  banker  in  Philadelphia 
111  181  2,  and  afterward  was  a  director  in  the 
United  Stat*  s  Bank.  He  made  much  money 
by  leasing  property  in  the  city  in  times  of 
depression,  and  upon  the  revival  of  industry 
sub-leasing  at  enormous  profit.  He  became 
the  wealthiest  citizen  of  the  United  States 
of  his  time. 

He  was  eccentric,  ungracious,  and  a 
freethinker.  He  had  few,  if  any,  friends  in 
his  lifetime.  However,  he  was  most  chari- 
tably disposed,  and  gave  to  charitable  in- 
stitutions and  schools  with  a  liberal  hand. 
He  did  more  than  any  one  else  to  relieve 
the  suffering  and  deprivations  during  the 
great  yellow  fever  scourge  in  Philadelphia, 
ing  his  personal  attention  to  the  sick. 
He  endowed  and  made  a  free  institution, 
the  famous  Will's  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary 
of  Philadelphia — one  of  the  largest  institu- 
tions of  its  kind  in  the  world.  At  his  death 
practically  all  his  immense  wealth  was  be- 
queathed to  charitable  institutions,  more 
than  two  millions  of  dollars  going  to  the 
founding  of  Girard  College,  which  was  to 
be  devoted  to  the  education  and  training  of 
boys  between  the  ages  of  six  and  ten  years. 
Large  donations  were  also  made  to  institu- 
tions in  Philadelphia  and  New  Orleans. 
The  principal  building  of  Girard  College  is 
the  most  magnificent  example  of  Greek 
architecture  in  America.  Girard  died  De- 
cember 26,  1 83 1. 


LOUIS  J.  R.  AGASSIZ,  the  eminent  nat- 
uralist and  geologist,  was  born  in  the 
parish  of  Motier,  near  Lake  Neuchatel,  Swit- 
zerland, May  28,  1807,  but  attained  his 
greatest  fame  after  becoming  an  American 
citizen.      He  studied  the  medical  sciences  at 


138 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY 


Zurich,  Heidelberg  and  Munich.  His  first 
work  was  a  Latin  description  of  the  fishes 
which  Martins  and  Spix  brought  from  Brazil. 
This  was  published  in  1 829-3 l  ■  He  devoted 
much  time  to  the  study  of  fossil  fishes,  and 
in  1832  was  appointed  professor  of  natural 
history  at  Neuchatel.  He  greatly  increased 
his  reputation  by  a  great  work  m  French, 
entitled  "  Researches  on  Fossil  Fishes,"  in 
1832-42,  in  which  he  made  many  important 
improvements  in  the  classification  of  fishes. 
Having  passed  many  summers  among  the 
Alps  in  researches  on  glaciers,  he  propounded 
some  new  and  interesting  ideas  on  geology, 
and  the  agency  of  glaciers  in  his  "Studies 
by  the  Glaciers."  This  was  published  in 
1840.  This  latter  work,  with  his  "  System 
of  the  Glaciers,"  published  in  1847,  are 
among  his  principal  works. 

In  1846,  Professor  Agassiz  crossed  the 
ocean  on  a  scientific  excursion  to  the  United 
States,  and  soon  determined  to  remain  here. 
He  accepted,  about  the  beginning  of  1848, 
the  chair  of  zoology  and  geology  at  Harvard, 
He  explored  the  natural  history  of  the 
I'niU'il  States  at  different  times  and  gave  an 
impulse  to  the  study  of  nature  in  this 
country.  In  1865  he  conducted  an  exp<  di- 
tion  to  Brazil,  and  explored  the  lower  Ama- 
zon and  its  tributaries.  In  1868  he  was 
made  non-resident  professor  of  natural  his- 
tory at  Cornell  University.  In  December, 
1S71,  he  accompanied  the  Hassler  expedi- 
tion, under  Professor  Pierce,  to  the  South 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans.  He  died  at 
Cambridge,     Massachusetts,  December    14, 

1873. 

Among  other  of  the  important  works  of 
Professor  Agassiz  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing: "Outlines  of  Comparative  Physi- 
ology," "Journey  to  Brazil,"  and  "Contri- 
butions to  the  Natural  History  of  the  United 
States."       It   is  said  of  Professor  Agassiz, 


that,  perhaps,  with  the  exception  of  Hugh 
Miller,  no  one  had  so  popularized  science  in 
his  day,  or  trained  so  many  young  natural- 
ists. Many  of  the  theories  held  by  Agassiz 
are  not  supported  by  many  of  the  natural- 
ists of  these  later  days,  but  upon  many  of 
the  speculations  into  the  origin  of  species  and 
in  physics  he  has  left  the  marks  of  his  own 
strongly  marked  individuality. 


WILLIAM  WINDOM.— As  a  prominent 
and  leading  lawyer  of  the  great  north- 
west, as  a  member  of  both  houses  of  con- 
gress, and  as  the  secretary  of  the  treasury, 
the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch 
won  for  himself  a  prominent  position  in  the 
history  of  our  country. 

Mr.  Windom  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  Belmont  county.  May  10,  1827. 
He  received  a  good  elementary  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  state,  and  took  up 
the  study  of  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until 
1855.  In  the  latter  year  he  made  up  his 
mind  to  move  further  west,  and  accordingly 
went  to  Minnesota,  and  opening  an  office, 
became  identified  with  the  interests  of  that 
state,  and  the  northwest  generally.  In 
1858  he  took  his  place  in  Hie  Minnesota 
delegation  in  the  national  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, at  Washington,  and  continued 
to  represent  his  constituency  in  that  body 
for  ten  years.  In  1871  Mr.  Windom  was 
elected  United  States  senator  from  Min- 
nesota, and  was  re-elected  to  the  same 
after  fulfilling  the  duties  of  the  position  for 
a  full  term,  in  1876.  On  the  inauguration 
of  President  Garfield,  in  March,  1881,  Mr. 
Windom  became  secretary  of  the  treasury 
in  his  cabinet.  He  resigned  this  office  Oc- 
tober 27,  1 88 1,  and  was  elected  senator 
from  the   North  Star  state    to  fill   the   va- 


UPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHr. 


139 


cancy  caused  by    the  resignation    of  A.    | 
rton.      Mr.     Windom    served    in  that 
chamber  until  March,   i  i 

William    Windom    died    in     New    \ 
City  January  29,   i8< 


DON"  M.  DICKINSON,  an  American 
politician  and  lawyer,  was  born  in 
Port  Ontario,  Ne  \  Y  >rk,  January  17,  1S46. 
He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Michigan 
when  he  was  but  two  years  old.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Detroit 
and  at  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann 
Arbor,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one.  In  1S72  he  was  made 
secretary  of  the  Democratic  state  central 
committee  of  Michigan,  and  his  able  man- 
agement of  the  campaign  gave  him  a  prom- 
inent place  in  the  councils  of  his  party.  In 
1876,  during  the  Tilden  campaign,  he  acted 
as  chairman  of  the  state  central  committee. 
He  was  afterward  chosen  to  represent  his 
state  in  the  Democratic  national  committee, 
and  in  1SS6  he  was  appointed  postmaster- 
general  by  President  Cleveland.  After  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  returned 
to  Detroit  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law. 
In  the  presidential  campaign  of  1S96,  Mr. 
Dickinson  adhered  to  the  "gold  wing  "of 
the  Democracy,  and  his  influence  was  felt 
in  the  national  canvass,  and  especially  in 
his  own  state. 


business  ability  and  foresight,  and  soon  he 
was  investing  capital  in  furs  which  he  took 
I  L  ndon  and  suld  at  a  great  profit.  He 
next  settled  ;it  New  York,  and  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  the  fur  trade.  He  exp 
furs  to  Europe  in  his  own  vessels,  which  re- 
turned  with  cargoes  of  foreign  commodities, 
and  thus  he  rapidly  amassed  an  immense 
fortune.  In  1S11  he  founded  Astoria  on 
the  western  coast  of  North  America,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river,  as  a  depot 
for  the  fur  trade,  for  the  promotion  of 
which  he  sent  a  number  of  expeditions  to 
the  Pacific  ocean.  He  also  purchased  a 
large  amount  of  real  estate  in  New  York, 
the  value  of  which  increased  enormously 
All  through  life  his  business  ventures  were 
1  a  series  of  marvelous  successes,  and  he 
ranked  as  one  of  the  most  sagacious  and 
successful  business  men  in  the  world.  He 
c'iea  March  29,  1848,  leaving  a  fortune  es- 
timated at  over  twenty  million  dollars  to 
his  children,  who  have  since  increased  it. 
John  Jacob  Astor  left  $400,000  to  found  a 
public  library  in  New  York  City,  and  his  son, 
William  B.  Astor,  who  died  in  1875,  left 
$300,000  to  add  to  his  father's  bequest. 
This  is  known  as  the  Astor  Library,  one  of 
the  largest  in  the  United  States. 


JOHN  JACOB  ASTOR,  the  founder  of 
J  the  Astor  family  and  fortunes,  while  not 
a  native  of  this  country,  was  one  of  the 
most  noted  men  of  his  time,  and  as  all  his 
wealth  and  fame  were  acquired  here,  he 
may  well  be  classed  among  America's  great 
men.  He  was  born  near  Heidelberg,  Ger- 
many, July  17,  [763,  and  when  twenty 
years  old  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
Even  p.t  that   age   he  exhibited  remarkable 


SCHUYLER  COLFAX,  an  eminent 
American  statesman,  was  born  in  New 
Y'ork  City,  March  23,  1S23,  being  a  grand- 
son of  General  William  Colfax,  the  com- 
mander of  Washington's  life-guards.  In 
1836  he  removed  with  his  mother,  who  was 
then  a  widow,  to  Indiana,  settling  at  South 
Bend.  Y'oung  Schuyler  studied  law,  and 
in  1845  became  editor  of  the  "St.  Joseph 
Valley  Register,"  a  Whig  paper  published 
at  South  Bend.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
convention  which  formed  a  new  constitu- 
]  tion    for  Indiana  in  1850,  and   he  opposed 


140 


COMPENDIUM  OF  BIOGRAPHY. 


the  clause  that  prohibited  colored  men 
from  settling  in  that  state.  In  1851  he  was 
defeated  as  the  Whig  candidate  for  congress 
but  was  elected  in  1S54,  and,  being  repeat- 
edly re-elected,  continued  to  represent  that 
district  in  congress  until  1869.  He  became 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential 
members  of  the  house  of  representatives, 
and  served  three  terms  as  speaker.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  was  an  active  participant 
in  all  public  measures  of  importance,  ami 
was  a  confidential  friend  and  adviser  of 
President  Lincoln.  In  May,  1868,  Mr. 
was  nominated  for  vice-president  on 
the   ticket    with    General    Grant,    and   was 

ti  d.      After  the  close  of  his  term   he 
tired  from  office,  ami    for   the   remainder  of 
his  life  devoted  much  of  Ins  time  to  1.  dur- 
ing and   literary   pursuits.      His   death 
curred    January  23,   1SS5.      11  e  of 

the  most  promini  nl  t  the   Inde- 

pendent Order  of  Odd   Fellows  in  America, 
and  cted  a  bi  I   tue   ti  1 

his  mi  n  i>   Park.  Indian; 

lis     Indiana,    which   was    unveiled    in    May, 
[887. 

WILLIAM  FREEMAN  VILAS,  who  at- 
tained a  natii  mal  reputation  as  an  able 
lawyer,  statesman,  and  cabinet  officer,  « 
born  at  Chelsea,  Vermont,  July  9,  1840. 
His  parents  removed  to  Wisconsin  wl 
our  subject  was  but  eleven  years  of  a: 
and  there  with  the  early  settlers  endured  all 
the  hardships  and  trials  incident  to  pioneer 
life.  William  F.  Vilas  was  given  all  the 
advantages  found  in  the  common  schools, 
and  supplemented  this  by  a  course  of  study 
in  the  Wisconsin  State  University,  after 
which  he  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  began  practicing  at  Madison. 
Shortly  afterward  the  Civil  war  broke  out 
and  Mr.  Vilas  enlisted   and  became   colonel 


of  the  Twenty-third  regiment  of  Wisconsin 
Volunteers,  serving  throughout  the  war  with 
distinction.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  re- 
turned lo  Wisconsin,  resumed  his  law  prac- 
tice, and  rapidly  rose  to  eminence  in  this 
profession.  In  1 SS 5  he  was  selected  by 
President  Cleveland  for  postmaster-general 
and  at  the  close  of  his  term  again  returned 
to  Madison,  Wisconsin,  to  resume  the  prac- 
tice of  law. 

THOMAS  McINTYRE  COOLKV,  an  em- 
inent American  jurist  and  law  wri 
was  born  in  Attica,  New  York,  [anuary  6, 
[824.  I  le  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1846, 
and  four  years  later  was  appointed  reporter 
if  the  supreme  court  of  Michigan,  which 
offii  hold   for  seven  years. 

In  the  meantime,  in   [859,  he   became   pro- 
t  the  law  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity  of  Michigan,  and  soon   afterward    • 

of   the  [acuity  of  that  depart- 
ment.     In    1864  he  wa  ■  of 
the  supreme  court  of  Michigan,  in  [867  be- 
came   chief    justice    of    that    court,  and    in 
0    was  t               d    for  a    term    of    eighl 
In  1  ss  1  he  again  joined  the  faculty 
of  the  University  of  Michigan,  assuming  I 
professorship            istitutional  and  adminis- 
trative law.      His  works  on  these  branches 
have   become    standard,    and    he    is  rec<  > 
d  as  authority  on   this  and    related   sub- 
I'l'oii  thi                e  of  the    inter-state 
commerce  law  in  18S7  he  became  chairman 
of  the  commission  and  served  in  that  capac- 
ity four  years. 


JOHN  PETER  ALTGELD,  a  noted 
American  politician  and  writer  on  social 
questions,  was  born  in  Germany,  De< 
30,  1847.  He  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  and  settled  in  Ohio  when  two  years 
old.      In  1  864  he  entered  the  Union  army 


UPEXDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


1  II 


and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  after 
which  he  settled  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  lb- 
lected  judj^e  of  the  superior  court  of 
.  count\,  Illinois,  in  1886.  in  which 
capacity  he  served  until  elected  j; 
Illinois  in  [892,  as  a  Democrat.  During 
the  first  year  of  his  term  as  governor  he  at- 
tracted national  attention  by  his  pardon  of 
the  anarchists  convicted  of  the  Haymarket 
murder  in  Chicago,  and  again  in  1894  by 
his  denunciation  of  President  Cleveland  for 
calling  out  federal  troops  to  suppress  the 
rioting  in  connection  with  the  great  Pull- 
man strike  i:i  Chicago.  At  the  national 
convention  of  the  Democratic  party  in  Chi- 
in  July,  1896,  he  is  said  to  have  in- 
spired the  clause  in  the  platform  denuncia- 
tory of  interference  by  federal  authorities  in 
local  affa  rs.  and  "government  by  injunc- 
tion." H  :>ernatorial  candidate  for 
re-electi'  n  or.  the  Democratic  ticket  in  1896, 
b  it  w  s  defeated  by  John  R.  Tanner,  Re- 
publican. Mr.  Altgeld  published  two  vol- 
umes of  essays  on  "  Live  Questions,"  evinc- 
ing nuiical  views  on  social   matters. 


ADLAI  EWING  STEVENSON,  an  Amer- 
ican statesman  and  politician,  was  burn 
in  Christian  county.  Kentucky,  October  23, 
5,  and  removed  with  the  family  to 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  in  1S52.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1858,  and  set- 
tled in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Metamora,  Illinois.  In  1861  he  was 
made  master  in  chancery  of  Woodford 
county.  a>;d  in  1864  was  elected  state's  at- 
torney. In  1868  he  returned  to  Blooming- 
ton  and  f  irmed  a  law  partnership  with 
James  S.  E  ving.  He  had  served  as  a  pres- 
idential elector  in  1 864,  and  in  1808  was 
elected  to  congress  as  a  Democrat,  receiv- 
ing a  majority  vote  from  <•  inty  in  lis 
district.      He     became     prominent     in     his 


part\,  and  was  a    d<  to   the    national 

convention    in    1884.     On   the  election 

•  eland  to  the  presidency  Mr.  Stevenson 
-  appointed  first  assistant  postmaster- 
general.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term 
he  continued  to  exert  a  controlling  influence 
in  the  politics  of  his  state,  and  in  1892  was 
elected  vice-president  of  the  United  States 
on  the  ticket  with  Grover  Cleveland.  At 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  law  at  Bloomington, 
Illinois. 

SIMON  CAMERON,  whose  name  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  history 
of  the  United  States  as  a  political  lea 
and  statesman,  was  born  in  Lancaster  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  March  8,  1799.  He  grew 
to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  receiving 
good  educational  advantages,  and  devel 
ing  a  natural  inclination  for  political  life. 
He  rapidly  rose  in  prominence  and  became 
the  most  influential  Democrat  in  Penns\.'~ 
vania,  and  in  1S45  waselected  by  that  party 
to  the  United  States  senate.  Upon  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party  he  was 
one  of  the  first  to  declare  his  allegiance  to 
it,  and  in  1856  was  re-elected  United  States 
senator  from  Pennsylvania  as  a  Republican. 
In  March,  1S61,  he  was  appointed  secretarv 
of  war  by  President  Lincoln,  and  ser\ 
until  early  in  1862,  when  he  was  sent  as 
minister  to  Russia,  returning  in  1S63.  In 
1866  he  was  a^ain  elected  United  States 
senator  and  served  until  1877,  when  here- 
signed  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Jan 
Donald  Cameron.  He  continued  to  exert  a 
powerful  influence  in  political  affairs  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  June  26,   1  889. 

James  Donald  Cameron  was  the   eld- 
est   son     of     Simon     Cameron,     and     also 
attained    a    h^h    rank    among    Ameri' 
smen.      He   was     born   at    ! ! 


141 


COMPEXDICM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


Pennsylvania,  May  14,  1833,  and  received  an 
excellent  education,  graduating  at  Princeton 
College  in  1S52.  He  rapidly  developed  into 
one  of  the  most  able  and  successful  business 

of  the  country  and  was  largely  inter- 
ested in  and  identified  with  the  develop- 
ment of  the  coal,  iron,  lumber  and  manu- 
facturing interests  of  his  native  state.  He 
served  as  cashier  and  afterward  president  of 
the  Middletownbank,  and  in  1861  was  made 
vice-president,  and  in  1863  president  of 
the  Northern  Central  railroad,  holding  this 

ion  until  [874,  when  he  resigned  and 
was  succeeded  by  Thomas  A.  Scott.  This 
road  was  of  great  service  to  the  government 
during  the  war  as  a  means  of  communica- 
tion between  Pennsylvania  and  the  national 
capital,  via  Baltimore.  Mr.  Cameron  also 
took  an  active  part  in  political  affairs, 
always  as  a  Republican.  In  May,  1876, 
he  was  appointed  secretary  of  war  in  Pres- 
ident Grant's  cabinet,  and  in  1877  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  the  United  States 
senate.  He  was  re-elected  in  1 S S 5 ,  and 
again  in  1891,  serving  until  1S96,  and  was 
recognized  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
influential  members  of  that  body. 


ADOLPHUS  W.  GREELEY,  a  famous 
American  arctic  explorer,  was  born  at 
Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  March  27, 
1844.  He  graduated  from  Brown  High 
School  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  a  year 
later  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Nineteenth 
Massachusetts  Infantry,  and  was  made  first 
sergeant.  In  1863  he  was  promoted  to 
second  lieutenant.  After  the  war  he  was 
assigned  to  the  Eifth  United  States  Cavalry, 
and  became  first  lieutenant  in  1873.  He 
was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  United  States 
signal  service  shortly  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  An  expedition  was  fitted  out  by  the 
United    States    government     in    18S1,    un- 


der auspices  of  the  weather  bureau,  and 
Lieutenant  Greeley  placed  in  command. 
They  set  sail  from  St.  Johns  the  first  week 
in  Jul\-,  and  after  nine  days  landed  in  Green- 
land, where  they  secured  the  services  of  two 
natives,  together  with  sledges,  dogs,  furs 
and  equipment.  They  encountered  an  ice 
pack  early  in  August,  and  on  the  28th  of 
that  month  freezing  weather  set  in.  Two 
of  his  party,  Lieutenant  Lockwood  and  Ser- 
geant Brainard,  added  to  the  known  maps 
about  forty  miles  of  coast  survey,  and 
reached  the  highest  point  yet  attained  by 
man,  eighty-three  degrees  and  twenty-four 
minutes  north,  longitude,  forty-four  degrees 
and  five  minutes  west.  On  their  return  to 
In  Conger,  Lieutenant  Greeley  set  out 
for  the  south  on  August  9,  1883.  He 
reached  Baud  Inlet  twenty  days  later  with 
Ins  entire  party.  Here  they  were  compelled 
to  abandon  their  boats,  and  drifted  on  an 
ice-floe  for  one  month.  They  then  went 
into  camp  at  Cape  Sabine,  where  they  suf- 
fered untold  hardships,  and  eighteen  of  the 
party  succumbed  to  cold  and  hunger,  and 
had   relief   been    delayed    two    days    longer 

le  would  have   been  found   alive.     They 

were  picked  up  by  the  relief  expedition, 
under  Captain  Schley,  June  22,  1SS4.  The 
dead  were  taken  to  New  York  for  burial. 
Many  sensational  stories  were  published 
concerning  the  expedition,  and  Lieutenant 
Greeley  prepared  an  exhaustive  account 
of  his  explorations  and  experiences. 


LEVI  P.  MORTON,  the  millionaire  poli- 
tician, was  born  in  Shoreham,  Ver- 
mont, May  16,  1824,  and  his  early  educa- 
tion consisted  of  the  rudiments  which  he 
obtained  in  the  common  school  up  to  the 
age  of  fourteen,  and  after  that  time  what 
knowledge  he  gained  was  wrested  from  the 
hard  school  of  experience.      He  removed  to 


com ■/• endium  of  nnn, a*.  \riir 


148 


Hanover,  Vermont,  then  Concord,  Vermont, 
and  afterwards  to  Boston.  He  had  worked 
in  a  store  at  Shoreham,  his  native  village, 
and  on  going  to  Hanover  he  established  a 
store  and  went  into  business  for  himself. 
In  Boston  he  clerked  in  a  dry  goods  store, 
and  then  opened  a  business  of  his  own  in 
the  same  line  in  New  York.  After  a  short 
career  he  failed,  and  was  compelled  to  set- 
tle with  his  creditors  at  only  fifty  cents  on 
the  dollar.  He  began  the  struggle  anew, 
and  when  the  war  began  he  established  a 
banking  house  in  New  York,  with  Junius 
Morgan  as  a  partner.  Through  his  firm 
and  connections  the  great  government  war 
loans  were  floated,  and  it  resulted  in  im- 
mense profits  to  his  house.  When  he  was 
again  thoroughly  established  he  invited  his 
former  creditors  to  a  banquet,  and  under 
each  guest's  plate  was  found  a  check  cover- 
ing the  amount  of  loss  sustained  respec- 
tively, with  interest  to  date. 

President  Garfield  appointed  Mr.  Mor- 
ton as  minister  to  France,  after  he  had  de- 
clined the  secretaryship  of  the  navy,  and  in 
1888  he  was  nominated  as  candidate  for 
vice-president,  with  Harrison,  and  elected. 
In  1894  he  was  elected  governor  of  New 
York  over  David  B.  Hill,  and  served  one 
term. 

CHARLES  KENDALL  ADAMS,  one 
of  the  most  talented  and  prominent 
educators  this  country  has  known,  was  born 
January  24,  1835,  at  Derby,  Vermont.  He 
received  an  elementary  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  studied  two  terms  in 
the  Derby  Academy.  Mr.  Adams  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Iowa  in  1856.  He  was 
very  anxious  to  pursue  a  collegiate  course, 
but  this  was  impossible  until  he  had  attained 
the  age  of  twenty-one.  In  the  autumn  of 
1856  he  began  the  study  of  Latin  and  Greek 


at   Denmark   Academy,  and   in    September, 
1857,  lie  was  admitted  to  the  University  of 

Michigan.  Mr.  Adams  was  wholly  depend- 
ent upon  himself  for  the  means  of  his  edu- 
cation. During  his  third  and  fourth  year 
he  became  deeply  interested  in  historical 
studies,  was  assistant  librarian  of  the  uni- 
versity, and  determined  to  pursue  a  post- 
graduate course.  In  1864  he  was  appointed 
instructor  of  history  and  Latin  and  was  ad- 
vanced to  an  assistant  professorship  in  1865, 
and  in  1867,  on  the  resignation  of  Professoi 
White  to  accept  the  presidency  of  Cornell, 
he  was  appointed  to  fill  the  chair  of  profes- 
sor of  history.  This  he  accepted  on  con- 
dition of  his  being  allowed  to  spend  a  year 
for  special  study  in  Germany,  France  and 
Italy.  Mr.  Adams  returned  in  1868,  and 
assumed  the  duties  of  his  professorship. 
He  introduced  the  German  system  for  the 
instruction  of  advanced  history  classes,  and 
his  lectures  were  largely  attended.  In  1 8 S  5 , 
on  the  resignation  of  President  White  at 
Cornell,  he  was  elected  his  successor  and 
held  the  office  for  seven  years,  and  on  Jan- 
uary 17,  1893,  he  was  inaugurated  presi- 
dent of  the  University  of  Wisconsin.  Pres- 
ident Adams  was  prominently  connected 
with  numerous  scientific  and  literary  organ- 
izations and  a  frequent  contributor  to  the 
historical  and  educational  data  in  the  peri- 
odicals and  journals  of  the  country.  He 
was  the  author  of  the  following:  "  Dem- 
ocracy and  Monarchy  in  France,''  "  Manual 
of  Historical  Literature,"  "  A  Plea  for  Sci- 
entific Agriculture,"  "  Higher  Education  in 
Germany.'' 

JOSEPH  B.  FORAKER,  a  prominent  po- 
litical leader  and  ex-governor  of  Ohio, 
was  born  near  Rainsboro,  Highland  county, 
Ohio,  July  5,  1846.  His  parents  operated 
a  small  farm,  with  a  grist  and  sawmill,  hav- 


144 


COMPENDIUM    OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


ing  emigrated  hither  from  Virginia  and 
Delaware  on  account  of  their  distaste  for 
slavery. 

Joseph  was  reared  upon  a  farm  until 
1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighty-ninth 
Ohio  Infantry.  Later  he  was  made  ser- 
geant, and  in  1864  commissioned  first  lieu- 
tenant. The  next  year  he  was  brevetted 
captain.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  was 
mustered  out  of  the  army  after  a  brilliant 
service,  part  of  the  time  being  on  the  staff 
of  General  Slocum.  He  participated  in  the 
battlesof  Missionary  Ridge,  Lookout  Mount- 
ain and  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  in  Sher- 
man's march  to  the  sea. 

For  two  years  subsequent  to  the  war 
young  Foraker  was  studying  at  the  Ohio 
>  .iii  University  at  Delaware,  but  later 
went  to  Cornell  University,  at  Unity,  New 
Yoik,  from  which  he  graduated  July  1, 
1869.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  In  1879  Mr.  Foraker  was  elected 
judge  of  the  superior  court  of  Cincinnati 
and  held  the  office  for  three  years.  In  [883 
he  was  defeated  in  the  contest  for  the  gov- 
ernorship with  Judge  Hoadly.  In  1885, 
however,  being  again  nominated  for  the 
same  office,  he  was  elected  and  served  two 
terms.  In  1889,  in  running  for  governor 
again,  this  time  against  James  E.  Camp- 
bell, he  was  defeated.  Two  years  later  his 
career  in  the  United  States  senate  b< 
Mr.  Foraker  was  always  a  prominent  figure 
at  all  national  meetings  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  a  strong  power,  politically,  in  his 
native  state. 


LYMAN  ABBOTT,  an  eminent  American 
preacher  and  writer  on  religious  sub- 
jects, came  of  a  noted  New  England 
family.  His  father,  Rev.  Jacob  Abbott,  was 
a  prolific  and  popular  writer,  and  his  uncle. 
Rev.    John    S.    C.     Abbott,   was    a    noted 


preacher  and  author.  Lyman  Abbott  was 
born  December  18,  1835,  in  Roxbury, 
Massachusetts.  He  graduated  at  the  New 
York  University,  in  1853,  studied  law,  and 
practiced  for  a  time  at  the  bar,  after  which 
he  studied  theology  with  his  uncle,  Rev. 
John  S.  C.  Abbott,  and  in  i860  was  settled 
in  the  ministry  at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  re- 
maining there  until  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  then  became  connected  with  the 
Freedmen's  Commission,  continuing  this 
until  1868,  whin  he  accepted  the  pastorate 
of  the  New  England  Congregational  church, 
in  New  York  City.  A  few  years  later  he  re- 
signed, to  devote  his  time  principally  to  lit- 
erary pursuits.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
eiht<  d  for  the  American  Tract  Society,  its 
"Illustrated  Christian  Weekly,"  also  the 
New  York  "Christian  Union.''  He  pro- 
duced many  works,  which  had  a  wide  circu- 
lation, among  which  may  be  mentioned  the 
following:  "J  I  Nazareth,  His  Life  and 

I  ichings,  '  "Old  Testament  Shadows  oi 
New  Testament  Truths,"  "Morning  and 
Evening  Exercises,  Selected  from  Writings 
of  Henry  Ward  Beecher,"  "  Laicus,  or  the 
Experiences  of  a  Layman  in  a  Country 
Parish,"  "Popular  Religious  Dictionary," 
and  "Commentaries  on  Matthew,  Mark, 
Luke,  John  and  Acts." 


GEORGE  WILLIAM  CURTIS.— The 
well-known  author,  orator  and  journal- 
ist whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was  born 
at  Providence,  Rhode  Island;  February  24, 
1824.  Having  laid  the  foundation  of  a 
most  excellent  education  in  his  native  land, 
he  went  to  Europe  and  studied  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Berlin.  He  made  an  extensive 
tour  throughout  the  Levant,  from  which  he 
returned  home  in  1850.  At  that  early  age 
literature  became  his  field  of  labor,  and  in 
185 1  he  published  his  first  important  work, 


MPENDIUM   OF    />'/<  >GRA  /'//)'. 


[45 


•■  Nile  Notes  of  a  Howadji."  In  1S52  two 
works  issued  from  his  facile  pen,  "The 
Howadji  in  Syria."  and  "Lotus-Eating." 
Later  on  he  was  the  authur  of  the  well- 
known  ••  Potiphar  Papers,"  "  Prue  and  I." 
and  "Trumps."  He  greatly  distinguished 
himself  throughout  this  land  as  a  lecturer 
on  many  subjects,  and  as  an  orator  had  but 
few  peers.  He  was  also  well  known  as  one 
of  the  most  fluent  speakers  on  the  stump, 
making  many  political  speeches  in  favor  of 
the  Republican  party.  In  recognition  of 
his  valuable  services,  Mr.  Curtis  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Grant,  chairman  of 
the  advisory  board  of  the  civil  service.  Al- 
though a  life-long  Republican,  Mr.  Curtis 
refused  to  support  Blaine  for  the  presidency 
"4.  because  of  his  ideas  on  civil  ser- 
vice and  other  reforms.  For  his  memorable 
and  magnificent  eulogy  on  Wendell  Phillips, 
delivered  in  Boston,  in  1S84,  that  city  pre- 
sented Mr.  Curtis  with  a  gold  medal. 

George  W.  Curtis,  however,  is  best 
known  to  the  reading  public  of  the  United 
States  by  his  connection  with  the  Harper 
Brothers,  having  been  editor  of  the  "  Har- 
per's Weekly."  and  of  the  "Easy  Chair," 
in  "  Harper's  Monthly  Magazine, "for many 
years,  in  fact  retaining  that  position  until 
the  day  of  his  death,  which  occurred  August 
3'.   1892.  

ANDREW  JOHNSON,  the  seventeenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  served 
from  1865  to  1869.  He  was  born  Decem- 
ber 8,  1808,  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina, 
and  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  four  • 
years.  He  never  attended  school,  and  was 
apprenticed  to  a  tailor.  While  serving  his 
apprenticeship  he  suddenly  acquired  a  pas- 
sion for  knowledge,  and  learned  to  read. 
From  that  time  on  he  spent  all  his  spare 
time  in  reading,  and   after  working  for  two 


years  as  a  journeyman  tailor  at  Lauren's 
Court  House,  South  Carolina,  he  removed 
to  Greenville,  Tennessee,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  and  was  married.  Under  his 
wife's  instruction  he  made  rapid  progn 
his  studies  and  manifested  such  an  interest 
in  local  politics  as  to  be  elected  as  "  work- 
ingmen's  candidate  "  alderman  in  1828,  and 
in  1830  to  the  mayoralty,  and  was  twice 
re-elected  to  each  office.  Mr.  Johnson 
utilized  this  time  in  cultivating  his  talents 
as  a  public  speaker,  by  taking  part  in  a  de- 
bating society.  He  was  elected  in  1835  to 
the  lower  house  of  the  legislature,  was  re- 
elected in  1S39  as  a  Democrat,  and  in 
1 841  was  elected  state  senator.  Mr.  John- 
son was  elected  representative  in  congress 
in  iS43and  was  re-elected  four  times  in 
succession  until  1853,  when  he  was  the  suc- 
cessful candidate  for  the  gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  He  was  re-elected  in  1S55 
and  in  1 S 5 7  he  entered  the  United  States 
senate.  In  1S60  he  was  supported  by  the 
Tennessee  delegation  to  the  Democratic 
convention  for  the  presidential  nomination, 
and  lent  his  influence  to  the  Breckinridge 
wing  of  the  party.  At  the  election  of  Lin- 
coln, which  brought  about  the  first  attempt 
at  secession  in  December,  i860,  Mr.  John- 
son took  a  firm  attitude  in  the  senate  for 
the  Union.  He  was  the  leader  of  the  loy- 
alists in  East  Tennessee.  By  the  course 
that  Mr.  Johnson  pursued  in  this  crisis  he 
was  brought  prominently  before  the  north- 
ern people,  and  when,  in  March,  1862,  he 
was  appointed  military  governor  of  Ten- 
nessee with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general, 
he  increased  his  popularity  by  the  vigorous 
manner  in  which  he  labored  to  restore 
order.  In  the  campaign  of  1864  he  was 
elected  vice-president  on  the  ticket  with 
lent  Lincoln,  and  upon  the  assassi- 
nation of  the    latter    he    succeeded    to  the 


146 


compexdii'm  or  biography. 


presidency,  April  15,  1865.  He  retained 
the  cabinet  of  President  Lincoln,  and  at 
first  exhibited  considerable  severity  towards 
the  former  Confederates,  but  he  soon  inau- 
gurated a  policy  of  reconstruction,  pro- 
claimed a  general  amnesty  to  the  late  Con- 
federates, and  established  provisional  gov- 
ernments in  the  southern  states.  These 
states  claimed  representation  in  congress  in 
the  following  December,  and  then  arose  the 
momentous  question  as  to  what  should  be 
the  policy  of  the  victorious  Union  against 
their  late  enemies.  The  Republican  ma- 
jority in  congress  had  an  apprehension  that 
the  President  would  undo  the  results  of  the 
war,  and  consequently  passed  two  bills  over 
the  executive  veto,  and  the  two  highest 
branches  of  the  government  were  in  open 
antagonism.  The  cabinet  was  reconstructed 
in  July,  and  Messrs.  Randall,  Stanbury  and 
Browning  superseded  Messrs.  Denison, 
Speed  and  Harlan.  In  August,  1867,  Pres- 
ident Johnson  removed  the  secretary  of  war 
and  replaced  him  with  General  Grant,  but 
when  congress  met  in  December  it  refused 
to  ratify  the  removal  of  Stanton,  who  re- 
sumed the  functions  of  his  office.  In  1868 
the  president  again  attempted  to  remove 
Stanton,  who  refused  to  vacate  his  post 
and  was  sustained  by  the  senate.  Presi- 
dent Johnson  was  accused  by  congress  of 
high  crimes  and  misdemeanors,  but  the  trial 
resulted  in  his  acquittal.  Later  he  was  Uni- 
ted States  senator  from  Tennessee,  and 
died  July  31,  1875. 


EDMUND  RANDOLPH,  first  attorney- 
general  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
in  Virginia,  August  10,  1753.  His  father, 
John  Randolph,  was  attorney-general  of 
Virginia,  and  lived  and  died  a  royalist.  Ed- 
mund was  educated  in  the  law,  but  joined 
the  army  as  aide-de-camp  to    Washington 


in  1775,  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts.  He 
was  elected  to  the  Virginia  convention  in 
1776,  and  attorney-general  of  the  state  the 
same  year.  In  1779  he  was  elected  to  the 
Continental  congress,  and  served  four  years 
in  that  body.  He  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
vention in  1787  that  framed  the  constitu- 
tion. In  that  convention  he  proposed  what 
was  known  as  the  "  Virginia  plan"  of  con- 
federation, but  it  was  rejected.  He  advo- 
cated the  ratification  of  the  constitution  in 
the  Virginia  convention,  although  he  had  re- 
fused to  sign  it.  He  became  governor  of 
Virginia  in  1788,  and  the  next  year  Wash- 
ington appointed  him  to  the  office  of  at- 
torney-general of  the  United  States  upon 
the  organization  of  the  government  under 
the  constitution.  He  was  appointed  secre- 
tary of  state  to  succeed  Jefferson  during 
Washington's  second  term,  but  resigned  a 
year  later  on  account  of  differences  in  the 
cabinet  concerning  the  policy  pursued  to- 
ward the  new  French  republic.  He  died 
September   12,   181  3. 


W INFIELD  SCOTT  HANCOCK  was 
born  in  Montgomery  count}',  Penn- 
sylvania, February  14,  1824.  He  received 
his  early  education  at  the  Norristown 
Academy,  in  his  native  county,  and,  in  1840, 
was  appointed  a  cadet  in  the  United  States 
Military  Academy,  at  West  Point.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  latter  in  1844,  and  brev- 
etti  !  as  second  lieutenant  of  infantry.  In 
1853  ne  was  made  first  lieutenant,  and  two 
years  'ater  transferred  to  the  quartermaster's 
department,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  and 
in  1863  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major.  He 
served  on  the  frontier,  and  in  the  war  with 
Mexico,  displaying  conspicuous  gallantry  dur- 
ing the  latter.  He  also  took  a  part  in  the 
Seminole  war,  and  in  the  troubles  in  Kan- 
sas, in  1857,  and  in  California,  at   the  out- 


COMTF.X  DllW   OF    />'/<>(,  A'.  I  /'//)'. 


Ill 


break  of  the  Civil  war.  as  chief  quarter- 
master of  the  Southern  district,  he  exerted 
a  powerful  influence.  In  1S61  he  applied 
for  active  duty  in  the  field,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  department  of  Kentucky  as  chief 
quartermaster,  but  before  entering  upon  that 
duty,  was  appointed  brigadier-general  of 
volunteers.  His  subsequent  history  during 
the  war  was  substantially  that  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  He  participated  in  the 
campaign,  under  McClellan,  and  led  the 
gallant  charge,  which  captured  Fort  Magru- 
der,  won  the  day  at  the  battle  of  Wil- 
liamsburg, and  by  services  rendered  at 
Savage's  Station  and  other  engagements, 
won  several  grades  in  the  regular  service, 
and  was  recommended  by  McClellan  for 
major-general  of  volunteers.  He  was  a  con- 
spicuous figure  at  South  Mountain  and  An- 
tietam.  He  was  commissioned  major-gen- 
eral of  volunteers,  November  29.  1862,  and 
made  commander  of  the  First  Division  of 
the  Second  Corps,  which  he  led  at  Fred- 
ricksburg  and  at  Chancellorsville.  He  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Second 
Corps  in  June,  1863,  and  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  July  1,  2  and  3,  of  that  year, 
took  an  important  part.  On  his  arrival  on 
the  field  he  found  part  of  the  forces  then 
in  retreat,  but  stayed  the  retrograde  ' 
movement,  checked  the  enemy,  and  on  the 
following  day  commanded  the  left  center, 
repulsed,  on  the  third,  the  grand  assault  of 
General  Lee's  army,  and  was  se- 
wounded.  For  his  services  on  that  field 
General  Hancock  received  the  thanks  of 
congress.  On  recovering  from  his  wound, 
he  was  detailed  to  go  north  to  stimulate  re- 
cruiting and  fill  up  the  diminished  corps,  and 
was  the  recipient  of  many  public  receptions 
and  ovations.  In  March,  1S64,  he  returned 
to  his  command,  and  in  the  Wilderness  and 
at   Spottsylvania   led  large    bodies  of  men 


successfully  and  conspicuously.  From  that 
on  to  the  close  of  the  campaign  he  was  a 
prominent  figure.  In  November.  1864,  he 
was  detailed  to  organize  the  First  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps,  and  at  the  close  of  hostilities 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Mid- 
dle Military  Division.  In  July,  1 866,  he 
was  made  major-general  of  the  regular 
service.  He  was  at  the  head  of  various 
military  departments  until  1S72,  when  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Atlantic,  which  post  he  held 
until  his  death.  In  1869  he  declined  the 
nomination  for  governor  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic 
party  for  president,  in  1S80,  and  was  de- 
feated by  General  Garfield,  who  had  a  popu- 
lar majority  of  seven  thousand  and  eighteen 
and  an  electoral  majority.of  fifty-nine.  Gen- 
eral Hancock  died  February  9,  1886. 


THOMAS  PAINE,  the  most  noted  polit- 
ical and  deistical  writer  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary period,  was  born  in  England.  Jan- 
uary 29,  1737,  of  Quaker  parents.  His  edu- 
cation waS"obtained  in  the  grammar  schools 
of  Thetford,  his  native  town,  and  supple- 
mented by  hard  private  study  while  working 
at  his  trade  of  stay-maker  at  London  and 
other  cities  of  England.  He  was  for  a  time 
a  dissenting  preacher,  although  he  did  not 
relinquish  his  employment.  He  married  a 
revenue  official's  daughter,  and  was  employed 
in  the  revenue  service  for  some  time.  He 
then  became  a  grocer  and  during  all  this  time 
he  was  reading  and  cultivating  his  literary 
tastes,  and  had  developed  a  clear  and  forci- 
ble style  of  composition.  He  was  chosen  to 
represent  the  interests  of  the  excisemen, 
and  published  a  pamphlet  that  brought 
him  considerable  notice.  He  was  soon  after- 
ward introduced  to  Benjamin  Franklin,  and 
having  been  dismissed  from  the  service  on  a 


148 


coMr/:\/>/r.M  of  biography. 


charge  of  smuggling,  his  resentment  led  him 
to  accept  the  advice  of  that  statesman  to 
come  to  America,  in  1774.  He  became 
editor  of  the  "  Pennsylvania  Magazine,"  and 
the  next  year  published  his  "Serious 
Thoughts  upon  Slavery"  in  the  "Penn- 
sylvania Journal."  His  greatest  political 
work,  however,  was  written  at  the  sugges- 
tion of  Dr.  Rush,  and  entitled  "Common 
Sense."  It  was  the  most  popular  pamphlet 
written  during  the  period  and  he  received 
two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  from  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania  in  recognition  of  its 
value.      His  periodical,  the  "Crisis,"  began 

in    1776,    and    its    distribution    a ng    the 

soldiers  did  a  great  deal  to  keep  up  the  spirit 
of  revolution.  He  was  made  secretary  of 
the  committee  of  foreign  affairs,  but  was  dis- 
missed for  revealing  diplomatic  secrets  in 
one  of  his  controversies  with  Silas  Deane. 
He  was  originator  and  promoter  of  a  sub- 
scription to  relieve  the  distress  of  the  soldiers 
near  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  sent  to 
France  with  Henry  Laurens  to  negotiate  the 
treaty  with  France,  and  was  granted  three 
thousand  dollars  by  congress  for  his  services 
there,  and  an  estate  at  New  Kochelle,  by  tin- 
state  of  New  York. 

In  1787,  after  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  he  went  to  France,  and  a  few 
years  later  published  his  "  Rights  of  Man," 
ding  the  French  revolution,  which 
gave  him  great  popularity  in  France.  He 
was  made  a  citizen  and  elected  to  the  na- 
tional convention  at  Calais.  He  favored 
banishment  of  the  king  to  America,  and 
opposed  his  execution.  He  was  imprisoned 
for  about  ten  months  during  1794  by  the 
Robespierre  party,  during  which  time  he 
wrote  the  "  Age  of  Reason,"  his  great  deis- 
tical  work.  He  was  in  danger  of  the  guillo- 
tine for  several  months.  He  took  up  his 
residence  with  the  family  of  James  Monroe, 


then  minister  to  France  and  was  chosen 
again  to  the  convention.  He  returned 
to  the  United  States  in  1802,  and  was 
cordially  received  throughout  the  coun- 
try except  at  Trenton,  where  he  was  insulted 
by  Federalists.  He  retired  to  his  estate  at 
New  Rochelle,  and  his  death  occurred  June 
s,  1809. 

JOHN  WILLIAM  MAC" KAY  was  one  of 
America's  noted  men,  both  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  western  coast  and  the 
building  of  the  Mackay  and  Bennett  cable. 
He  was  born  in  1831  at  Dublin,  Ireland; 
c.iiiie  to  New  "\"<  -1  k  in  [84O  and  his  boyhood 
days  wire  spent  in  Park  Row.  He  went 
to  California  some  time  after  the  argonauts 
of  [849  and  took  to  the  primitive  methods 
of  mining  —lost  and  won  and  finally  drifted 
into  Nevada  aboul  [860.  The  bonanza  dis- 
coveries which  were  to  have  such  a  potent 
influence  on  the  finance  and  statesmanship 
of  the  da)  came  in  1872.  Mr.  Mackay 
founded  the  Nevada  Hank  in  1S7S.  He  is 
said  to  have  taken  one  hundred  and 
lift}-  million  dollars  in  bullion  out  of 
■In  Big  Bonanza  mine.  There  were  as- 
sociated with  him  in  this  enterprise  James 
G.  Fair,  senator  from  Nevada;  William 
O'Brien  and  James  C.  Flood.  When 
vast  wealth  came  to  Mr.  Mai  kay  he  be- 
lieved  it  his  duty  to  do  his  country  some 
service,  and  b<  agitated  in  his  mind  the 
building  of  an  American  steamship  line, 
and  while  brooding  over  this  his  attention 
was  called  to  the  cable  relations  between 
America  and  Europe.  The  financial  man- 
agement of  the  cable  was  selfish  and  ex- 
travagant, and  the  capital  was  heavy  with 
accretions  of  financial  "  water"  and  to  pay 
even  an  apparent  dividend  upon  the  sums 
which  represented  the  nominal  value  of  the 
cables,  it  was  necessary   to  hold    the    rates 


co.ur endium  <>/■-  BiOGRAPHr, 


149 


at  an  exorbitant  figure.  And,  moreover, 
the  cables  were  foreign;  in  one  the  influence 
of  France  being  paramount  and  in  the  other 
that  of  England;  and  in  the  matter  of  intel- 
ligence, so  necessary  in  case  of  war,  we 
would  be  at  the  mercy  of  our  enemies.  This 
train  of  thought  brought  Mr.  Mackay  into  re- 
lation with  James  Gordon  Bennett,  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  "  New  York  Herald.*'  The 
result  of  their  intercourse  was  that  Mr.  Mac- 
kay so  far  entered  into  the  enthusiasm  of 
Mr.  Bennett  over  an  independent  cable, 
that  he  offered  to  assist  the  enterprise  with 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  was  the 
inception  of  the  Commercial  Cable  Com- 
pany, or  of  what  has  been  known  for  years 
as   the    Mackav-Bennett  cable. 


ELISHA  GRAY,  the  great  inventor  and 
electrician,  was  born  August  2.1- 
at  Barnesville,  Belmont  county,  Ohio.  He 
was.  as  a  child,  greatly  interested  in  the 
phenomena  of  nature,  and  read  with  avidity 
all  the  books  he  could  obtain,  relating  to 
this  subject.  He  was  apprenticed  to  various 
trades  during  his  boyhood,  but  his  insatiable 
thirst  for  knowledge  dominated  his  life  and 
he  found  time  to  study  at  odd  intervals. 
Supporting  himself  by  working  at  his  trade, 
he  found  time  to  pursue  a  course  at  Oberlin 
College,  where  he  particularly  devoted  him- 
self to  the  study  of  physicial  science.  Mr. 
Gray  secured  his  first  patent  for  electrical 
or  telegraph  apparatus  on  October  1,  1S67. 
ttention  was  first  attracted  to  tele- 
phonic transmission  during  this  year  and  he 
saw  in  it  a  way  of  transmitting  signals  for 
telegraph  purposes,  and  conceived  the  idea 
of  electro-tones,  tuned  to  different  tones  in 
the  scale.  He  did  not  then  realize  the  im- 
portance of  his  invention,  his  thoughts  being 
employed  on  the  capacity  of  the  apparatus 
for  transmitting   musical   tones   through  an 


electric  circuit,  and  it  was  not  until 
that  he  was  again  called  to  consider  the  re- 
production of  electrically-transmitted  vibra- 
tions through  the  medium  of  animal  t: 
He  continued  experimenting  with  various 
results,  which  finally  culminated  in  his 
taking  out  a  patent  for  his  speaking  tele- 
phone on  February  14,  1876.  He  took  out 
fifty  additional  patents  in  the  course  of 
eleven  years,  among  which  were,  telegraph 
switch,  telegraph  repeater,  telegraph  annun- 
!  ciator  and  typewriting  telegraph.  From 
1  1869  until  1 S73  he  was  employed  in  the 
manufacture  of  telegraph  apparatus  in  Cleve- 
land and  Chicago,  and  filled  the  office  of 
electrician  to  the  Western  Electric  Com- 
pany. He  was  awarded  the  degree  of  D. 
S. ,  and  in  1S74  he  went  abroad  to  perfect 
himself  in  acoustics.  Mr.  Gray's  latest  in- 
vention was  known  as  the  telautograph  or 
long  distance  writing  machine.  Mr.  Gray 
wrote  and  published  several  works  on  scien- 
tific subjects,  among  which  were:  "Tele- 
graphy and  Teiephony,"  and  "  Experi- 
mental Research  in  Electro-Harmonic  Tele- 
graphy and  Telephony.'' 


AXmiTELAW  REID.— Among  the  many 
V  V  men  who  have  adorned  the  field  of 
journalism  in  the  United  States,  few  stand 
out  with  more  prominence  than  the  scholar, 
author  and  editor  whose  name  heads  this  ar- 
ticle. Born  at  Xenia,  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
October  27,  1837,  he  graduated  at  Miami 
University  in  1856.  For  about  a  year  he 
was  superintendent  of  the  graded  schools  of 
South  Charleston,  Ohio,  after  which  he  pur- 
chased the  ••Xenia  New-,''  which  he  edited 
for  about  two  years.  This  paper  was  the 
first  one  outside  of  Illinois  to  advocate  the 
nomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  Mr.  Reid 
having  been  a  Republican  since  the  birth  of 
that  party  in  1856.      After  taking  an  active 


150 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


part  in  the  campaign,  in  the  winter  of  1860- 
61,  he  went  to  the  state  capital  as  corres- 
pondent of  three  daily  papers.  At  the  close 
of  the  session  of  the  legislature  he  became 
city  editor  of  the  "Cincinnati  Gazette," 
and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  went  to 
the  front  as  a  correspondent  for  that  journal. 
For  a  time  he  served  on  the  staff  of  General 
Morris  in  West  Virginia,  with  the  rank  of 
captain.  Shortly  after  he  was  on  the  staff 
of  General  Rosecrans,  and,  under  the  name 
of  "Agate,"  wrote  most  graphic  descrip- 
tions of  the  movements  in  the  field,  espe- 
cially that  of  the  battle  ol  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing. In  the  spring  of  1862  Mr.  Reid  went 
to  Washington  and  was  appointed  librarian 
to  the  house  of  representatives,  and  acted  as 
correspondent  of  the  "  Cincinnati  Gazette." 
His  description  of  the  battle  ol  Gettysburg, 
written  on  the  field,  gained  him  added 
reputation.  In  1865  he  accompanied  Chief 
Justice  Chase  on  a  southern  tour,  and  pub 
lished  "After  the  War;  a  Southern  Tour." 
During  the  next  two  years  he  was  en. 
in  cotton  planting  in  Louisiana  and  Ala- 
bama, ami  published  "Ohio  in  the  War." 
In  1868  he  returned  to  the  "  Cincinnati  Ga- 
zette," becoming  one  of  its  leading  editors. 
The  same  year  he  accepted  the  invitation  of 
Horace  Greeley  and  became  one  of  the  staff 
on  the  "  New  York  Tribune."  Upon  the 
death  of  Mr.  Greeley  in  1872,  Mr.  Reid  be- 
came editor  and  chief  proprietor  of  that 
paper.  In  1878  he  was  tendered  the  I 
States  mission  to  Berlin,  but  declined.  The 
offer  was  again  made  by  the  Garfield  ad- 
ministration, but  again  he  declined.  In 
1878  he  was  elected  by  the  New  York  legis- 
lature regent  of  the  university,  to  succeed 
General  John  A.  Dix.  Under  the  Harrison 
administration  he  served  as  United  States 
minister  to  France,  and  in  1892  was  the 
Republican  nominee  for  the  vice-presidency 


of  the  United  States.  Among  other  works 
published  by  him  were  the  "  Schools  of 
Journalism,"  "The  Scholar  in  Politics," 
''Some  Newspaper  Tendencies,"  and 
' '  Town-Hall  Suggestions.  " 


GEORGE  WHITEFIELD  was  one  of 
the  most  powerful  and  effective  preach- 
ers the  world  has  ever  produced,  swaying 
his  hearers  and  touching  the  hearts  of  im- 
mense audiences  in  a  manner  that  has  rarely 
been  equalled  and  never  surpassed.  While 
not  a  native  of  America,  yet  much  of  his 
labor  was  spent  in  this  country.  He  wielded 
a  great  influence  in  the  United  States  in 
early  days,  and  his  death  occurred  here;  so 
that  he  well  deserves  a  place  in  this  volume 
as  one  of  the  most  celebrated  men  America 
has  known. 

George  Whiteneld  was  born  in  the  Bull 
Inn,  at  Gloucester,  England,  December  16, 
1714.  lie  acquired  the  rudiments  of  learn- 
ing in  St.  Mary's  grammar  school.  Lab  c 
he  attended  Oxford  University  for  a  time, 
where  he  became  intimate  with  the  Oxford 
Methodists,  and  resolved  to  devote  himself 
to  the  ministry.  He  was  ordained  in  the 
Gloucester  Cathedral  June  20,  1836,  and 
the  following  day  preached  his  first  sermon 
in  the  same  church.  On  that  day  there 
commenced  a  new  era    in    Whi  -    life. 

He  went  to  London  and  began  to  preach  at 
Bishopsgate  church,  his  fame  soon  spread- 
ing over  the  city,  and  shortly  he  was  en- 
gaged four  times  on  a  single  Sunday  in  ad- 
dressing audiences  of  enormous  magnitude, 
and  he  preached  in  various  parts  of  his  native 
country,  the  people  crowding  in  multitudes 
to  hear  him  and  hanging  upon  the  rails  and 
rafters  of  the  churches  and  approaches  there- 
to. He  finally  sailed  for  America,  landing 
in  Georgia,  where  he  stirred  the  people  to 
great  enthusiasm.      During  the  balance  of 


com pendium  of  biography. 


his  life  he  divided  his  time  between  Great 
Britain  and  America,  and  it  is  recorded  that 
he  crossed  the  Atlantic  thirteen  times.  He 
came  to  America  for  the  seventh  time  in 
1770.  He  preached  every  day  at  Hoston 
from  the  17th  to  the  20th  of  September, 
then  traveled  to  Newburvport,  preach- 
ing at  Exeter,  New  Hampshire,  September 
29,  on  the  way.  That  evening  he  went  to 
Xewburyport,  where  he  died  the  next  day, 
Sunday,  September  30,  1770. 

••  Whitefield's  dramatic  power  was  amaz- 
ing, "  says  an  eminent  writer  in  describing 
him.  "  His  voice  was  marvelously  varied, 
ami  he  ever  had  it  at  command — an  organ, 
a  flute,  a  harp,  all  in  one.  His  intellectual 
powers  were  not  of  a  high  order,  but  he  had 
an  abundance  of  that  ready  talent  and  that 
wonderful  magnetism  which  makes  the  pop- 
ular preacher;  and  beyond  all  natural  en- 
dowments, there  was  in  his  ministry  the 
power  of  evangelical  truth,  and,  as  his  con- 
verts believed,  the  presence  of  the  spirit  of 
God."  

CHARLES  FRANCIS  BRUSH,  one  of 
America's  prominent  men  in  the  devel- 
opment of  electrical  science,  was  born  March 
17,  1849,  near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  spent 
his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm.  From 
the  district  school  at  Wickliffe,  Ohio,  he 
passed  to  the  Shaw  Academy  at  Collamer, 
and  then  entered  the  high  school  at  Cleve- 
land. His  interest  in  chemistry,  physics 
and  engineering  was  already  marked,  and 
during  his  senior  year  he  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  chemical  and  physical  appar- 
atus. During  these  years  he  devised  a  plan 
fur  lighting  street  lamps,  constructed  tele- 
scopes, and  his  first  electric  arc  lamp,  also 
an  electric  motor.  In  September,  1867,  he 
entered  the  engineering  department  <>f  the 
University    of    Michigan    and   graduated   in 


1869,  which  was  a  year  in  advance  of  his 
class,  with  the  degree  of  M.  E.  He  then 
returned  to  Cleveland,  and  for  three  years 
was  engaged  as  an  analytical  chemist  and 
for  four  years  in  the  iron  business.  In 
1S75  Mr.  Brush  became  interested  in  elec- 
tric lighting,  and  in  1S76,  after  four  months' 
experimenting,  he  completed  the  dynamo- 
electric  machine  that  has  made  his  name 
famous,  and  in  a  shorter  time  produced  the 
series  arc  lamps.  These  were  both  patent- 
ed in  the  United  States  in  1876,  and  he 
afterward  obtained  fifty  patents  on  his  later 
inventions,  including  the  fundamental  stor- 
age battery,  the  compound  series,  shunt- 
winding  for  dynamo-electric  machines,  and 
the  automatic  cut-out  for  arc  lamps.  His 
patents,  two-thirds  of  which  have  already 
been  profitable,  are  held  by  the  Brush 
Electric  Company,  of  Cleveland,  while  his 
foreign  patents  are  controlled  by  the  Anglo- 
American  Brush  Electric  Light  Company, 
of  London.  In  1S80  the  Western  Reserve 
University  conferred  upon  Mr.  Brush  the 
degree  of  Ph.  D.,  and  in  1881  the  French 
government  decorated  him  as  a  chevalier  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor. 


HENRY  CLEWS,  of  Wall-street  fame, 
was  one  of  the  noted  old-time  opera- 
tors on  that  famous  street,  and  was  also  an 
author  of  some  repute.  Mr.  Clews  was 
born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  August  14, 
1840.  His  father  had  him  educated  with 
the  intention  of  preparing  him  for  the  minis- 
try, but  on  a  visit  to  the  United  States  the 
young  man  became  interested  in  a  business 
life,  and  was  allowed  to  engage  as  a  clerk  in 
the  importing  house  of  Wilson  G.  Hunt  & 
Co.,  of  New  York.  Here  he  learned  the 
irinciplesof  business,  and  when  the  war 
broke  out  in  1S01  young  Clews  saw  in  the 
needs  of  the    government  an    opportunity  to 


154 


COMPENDIUM    OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


reap  a  golden  harvest.  He  identified  him- 
self with  the  negotiating  of  loans  for  the 
government,  and  used  his  powers  of  pur- 
suasion  upon  the  great  money  powers  to 
convince  them  of  the  stability  of  the  govern- 
ment and  the  value  of  its  securities.  By 
enthusiasm  and  patriotic  arguments  he  in- 
duced capitalists  to  invest  their  money  in 
government  securities,  often  against  their 
judgment,  and  his  success  was  remarkable. 
His  was  one  of  the  leading  firms  that  aided 
the  struggling  treasury  department  in  that 
critical  hour,  and  his  reward  was  great.  In 
addition  to  the  vast  wealth  it  brought, 
President  Lincoln  and  Secretary  Chase 
both  wrote  important  letters,  acknowledging 
his  valued  service.  In  1873,  by  the  repu- 
diation of  the  bonded  indebtedness  of  the 
state  of  Georgia,  Mr.  ("lews  lost  six  million 
dollars  which  he  had  invested  in  those  se- 
curities. It  is  said  that  he  is  the  only  man, 
with  one  exception,  in  Wall  street,  who 
ever  regained  great  wealth  after  utter  dis- 
aster. His  "  Twenty-Eight  Years  in  Wall 
Street  "  has  been  widely  read. 


ALFRED  VAIL  was  one  of  the  men  that 
gave  to  the  world  the  electric  telegraph 
and  the  names  of  Henry,  Morse  and  Y.til 
will  forever  remain  linked  as  the  prime  fac- 
tors in  that  great  achievement.  Mr.  Vail 
was  born  September  25,  1807,  at  Morris- 
town,  New  Jersey,  and  was  a  son  of  Stephen 
Vail,  the  proprietor  of  the  Speedwell  Iron 
Works,  near  Morristown.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen,  after  he  had  completed  his  stud- 
ies at  the  Morristown  Academy,  Alfred  Vail 
went  into  the  Speedwell  Iron  Works  and 
contented  himself  with  the  duties  of  his" 
position  until  he  reached  his  majority.  He 
then  determined  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
ministry,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  he 
entered  the  University  oi    the    City  of    New 


York,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1836.  His 
health  becoming  impaired  he  labored  for  a 
time  under  much  uncertainty  as  to  his  future 
course.  Professor  S.  F.  B.  Morse  had  come 
to  the  university  in  1835  as  professor  of  lit- 
erature and  fine  arts,  and  about  this  time, 
r837,  Professor  Gale,  occupying  the  chair 
of  chemistry,  invited  Morse  to  exhibit  his 
apparatus  for  the  benefit  of  the  students. 
On  Saturday,  September  2,  1837,  the  exhi- 
bition took  place  and  Vail  was  asked  to  at- 
tend, and  with  his  inherited  taste  for  me- 
chanics and  knowledge  of  their  construction, 
he  saw  a  great  future  for  the  crude  mechan- 
ism used  by  Morse  in  giving  and  recording 
signals.  Mr.  Vail  interested  his  father  in 
the  invention,  and  Morse  was  invited  to 
Speedwell  and  the  elder  Vail  promised  to 
help  him.  It  was  stipulated  that  Alfred 
Vail  shi  >uld  construct  the  required  apparatus 
and  exhibit  before  a  committee  of  congress 
the  telegraph  instrument,  and  was  to  receive 
a  quarter  interest  in  the  invention.  Morse 
had  devised  a  series  of  ten  numbered  leaden 
types,  which  were  to  be  operated  in  giving 
the  signal.  This  was  not  satisfactory  to 
Vail,  so  he  devised  an  entirely  new  instru- 
ment, involving  a  lever,  or  "point,"  on  a 
radically  different  principle,  which,  when 
tested,  produced  dots  and  dashes,  and  de- 
vised the  famous  dot-and-dash  alphabet, 
misnamed  the  "  Morse."  At  last  the  ma- 
chine was  in  working  order,  on  January  6, 
1838.  The  machine  was  taken  to  Wash- 
ington, where  it  caused  not  only  wonder, 
but  excitement.  Vail  continued  his  experi- 
ments and  devised  the  lever  and  roller. 
When  the  line  between  Baltimore  and 
Washington  was  completed,  Vail  was  sta- 
tioned at  the  Baltimore  end  and  received 
the  famous  first  message.  It  is  a  remarka- 
ble fact  that  not  a  single  feature  of  the 
original  invention  of    Morse,  as  formulated 


WPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


by  his  caveat  and  repeated  in  his  original 
patent,  is  to  be  Found  in  Vail's  apparatus. 
From  [837  to  [844  it  was  a  combination  of 

the  inventions  of  Morse,  Henry  and  Vail, 
but  the  work  of  Morse  fell  gradually  into 
desuetude,  while  Vail's  conception  of  an 
alphabet  has  remained  unchanged  (or  half  a 
century.  Mr.  Vail  published  but  one  work. 
"American  Electro-Magnetic  Telegraph," 
in  1845,  an''  ''"-'^  at  Morristown  at  the  com- 
paratively early  a^e  of  fifty-one,  on  January 
19.    > 

ULYSSES  5.  GRANT,  the  eighteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  April  27,  [822,  at  Point  Pleasant,  Cler- 
mont county,  Ohio.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  entered  the  United  States  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  June,  1S43,  and  was  given  his 
brevet  as  second  lieutenant  and  assigned  to 
the  Fourth  Infantry.  He  remained  in  the 
service  eleven  years,  in  which  time  he 
was  engaged  mi  the  Mexican  war  with  gal- 
lantry, and  was  thrice  brevetted  for  conduct 
in  the  field.  In  1848  he  married  Miss  Julia 
Dent,  and  in  1854,  having  reached  the 
grade  of  captain,  he  resigned  and  engaged 
in  farming  near  St.  Louis.  In  i860  he  en- 
tered the  leather  business  with  his  father  at 
Galena,  Illinois. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  in  1S61, 
he  commenced  to  drill  a  company  at  Ga- 
lena, and  at  the  same  time  offered  his  serv- 
ices to  the  adjutant-general  of  the  army, 
but  he  had  few  influential  friends,  so  re- 
ceived no  answer.  He  was  employed  by 
the  governor  of  Illinois  in  the  organization 
of  the  various  volunteer  regiments,  and  at 
the  end  of  a  few  weeks  was  given  the 
colonelcy  of  the  Twenty-first  Infantry,  from 
that  state.  His  military  training  and  knowl- 
edge soon  attracted  the   attention  of  his  su- 


perior officers,  and  on  reporting  to  General 
Pope  in  Missouri,  the  latter  put  him  in 
the  way  of  advancement.  August  7,  1- 
he  was  promoted  to  the-  rank  of  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers,  and  for  a  few  weeks 
was  occupied  in  watching  the  movements  of 
partisan  forces  in  Missouri.  September  1, 
the  same  war,  he  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  Department  of  Southeast  Missouri, 
with  headquarters  at  Cairo,  and  on  the  6th 
of  the  month,  without  orders,  seized  Padu- 
cah,  which  commanded  the  channel  of  the 
Ohio  and  Tennessee  rivers,  by  which  he  se- 
cured Kentucky  for  the  Union.  He  now 
received  orders  to  make  a  demonstration  on 
Belmont,  which  he  did,  and  with  about  three 
thousand  raw  recruits  held  his  own  against 
the  Confederates  some  seven  thousand 
strong,  bringing  back  about  two  hundred 
prisoners  and  two  guns.  In  February,]  1862, 
he  moved  up  the  Tennessee  river  with 
the  naval  fleet  under  Commodore  Foote. 
The  latter  soon  silenced  Fort  Henry,  and 
Grant  advanced  against  Fort  Donelson  and 
took  their  fortress  and  its  garrison.  His 
prize  here  consisted  of  sixty-five  cannon, 
seventeen  thousand  six  hundred  stand  of 
arms,  and  fourteen  thousand  six  hundred 
ml  twenty-three  prisoners.  This  was  the 
first  important  success  won  by  the  Union 
forces.  Grant  was  immediately  made  a 
major-general  and  placed  in  command  of 
the  district  of  West  Tennessee.  In  April, 
1862,  he  fought  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, and  after  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  by 
the  enemy  Grant  became  commander  of  the 
Department  of  the  Tennessee.  He  now 
made  his  first  demonstration  toward  Vicks- 
burg,  but  owing  to  the  incapacity  of  subor- 
dinate officers,  was  unsuccessful.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1863,  he  took  command  of  all  the 
troops  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  devoted 
several  months  to   the   siege   of   Vicksburg, 


156 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


which  was  finally  taken  possession  of  by  him 
July  4,  with  thirty-one  thousand  six  hundred 
prisoners  and  one  hundred  and  seventy-two 
cannon,  thus  throwing  the  Mississippi  river 
open  to  the  Federals.  He  was  now  raised 
to  the  rank  of  major-general  in  the  regular 
army.  October  following,  at  the  head  of 
the  Department  of  the  Mississippi,  General 
Grant  went  to  Chattanooga,  where  he  over- 
threw the  enemy,  and  united  with  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  The  remarkable  suc- 
cesses achieved  by  him  pointed  Grant  out 
for  an  appropriate  commander  of  all  na- 
tional troops,  and  in  February.  [864,  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-general  was  made  for  him 
by  act  of  congress.  Sending  Sherman  into 
Georgia,  Sigel  into  the  Valley  of  West  Vir- 
ginia and  Butler  to  attempt  the  capture  of 
Richmond  he  fought  his  >vay  through  the 
Wilderness  to  the  James  and  pressed  the 
siege  of  the  capital  of  the  Confederacy. 
After  the  fall  of  the  latter  Grant  pressed 
the  Confederate  army  so  hard  that  their 
commander  surrendered  at  Appomattox 
Court  House,  April  9,  1865.  This  virtually 
ended  the  war. 

After  the  war  the  rank  of  general  was 
conferred  upon  U.  S.  Grant,  and  in  1868  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  United  States, 
and  re-elected  his  own  successor  in  [872. 
After  the  expiration  of  the  latter  term  he 
made  his  famous  tour  of  the  world.  He  died 
at  Mt.  McGregor,  near  Saratoga,  New  York, 
July  23,  1885,  and  was  buried  at  Riverside 
Park,  New  York,  where  a  magnificent  tomb 
has  been  erected  to  hold  the  ashes  of  the 
nation's  hero. 


olutionary  war,  while  he  also  served  from 
the  beginning  of  the  war  until  1779,  where 
he  became  noted  in  the  field  and  courts 
martial.  While  on  detached  service  he  at- 
tended  a  course  of  law  lectures  at  William 
am!  Mary  College,  delivered  by  Mr.  Wythe, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  next  year 
he  resigned  his  commission  and  began  his 
career  as  a  lawyer.  He  was  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  convention  called  in  Virginia 
to  ratify  the  Federal  constitution.  He  was 
tendered  the  attorney-generalship  of  the 
United  States,  and  also  a  place  on  the  su- 
preme bench,  besides  other  places  of  less 
honor,  all  of  which  he  declined.  He 
went  to  France  as  special  envoy  in  1798, 
and  the  next  year  was  elected  to  congress. 
He  served  one  year  and  was  appointed,  first, 
secretary  of  war,  and  then  secretary  of  state, 
Mid  in  iSor  was  made  chief  justice  of  the 
I  'mted  States,  lb-  held  this  high  office  un- 
til his  death,  in  1  S 3 5 . 

Chief  Justice  Marshall's  early  education 
was  neglected,  and  his  opinions,  the  most 
valuable  in  existence,  are  noted  for  depth 
of  wisdom,  clear  and  comprehensive  reason- 
ing, justice,  and  permanency,  rather  than  for 
wide  learning  and  scholarly  construction. 
His  decisions  and  rulings  are  resorted  to 
constantly  by  our  greatest  lawyers,  and  his 
renown  as  a  just  judge  and  profound  jurist 
was  world  wide. 


JOHN  MARSHALL,  the  fourth  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  United  States  supreme  court, 
was  born  in  Germantown,  Virginia,  Septem- 
ber 24,  1755  His  father,  Colonel  Thomas 
Marshall,  served  with  distinction  in  the  Rev- 


t  AWRENCE  BARRETT  is  perhaps 
1— /  known  more  widely  as  a  producer  of 
new  plays  than  as  a  great  actor.  He  was 
born  in  Paterson,  New  Jersey,  in  1838,  and 
educated  himself  as  best  he  could,  and  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  became  salesman 
for  a  Detroit  dry  goods  house.  He  after- 
wards began  to  go  upon  the  stage  as  a 
supernumerary,  and  his  ambition  was  soon 
rewarded  by  the  notice  of  the  management. 


COMI'FXDIFM   OF    BIOGRM'llV. 


157 


During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  a 
soldier,  and  after  valiant  service  for  his 
country  he  returned  to  the  stage.  He  went 
to  Europe  and  appeared  in  Liverpool,  and 
returning  in  1S69,  he  began  playing  at 
Booth's  theater,  with  Mr.  Booth.  He  was 
afterward  associated  with.  John  McCullough 
in  the  management  of  the  California 
theater.  Probably  the  most  noted  period 
of  his  work  was  during  his  connection  with 
Edwin  Booth  as  manager  of  that  great 
actor,  and  supporting  him  upon  the  stage. 
Mr.  Barrett  was  possessed  of  the  crea- 
tive instinct,  and,  unlike  Mr.  Booth,  he 
sought  new  fields  for  the  display  of  his 
genius,  and  only  resorted  to  traditional 
drama  in  response  to  popular  demand.  He 
preferred  new  plays,  and  believed  in  the 
encouragement  of  modern  dramatic  writers, 
and  was  the  only  actor  of  prominence  in  his 
time  that  ventured  to  put  upon  the  stage 
new  American  plays,  which  he  did  at  his 
own  expense,  and  the  success  of  his  experi- 
ments proved  the  quality  of  his  judgment. 
He  died  March  21,  1S91. 


ARCHBISHOP  JOHN"  HUGHES,  a  cel- 
ebrated Catholic  clergyman,  was  born 
at  Annaboghan,  Tyrone  county,  Ireland, 
June  24,  1797,  and  emigrated  to  America 
when  twenty  years  of  age,  engaging  for 
some  time  as  a  gardener  and  nurseryman. 
In  1 8 19  he  entered  St.  Mary's  College, 
where  he  secured  an  education,  paying  his 
way  by  caring  for  the  college  garden.  In 
he  was  ordained  a  deacon  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  church,  and  in  the  same  year, 
a  priest.  Until  1  838  he  had  pastoral  charges 
in  Philadelphia,  where  he  founded  St.  John's 
Asylum  in  1829,  and  a  few  years  later  es- 
tablished the  "Catholic  Herald."  In  1838 
he  was  made  bishop  of  Basileopolis  in  parti- 
bus    and    coadjutor    to    Bishop  Dubois,   of 


New  Y<>rk,  and  in  1842  became  bishop  of 
New  York.  In  1839  he  founded  St.  John's 
College,  at  Fordham.  In  1850  he  was 
made  archbishop  of  New  York.  In  1S61-2 
he  was  a  special  agent  of  the  United  States 
in  Europe,  after  which  he  returned  to  this 
country  and  remained  until  his  death,  Jan- 
uary 3,  1S64.  Archbishop  Hughes  early 
attracted  much  attention  by  his  controver- 
sial correspondence  with  Rev.  John  Breck- 
inridge in  1833  35.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
ability,  a  fluent  and  forceful  writer  and  an 
able  preacher. 

RUTHERFORD  BIRCHARD  HAYES 
was  the  nineteenth  president  of  the 
United  States  and  served  from  1877  to  1881. 
He  was  born  October  4,  1S22,  at  Delaware, 
Ohio,  and  his  ancestry  can  be  traced  back 
as  far  as  12S0.  when  Hayes  and  Rutherford 
were  two  Scottish  chieftans  fighting  side  by 
side  with  Baliol,  William  Wallace  and 
Robert  Bruce.  The  Hayes  family  had  for 
a  coat  of  arms,  a  shield,  barred  and  sur- 
mounted by  a  flying  eagle.  There  was  a 
circle  of  stars  about  the  eagle,  while  on  a 
scroll  underneath  was  their  motto,  "Recte." 
Misfortune  overtook  the  family  and  in  1680 
George  Hayes,  the  progenitor  of  the  Ameri- 
can family,  came  to  Connecticut  and  settled 
at  Windsor.  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  was 
a  very  delicate  child  at  his  birth  and  was 
not  expected  to  live,  but  he  lived  in  spite  of 
all  and  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
seven  years  old,  when  he  was  placed  in 
school.  He  was  a  very  tractablepupil,  being 
always  very  studious,  and  in  1838  entered 
Kenyon  College,  graduating  from  the  same 
in  1842.  He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law 
in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow  at  Colum- 
bus, but  in  a  short  time  he  decided  to  enter 
a  law  school  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts, 
where  for  two  years  he  was  immersed  in  the 


158 


co.vrnxn/cM  of  biography, 


study  of  law.  Mr.  Hayes  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1845  in  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  very 
soon  entered  upon  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession  with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of 
Fremont,  Ohio.  He  remained  there  three 
years,  and  in  1849  removed  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  where  his  ambition  found  a  new- 
stimulus.  Two  events  occurred  at  this 
period  that  had  a  powerful  influence  on  his 
afterlife.  One  was  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  and  the  other  was  his 
introduction  to  a  Cincinnati  literary  club, 
a  body  embracing  such  men  as  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  John  Pope,  and  Edward  F  Noyes. 
In  1856  he  was  nominated  for  judge  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas,  but  declined,  and 
two  years  later  he  was  appointed  city 
solicitor.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion 
Mr.  Hayes  was  appointed  major  of  the 
Twenty-third  Ohio  Infantry,  June  7,  1861, 
and  in  July  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Virginia,  and  October  15,  1861,  saw  him 
proni";.  d  to  the  lieutenant-colonelcy  of  his 

nent.  He  was  made  colonel  of  the 
Seventy-ninth  Ohio  Infantry,  but  refused  to 
leave  his  old  comrades;  and  in  the  battle  of 
South     Mountain   he    was     wounded     very 

rely  and  was  unable  to  rejoin  his  regi- 
ment until  November  30,  1862.  He  had 
been  promoted  to  the  colonelcy  of  the 
regiment  on  October  15,  1862.  In  the 
following  December  he  was  appointed  to 
command  the  Kanawa  division  and  was 
given  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  for 
meritorious  services  in  several  battles,  and 
in  1S64  he  was  brevetted  major-general  for 
distinguished  services  in  1864.  during 
which  campaign  he  was  wounded  several 
times  and  five  horses  had  been  shot  under 
him.  Mr.  Hayes'  first  venture  in  politics 
was  as  a  Whig,  and  later  he  was  one  of  the 
first  to  unite  with  the  Republican  party.  In 
1864  he  was  elected  from  the  Second  Ohio 


district  to  congress,  re-elected  in  1866, 
and  in  1867  was  elected  governor  of  Ohio 
over  Allen  G.  Thurman,  and  was  re-elected 
in  i860.  Mr.  Hayes  was  elected  to  the 
presidency  in  1876,  f< >r  the  term  of  four 
years,  and  at  its  close  retired  to  private  life, 
and  went  to  his  home  in  Fremont,  Ohio, 
where  he  died  on  January  17,   1893. 


WILLIAM  JENNINGS  BRYAN  became 
a  celebrated  character  as  the  nominee 
of  the  Democratic  and  Populist  parties  for 
president  of  the  United  States  in  1S96.  He 
was  born  March  19,  i860,  at  Salem,  Illi- 
nois. Hi  1  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  "f  his  native  county,  and 
later  on  he  attended  the  Whipple  Academy 
at  I  icksonville.  He  also  took  a  course  in 
Illinois  College,  and  after  his  gradi: 
from  the  sun.-  went  to  Chicago  to  study 
law,  and  entered  the  Union  College  of  Law 
tudent.  He  was  associated  with  the 
late  Lyman  Trumbull,  of  Chicago,  during 
his  law  studies,  and  devoted  considerable. 
time  to  the  questions  of  government.  He 
graduated  from  the  college,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  went  to  Jacksonville.  Illinois, 
where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Uliza- 
beth  Baird.  In  1SS7  Mr.  Bryan  removed 
to  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  and  formed  a  law 
partnership  with  Adolphus  R.  Talbot.  He 
entered  the  field  of  politics,  and  in  188S 
\vas  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  state  con- 
vention, which  was  to  choose  delegates  to 
the  national  convention,  during  which  he 
made  a  speech  which  immediately  won  him 
a  high  rank  in  political  affairs.  He  declined, 
in  the  next  state  convention,  a  nomination 
for  lieutenant-governor,  and  in  189c  he  was 
elected  congressman  from  the  First  district 
of  Nebraska,  and  was  the  youngest  member 
of  the  fifty-second  congress.  He  cham- 
pioned  the   Wilson   tariff   bill,    and   served 


\fPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY, 


159 


three  terms  in  the  house  of  represeotal 
He  next  ran  for  senator,  but  was  defeated 
\  J  ihn  M.  Thurston,  and  in  1896  ho  was 
.elected  by  the  Democratic  and  Populist 
parties  as  their  nominee  for  the  presidency, 
being  defeated  by  William  McKinlev. 


Wl 


\R\  IN  HUGHITT,  one  of  America's 
Mious    railroad    men,    was    born    in 

a,  New  York,  and  entered  the  railway 
service  in  1S56  as  superintendent  of  tele- 
graph and  trainmaster  of  the  St.  Louis.  Al- 
ton >N;  Chicago,  now  Chicago  &  Alton  Rail- 
road. Mr.  rlughitt  was  superintendent  of 
the  southern  division  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  from  1862  until  1S64,  and  was, later 
on,  the  general  superintendent  of  the  road 
until  1 S70.  He  was  then  connected  with 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Rail- 
road as  assistant  general  manager,  and  re- 
tained this  position  until  1871,  when  he  be- 
came the  general  manager  of  Pullman's 
Palace  Car  Company.  In  iS/2  he  was  made 
general  superintendent  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railroad.  He  served  during 
and  up  to  1880  as  general  manager, 
and  from  1880  until  1887  as  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager.  He  was  elected 
president  of  the  road  in  1887,  in  recog- 
nition of  his  ability  in  conducting  the 
affairs  of  the  road.  He  was  also  chosen 
oresident  of  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
apolis &  Omaha  Railway ;  the  Fremont,  Elk- 
horn  &  Missouri  Valley  Railroad,  and  the 
Milwaukee, Lake  Shore  &  Western  Railroad, 
ami  his  services  in  these  capacities  stamped 
him  as  one  of  the  most  able  railroad  mana- 
gers of  his  day. 


JOSEPH    Ml  DILL,    one    of    the    most 
eminent   of    American    journalists. 
born   in    New   Brunswick,   Canada,  April  6, 
1823.      In  1831  his  father    moved   to  Stark 


county,  Ohio,  and  until  184 1  Joseph  V 
worked  on  his  father's  farm.  Later  he 
studied  law,  and  began  the  practice  of  that 
profession  in  1846  at  New  Philadelphia, 
Ohio.  But  the  newspaper  field  was  more 
attractive  to  Mr.  Medill,  and  three  years 
later  he  founded  a  free-soil  Whig  paper  at 
Coshocton,  Ohio,  and  after  that  time  jour- 
nalism received  all  his  abilities.  "The 
Leader,"  another  free-soil  Whig  paper,  was 
founded  by  Mr.  Medill  at  Cleveland  in  1852. 
In  that  city  he  also  became  one  of  the  first 
organizers  of  the  Republican  party.  Shortly 
after  that  event  he  removed  to  Chicago  and 
in  1855,  with  two  partners,  he  purchased 
the  "  Chicago  Tribune."  In  the  contest  for 
the  nomination  for  the  presidency  in  i860, 
Mr.  Medill  worked  with  unflagging  zeal  for 
Mr.  Lincoln,  his  warm  personal  friend,  and 
was  one  of  the  president's  stanchest  sup- 
porters during  the  war.  Mr.  Medill  was  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  Constitutional  con- 
vention in  1870.  President  Grant,  in  1871, 
appointed  the  editor  a  member  of  the  fin- 
United  States  civil  service  commission,  and 
the  following  year,  after  the  fire,  he  was 
elected  mayor  of  Chicago  by  a  great  ma- 
jority. During  1873  and  1S74  Mr.  Medill 
spent  a  year  in  Europe.  Upon  his  return 
be  purchased  a  controlling  interest  in  the 
••  Chicago  Tribune." 


CLAUS  SPRECKELS,  the  great  "  sugar 
baron,"  and  one  of  the  most  famous 
representatives  of  commercial  life  in  Amer- 
ica, was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  and 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1840, 
locating  in  New  York.  He  very  soon  be- 
came the  proprietor  of  a  small  retail  gro- 
cery store  on  Church  street,  and  emharked 
on  a  career  that  has  since  astonished  the 
world.  He  sold  out  his  business  and  went 
,  to  California   with   the   argonauts  of    1 


160 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


not  as  a  prospector,  but  as  a  trader,  and  for 
years  after  his  arrival  on  the  coast  he  was 
still  engaged  as  a  grocer.  At  length,  after  a 
quarter  of  a  century  of  fairly  prosperous 
business  life,  he  found  himself  in  a  position 
where  an  ordinary  man  would  have  retired, 
but  Mr.  Spreckles  did  not  retire;  he  had 
merely  been  gathering  capital  for  the  real 
work  of  his  life.  His  brothers  had  followed 
him  to  California,  and  in  combination  with 
them  he  purchased  for  forty  thousand  dollars 
an  interest  in  the  Albany  Brewery  in  San 
Francisco.  But  the  field  was  not  extensive 
enough  for  the  development  of  his  bu 
abilities,  so  Mr.  Sprecklas  branched  out 
extensively  in  the  sugar  business.  He  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  the  entire  output  of 
sugar  that  was  produced  on  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  and  after  1SS5  was  known  as 
the  "Sugar  King  of  Sandwich  Islands." 
He  controlled  absolutely  the  sugar  trade  of 
the  Pacific  coast  which  was  known  to  be 
not  less  than  ten  million  dollars  a  year. 


CHARLES  HENRY  PARKHURST, 
famous  as  a  clergyman,  and  for  many 
years  president  of  the  Society  for  the 
Prevention  of  Crime,  was  born  April  17, 
1842,  at  Framingham,  Massachusetts,  of 
English  descent.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  was  pupil  in  the  grammar  school  at 
Clinton,  Massachusetts,  and  for  the  ensu- 
ing two  years  was  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods 
store,  which  position  he  gave  up  to  prepare 
himself  for  college  at  Lancaster  academy. 
Mr.  Parkhurst  went  to  Amherst  in  1862, 
and  after  taking  a  thorough  course  he  gradu- 
ated in  1866,  and  in  1867  became  the  prin- 
cipal of  the  Amherst  High  School.  He  re- 
tained this  position  until  1870,  when  he 
visited  Germany  with  the  intention  of  tak- 
ing a  course  in  philosophy  and  theology, 
but  was  forced  to  abandon  this  intention  on 


account  of  illness  in  the  family  causing  his 
early  return  from  Europe.  He  accepted  the 
chair  of  Latin  and  Greek  in  Williston  Semi- 
nary, Easthampton,  Massachusetts,  and  re- 
mained there  two  years.  He  then  accom- 
panied his  wife  to  Europe,  and  devoted  two 
years  to  study  in  Halle,  Leipsic  and  Bonn. 
Upon  his  return  home  he  spent  considerable 
time  in  the  study  of  Sanscrit,  and  in  1874 
he  became  the  pastor  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional church  at  Lenox,  Massachusetts.  He 
gained  here  his  reputation  as  a  pulpit  ora- 
tor, and  on  March  9,  1SS0,  he  became  the 
pastor  of  the  Madison  Square  Presbyterian 
church  of  New  York.  He  was,  in  1890, 
made  a  member  of  the  Society  for  the  Pre- 
vention of  Crime,  and  the  same  year  be- 
came its  president.  He  delivered  a  sermon 
in  [892  on  municipal  corruption,  for  which 
lS  brought  before  the  grand  jury,  which 
body  declared  his  charges  to  be  without  suffi- 
cient foundation.  But  the  matter  did  not  end 
here,  for  he  immediately  went  to  work  on  a 
second  sermon  in  which  he  substantiated  his 
former  sermon  and  wound  up  by  saying, 
"I  know,  for  I  have  seen."  He  was  again 
summoned  before  that  august  body,  and  as 
a  result  of  his  testimony  and  of  the  investi- 
gation  of  the  jurors  themselves,  the  police 
authorities  were  charged  with  incompetency 
and  corruption.  Ur.  Parkhurst  was  the 
author  of  the  following  works:  "The  Forms 
of  the  Latin  Verb,  Illustrated  by  Sanscrit," 
"The  Blind  Man's  Creed  and  Other  Ser- 
mons," "The  Pattern  on  the  Mount,"  and 
"  Three  Gates  on  a  Side." 


HENRY  BERGH,  although  a  writer, 
diplomatist  and  government  official, 
was  noted  as  a  philanthropist — the  founder 
of  the  American  Society  for  the  Prevention 
of  Cruelty  to  Animals.  On  his  labors  for 
the    dumb    creation    alone    rests  his   fame. 


CoMPEXDIlM   OF    BIOGR  I /'//): 


161 


Alone,  in  the  face  of  indifference,  opposition 
and  ridicule,  he  began  the  reform  which  is 
now  recognized  as  one  of  the  beneficent 
movements  of  the  age.  Through  his  exer- 
tions as  a  speaker  and  lecturer,  but  above 
all  as  a  bold  worker,  in  the  street,  in  the 
court  room,  before  the  legislature,  the  cause 
he  adopted  gained  friends  and  rapidly  in- 
creased in  power  until  it  has  reached  im- 
mense proportions  and  influence.  The  work 
of  the  society  covers  all  cases  of  cruelty  to 
all  sorts  of  animals,  employs  every  moral 
agency,  social,  legislative  and  personal,  and 
touches  points  of  vital  concern  to  health  as 
well  as  humanity. 

Henry  Ber<;h  was  born  in  New  York 
City  in  1823,  and  was  educated  at  Colum- 
bia College.  In  1863  he  was  made  secre- 
tary of  the  legation  to  Russia  and  also 
served  as  vice-consul  there.  He  also  de- 
voted some  time  to  literary  pursuits  and  was 
the  author  of  "  Love"s  Alternative,"  a 
drama;  "Married  Off,"  a  poem;  "'The 
Portentous  Telegram,"  "The  Ocean  Para- 
gon;" "The  Streets  of  New  York,"  tales 
and  sketches. 


HENRY  BENJAMIN  WHIPPLE,  one 
of  the  most  eminent  of  American  di- 
vines, was  born  in  Adams,  Jefferson  county, 
New  York,  February  15,  1822.  He  was 
brought  up  in  the  mercantile  business,  and 
early  in  life  took  an  active  interest  in  polit- 
ical affairs.  In  1S47  he  became  a  candidate 
for  holy  orders  and  pursued  theological 
studies  with  Rev.  \Y.  D.  Wilson,  D.  D., 
afterward  professor  in  Cornell  University. 
He  was  ordained  deacon  in  1849,  in  Trinity 
church,  Geneva,  New  York,  by  Rt.  Rev. 
W  H.  De  Lancey,  D.  D.,  and  took  charge 
of  Zion  church,  Rome,  New  York,  Decem- 
ber 1.  1849.  In  1850,  our  subject  was  or- 
dained priest    by    Bishop  De    Lancey.      In 


he  became  rector  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Communion,  Chicago.  On  the  30th 
of  June,  1859,  he  was  chosen  bishop  of 
Minnesota,  and  took  charge  of  the  interests 
of  the  Episcopal  church  in  that  state,  being 
located  at  Faribault.  In  i860  Bishop 
Whipple,  with  Revs.  I.  L.  Breck,  S.  W. 
Mauncey  and  E.  S.  Peake,  organized  the 
Bishop  Seabury  Mission,  out  of  which  has 
grown  the  Cathedral  of  Our  Merciful  Savior, 
the  Seabury  Divinity  School,  Shattuck 
School  and  St.  Mary's  Hall,  which  have 
made  Faribault  City  one  of  the  greatest 
educational  centersof  the  northwest.  Bishop 
Whipple  also  became  noted  as  the  friend 
and  defender  of  the  North  American  In- 
dians and  planted  a  number  of  successful 
missions  among  them. 


EZRA  CORNELL  was  one  of  the  greatest 
philanthropists  and  friends  of  education 
the  country  has  known.  He  was  born  at 
Westchester  Landing,  New  York,  January 
ii,  1807.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive state  and  became  a  prominent  figure  in 
business  circles  as  a  successful  and  self-made 
man.  Soon  after  the  invention  of  the  elec- 
tric telegraph,  he  devoted  his  attention  to 
that  enterprise,  and  accumulated  an  im- 
mense fortune.  In  1865,  by  a  gift  of  five 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  he  made  possible 
the  founding  of  Cornell  University,  which 
was  named  in  his  honor.  He  afterward 
made  additional  bequests  amounting  to  many 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  His  death  oc- 
curred at  Ithaca,  New  York,  December  9, 
•874-  

IGNATIUS  DONNELLY,  widely  knowi. 
1  as  an  author  and  politician,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  November  3, 
1 83 1.  He  was  educated  at  the  public 
schools  of  that  city,  and  graduated  from  the 


162 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


Central  High  School  in  1849.  He  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  Judge  B.  H.  Brewster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1852.  In 
the  spring  of  1 S  5 6 ,  Mr.  Donnelly  emigrated 
to  Minnesota,  then  a  new  territory,  and,  at 
Hastings,  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in 
partnership  with  A.  M.  Hayes.  In  1 S 3 7 , 
and  again  in  1858,  he  was  defeated  for  state 
senator,  but  in  1859  he  was  elected  by  the 
Republicans  as  lieutenant-governor,  and  re- 
elected in  1S61.  In  1862  he  was  elected  to 
represent  the  Second  district  of  Minnesota 
in  congress.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  same 
office  in  1864  and  in  1866.  He  was  an 
abolitionist  and  warmly  supported  President 
Lincoln's  administration,  but  was  strongly 
in  favor  of  leniency  toward  the  people  of 
the  south,  after  the  war.  In  mam  ways  he 
was  identified  with  some  of  the  best  meas- 
ures brought  before  the  house  during  his 
presence  there.  In  the  spring  of  1868,  at 
the  request  of  the  Republican  national  com- 
mittee, he  canvassed  New  Hampshire  and 
Connecticut  in  the  interests  of  that  party. 
E.  B.  Washburne  about  this  time  made  an 
attack  on  Donnelly  in  one  of  the  papers  of 
Minnesota,  which  was  replied  to  on  thi 
of  the  house  by  a  fierce  phillipic  that  will 
long  be  remembered.  Through  the  inter- 
vention of  the  Washburne  interests  Mr.  Don- 
nelly failed  of  a  re-election  in  1S70.  In 
1  873  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate  from 
Dakota  county,  and  continuously  re-elected 
until  1878.  In  1SS6  he  was  elected  mem- 
ber of  the  house  for  two  years.  In  later 
years  he  identified  himself  with  the  Popu- 
list party, 

In  1882,  Mr.  Donnelly  became  known  as 
an  author,  publishing  his  first  literary  work, 
"Atlantis,  the  Antediluvian  World,"  which 
passed  through  over  twenty-two  editions  in 
America,  several  in  England,  and  was  trans- 
lated into  French.      This  was  followed  by 


"  Ragnarok,  the  Age  of  Fire  and  Gravel," 
which  attained  nearly  as  much  celebrity  as 
the  first,  and  these  two,  in  the  opinion  of 
scientific  critics,  are  sufficient  to  stamp  the 
author  as  a  most  capable  and  painstaking 
student  of  the  facts  he  has  collated  in  them. 
The  work  by  which  he  gained  the  greatest 
notoriety,  however,  was  "The  Great  Cryp- 
togram, or  Francis  Bacon's  Cipher  in  the 
Shakespeare  Plays."  "Cesar's  Column," 
"  Dr.  Huguet,"  and  other  works  were  pub- 
lished subsequently. 


STEVEN  V.  WHITE,  a  speculator  of 
\\  all  Street  of  national  reputation,  was 
horn  in  Chatham  county,  North  Carolina, 
August  1,  1  s  s  1 .  and  soon  afterward  re- 
moved to  Illinois.  His  home  was  a  log 
cabin,  and  until  his  eighteenth  year  he 
worked  on  the  farm.  Then  after  several 
of  struggle  with  poverty  he  graduated 
from  Knox  College,  and  went  to  St.  Louis, 
where  he  entered  a  wholesale  boot  and  shoe 
house  as  bookkeeper.  He  then  studied  law 
and  v.  is  a  reporter  for  the  "  Missouri 

Democrat."  After  his  admission  to  tin-  bai 
he  went  to  New  York,  in  1865,  and  became 
a  member  of  the  banking  house  of  Marvin 
&  White.  Mr.  White  enjoyed  the  reputa- 
tion of  having  engineered  the  only  corner 
in  Wall  Street  since  Commodore  Vander- 
bilt's  time.  This  was  the  famous  Lacka- 
wanna deal  in  1883,  in  which  he  made  a 
profit  of  two  million  dollars.  He  was  some- 
times called  "  Deacon  "  White,  and,  though 
a  member  for  many  years  of  the  Plymouth 
church,  he  never  held  that  office.  Mr. 
White  was  one  of  the  most  noted  characters 
of  the  street,  and  has  been  called  an  orator, 
poet,  philanthropist,  linguist,  abolitionist, 
astronomer,  schoolmaster,  plowboy,  and 
trapper.  He  was  a  lawyer,  ex-congress- 
man, expert  accountant,  art  critic  and  theo- 


COMPENDIUM   OF    Hid ,h'A  I'll V. 


logian.  He  laid  the  foundation  for  a 
"Home  for  Colored  People,"  in  Chatham 
county,  North  Carolina,  where  the  greater 
part  of  his  father's  life  was  spent,  and  in 
whose  memory  the  work  was  undertaken. 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD,  the  twentieth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was  burn 
November  19,  1831,  in  Cuyahoga  county, 
Ohio,  and  was  the  son  of  Abram  and  Eliza 
(Baliou)  Garfield.  In  1S33  the  father,  an 
industrious  pioneer  farmer,  died,  and  the 
care  of  the  family  devolved  upon  Thomas, 
to  whom  James  became  deeply  indebted  for 
educational  and  other  advantages.  As  James 
grew  up  he  was  industrious  and  worked  on 
the  farm,  at  carpentering,  at  chopping  wood, 
or  anything  else  he  found  to  do,  and  in  the 
meantime  made  the  most  of  his  books. 

Until  he  was  about  sixteen,  James'  high- 
est ambition  was  to  become  a  sea  captain. 
On  attaining  that  age  he  walked  to 
Cleveland,  and,  not  being  able  to  find  work, 
he  engaged  as  a  driver  on  the  Ohio  &  Penn- 
sylvania canal,  but  quit  this  after  a  short 
time.  He  attended  the  seminary  at  Ches- 
ter for  about  three  years,  after  which  he 
entered  Hiram  Institute,  a  school  started  by 
the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  1S50.  In  order 
to  pay  his  way  he  assumed  the  duties  of 
janitor  and  at  times  taught  school.  After 
completing  his  course  at  the  last  named  edu- 
cational institution  he  entered  Williams  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  graduated  in  1856.  He 
afterward  returned  to  Hiram  College  as  its 
president.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1  S 59.  November  11,  1858, 
Mr.  Garfield  and  Lucretia  Rudolph  were 
married. 

In  1839  Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  polit- 
ical speeches,  at  Hiram  and  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  same  year  he  was  elected  to  the 
state  senate. 


On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  in  1  86  f , 
he  became  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Forty 
second  Ohio  Infantry,  and,  while  but  a  ne^ 
soldier,  was  given  command  of  four  regi- 
ments of  infantry  and  eight  companies  of 
cavalry,  with  which  he  drove  the  Confeder- 
ates under  Humphrey  Marshall  out  of  Ken 
tucky.  January  11,  1862,  he  was  commis- 
sioned brigadier-general.  He  participated 
with  General  Buell  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh 
and  the  operations  around  Corinth,  and  was 
then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the  Fitz  John 
Porter  court-martial.  Reporting  to  General 
Rosecrans,  he  was  assigned  to  the  position 
of  chief  of  staff,  and  resigned  his  position, 
with  the  rank  of  major-general,  when  his 
immediate  superior  was  superseded.  Ii> 
the  fall  of  1862  Mr.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
congress  and  remained  in  that  body,  either 
in  the  house  or  senate,  until  1880. 

June  8,  1880,  at  the  national  Republican 
convention,  held  in  Chicago,  General  Gar- 
field was  nominated  for  the  presidency,  and 
was  elected.  He  was  inaugurated  March 
4,  188  1,  but,  July  2,  following,  he  was  shot 
and  fatally  wounded  by  Charles  Guiteau  for 
some  fancied  political  slight,  and  died  Sep- 
tember 19,   1 88 1. 


INCREASE  MATHER  was  one  of  the 
1  most  prominent  preachers,  educators  and 
authors  of  early  times  in  the  New  England 
states.  He  was  born  at  Dorchester.  Massa- 
chusetts, June  21,  1639,  and  was  g'ven  an 
excellent  education,  graduating  at  Harvard 
in  1656,  and  at  Trinity  College,  Duhlin, 
two  years  later.  He  was  ordained  a  min- 
ister, and  preached  in  England  and  America, 
and  in  1664  became  pastor  of  the  North 
church,  in  Boston.  In  16S5  he  became 
president  of  Harvard  University,  serving 
until  1 70 1.  In  1692  he  received  the  first 
doctorate  in   divinity    conferred   in  English 


164 


COMPEXDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


speaking  America.  The  same  year  he  pro- 
cured in  England  a  new  charter  for  Massa- 
chusetts, which  conferred  upon  himself  the 
power  of  naming  the  governor,  lieutenant- 
governor  and  council.  He  opposed  the 
severe  punishment  of  witchcraft,  and  took 
a  prominent  part  in  all  public  affairs  of  his 
day.  He  was  a  prolific  writer,  and  became 
the  author  of  nearly  one  hundred  publica- 
tions, large  and  small.  His  death  occurred 
August  23,  1723,  at  Boston. 


COTTON  MATHER,  a  celebrated  minis- 
ter in  the  "Puritan  times"  of  New 
England,  was  born  at  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, February  12,  1663,  being  a  son  of 
Rev.  Increase  Mather,  and  a  grandson  of 
John  Cotton.  A  biography  of  his  father 
will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
Cotton  Mather  received  his  early  education 
in  his  native  city,  was  trained  by  Ezekiel 
Cheever,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  1678;  became  a  teacher,  and  in  1684 
was  ordained  as  associate  pastor  of  North 
church,  Boston,  with  his  father,  having  by 
persistent  effort  overcome  an  impediment  in 
his  speech.  He  labored  with  great  zeal  as 
a  pastor,  endeavoring  also,  to  establish  the 
ascendancy  of  the  church  and  ministry  in 
civil  affairs,  and  in  the  putting  down  of 
witchcraft  by  legal  sentences,  a  work  in 
which  he  took  an  active  part  anil  through 
which  he  is  best  known  in  history.  He  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  D.  1).  in  17 10,  con- 
ferred by  the  University  of  Glasgow,  and 
F.  R.  S.  in  17 1 3.  His  death  occurred  at 
Boston,  February  13,  1728.  He  was  the 
author  of  many  publications,  among  which 
were  "  Memorable  Providences  Relating  to 
Witchcraft,"  "Wonders  of  the  Invisible 
World,"  "Essays  to  Do  Good,"  "  Mag- 
nalia  Christi  Americana,"  and  "  Illustra- 
tions of  the   Sacred  Scriptures."     Some  of 


these  works  are  quaint  and  curious,  full  of 
learning,  piety  and  prejudice.  A  well- 
known  writer,  in  summing  up  the  life  and 
character  of  Cotton  Mather,  says:  ' '  Mather, 
with  all  the  faults  of  his  early  years,  was  a 
man  of  great  excellence  of  character.  He 
labored  zealously  for  the  benefit  of  the 
poor,  for  mariners,  slaves,  criminals  and 
Indians.  His  cruelty  and  credulity  were 
the  faults  of  his  age,  while  his  philanthro- 
phy  was  far  more  rare  in  that  age  than  in 
the  present. " 

WILLIAM  A.  PEFFER,  who  won  a 
national  reputation  during  the  time 
he  was  in  the  United  States  senate,  was 
born  on  a  farm  in  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  September  10,  1831.  He 
drew  his  education  from  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  state  ami  at  the  age  of  f  fteen 
taught  school  in  winter,  working  on  a  farm 
in  the  summer.  In  June,  1853,  while  yet  a 
young  man,  he  removed  to  Indiana,  and 
opened  up  a  farm  in  St.  Joseph  county. 
In  1859  he  made  his  way  to  Missouri  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Morgan  county,  but  on 
account  of  the  war  and  the  unsettled  state 
of  the  country,  he  moved  to  Illinois  in  Feb- 
ruary,    1862,   and  enlisted   as    a  private  in 

(' pany  F,  Eighty-third   Illinois   Infantry, 

the  following  August.  He  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant  in 
March,  1863,  and  served  successively  as 
quartermaster,  adjutant,  post  adjutant, 
judge  advocate  of  a  military  commission, 
and  depot  quartermaster  in  the  engineer 
department  at  Nashville.  He  was. mustered 
out  of  the  service  June  26,  1865.  He  had, 
during  his  leisure  hours  while  in  the  army, 
studied  law,  and  in  August,  1865,  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  that  profession  at 
Clarksville,  Tennessee.  He  removed  to 
Kansas  in    1870    and    practiced  there  until 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


L65 


1878,  in  the  meantime  establishing  and 
conducting  two  newspapers,  the  "  Fredonia 
Journal  "  and  "  Coffeyville  Journal." 

Mr.  Peffer  was  elected  to  the  state  senate 
in  1S74  and  was  a  prominent  and  influential 
member  of  several  important  committees. 
He  served  as  a  presidential  elector  in  [880. 
The  year  following  he  became  editor  of  the 
••  Kansas  Farmer."  which  he  made  a  promi- 
nent and  useful  paper.  In  1S90  Mr.  Peffer 
was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate  as 
a  member  of  the  People's  party  and  took 
his  seat  March  4,  1S91.  After  six  years  of 
service  Senator  Peffer  was  succeeded  in 
March,  1897,  by  William  A.  Harris. 


ROBERT  MORRIS.— The  name  of  this 
financier,  statesman  and  patriot  is 
closely  connected  with  the  early  history  of 
the  United  States.  He  was  a  native  of 
England,  born  January  20,  1734,  and  came 
to  America  with  his  father  when  thirteen 
years  old.  Until  1754  he  served  in  the 
counting  house  of  Charles  Willing,  then 
formed  a  partnership  with  that  gentleman's 
son,  which  continued  with  great  success  until 
I  }  In  1776  Mr.  Morris  was  a  delegate 

to  the  Continental  congress,  and,  although 
once  voting  against  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, signed  that  paper  on  its  adop- 
tion, and  was  several  times  thereafter  re- 
elected to  congress.  During  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  the  services  of  Robert  Morris 
in  aiding  the  government  during  its  finan- 
cial difficulties  were  of  incalculable  value;  he 
freely  pledged  his  personal  credit  for  sup- 
plies for  the  army,  at  one  time  to  the  amount 
of  about  one  and  a  half  million  dollars,  with- 
out which  the  campaign  of  17S1  would  have 
been  almost  impossible.  Mr.  Morris  was 
appointed  superintendent  of  finance  in  1 7S  i 
and  served  until  17S4,  continuing  to  employ 
his  personal  credit  to  facilitate  the  ne> 


his  department.  He  also  served  as  mem- 
ber of  the  Pennsylvania  legislature,  and 
from  [786  to  1795  was  United  States  sena- 
tor,  declining  meanwhile  the  position  of  sec- 
retary of  the  treasury,  and  suggesting  the 
name  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  that  post.  During  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  Mr.  Morris  was  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  the  China  trade,  and  later  be- 
came involved  in  land  speculations,  which 
ruined  him,  so  that  the  remaining  days  of 
this  noble  man  and  patriot  were  passed 
in  confinement  for  debt.  His  death  occurred 
at  Philadelphia,  May  8,   1806. 


WILLIAM  SHARON,  a  senator  and 
capitalist,  and  mine  owner  of  na- 
tional reputation,  was  born  at  Smithfield, 
Ohio,  January  9,  1821.  He  was  reared 
upon  a  farm  and  in  his  boyhood  given  excel- 
lent educational  advantages  and  in  1842 
entered  Athens  College.  He  remained  in 
that  institution  about  two  years,  after  which 
he  studied  law  with  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  St.  Louis  and 
commenced  practice.  His  health  failing, 
however,  he  abandoned  his  profession  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Carrollton, 
Greene  count)',  Illinois.  During  the  time 
of  the  gold  excitement  of  [849,  Mr.  Sharon 
went  to  California,  whither  so  man)'  went, 
and  engaged  in  business  at  Sacramento. 
The  next  year  he  removed  to  San  Francisco, 
where  he  operated  in  real  estate.  Being 
largely  interested  in  its  silver  mines,  he  re- 
1  to  Nevada,  locating  at  Virginia  City, 
and  acquired  an  immense  fortune.  He  be- 
came one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Bank  of 
California,  and  during  the  troubles  that 
arose  on  tin-  death  of  William  Ralston,  the 
president  of  that  institution,  was  largely  in- 
strumental in  bringing  its  affairs  into  a  satis- 
factory shape. 


166 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHV. 


Mr.  Sharon  was  elected  to  represent  the 
state  of  Nevada  in  the  United  States  senate 
in  1875,  and  remained  a  member  of  that 
body  until  1 88 1 .  He  was  always  distin- 
guished for  close  application  to  business. 
Senator  Sharon  died  November  13,  1885. 


HENRY  W.  SHAW,  an  American  hu- 
morist who  became  celebrated  under 
the  non-de-plume  of  "  Josh  Billings,"  gained 
his  fame  from  the  witticism  of  his  writing, 
and  peculiar  eccentricity  of  style  and  spell- 
ing. He  was  born  at  Lanesborouj;h,  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1818.  For  twenty-five  years 
he  lived  in  different  parts  of  the  western 
states,  following  various  lines  of  business, 
including  fanning  and  auctioneering,  and  in 
the  latter  capacity  settled  at  Poughkeepsie, 
New  York,  in  1858.  In  1863  he  began 
writing  humorous  sketches  for  the  news- 
papers over  the  signature  of  "Josh  I3ill- 
ings,"  and  became  immediately  popular 
both  as  a  writer  and  lecturer.  He  pub- 
lished a  number  of  volumes  of  comic 
sketches  and  edited  an  "  Annual  Allminax  " 
for  a  number  ol  yi  ars,  which  had  a  wide  cir- 
culation. His  death  occurred  October  14, 
1885,  at  Monterey,  California. 


JOHN  M.  THURSTON,  well  known 
throughout  this  country  as  a  senator 
and  political  leader,  was  born  at  Mont- 
pelier,  Vermont,  August  21,  1847,  °f  an 
old  Puritan  family  which  dated  back  their 
ancestry  in  this  country  to  1636,  and  among 
whom  were  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  and 
of  the  war  of  1812-]  5. 

Young  Thurston  was  brought  west  by 
the  family  in  1854,  they  settling  at  Madison, 
Wisconsin,  and  two  years  later  at  Beaver 
Dam,  where  John  M.  received  his  schooling 
in  the  public  schools  and  at  Wayland  Uni- 
versity.     His  father  enlisted  as  a  private  in 


the  First  Wisconsin  Cavalry  and  died  while 
in  the  service,  in  the  spring  of  1863. 

Young  Thurston,  thrown  on  his  own 
resources  while  attaining  an  education,  sup- 
ported himself  by  farm  work,  driving  team 
and  at  other  manual  labor.  He  studied  law 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  May  21,  1869, 
and  in  October  of  the  same  year  located  in 
Omaha,  Nebraska.  He  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  city  council  in  1872,  city 
attorney  in  1874  and  a  member  of  the  Ne- 
braska legislature  in  1874.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  national  convention 
of  1SS4  and  temporary  chairman  of  that  of 
1888.  Taking  quite  an  interest  in  the 
younger  members  of  his  party  he  was  instru- 
mental in  forming  the  Republican  League 
of  the  United  States,  of  which  he  was  presi- 
dent for  two  years.  He  was  then  electt  id  a 
member    of    the   United    States   senate,   in 

5,  to  represent  the  state  of  Nebraska. 

As  an  attorney  John  M.  Thurston  occu- 
pied a  very  prominent  place,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  held  the  position  of  general 
solicitor  of  the  Union  Pacific  railroad  sys- 
tem. 


JOHN  JAMES  AUDUBON,  a  celebrated 
American  naturalist,  was  born  in  Louis- 
iana, May  4,  1780,  and  was  the  son  of  an 
li  naval  officer  who  owned  a 
plantation  in  the  then  French  colony.  In 
his  childhood  he  became  deeply  interested 
in  the  study  of  birds  and  their  habits.  About 
1794  he  was  sent  to  Paris,  France,  where 
he  was  partially  educated,  and  studied  de- 
signing under  the  famous  painter,  Jacques 
Louis  David.  He  returned  to  the  Unit- 
ed States  about  1798,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  his  father  gave  him,  on  the  Perkiomen 
creek  in  eastern  Pennsylvania.  He  mar- 
ried Lucy  Bakewell  in  1808,  and,  disp< 
of  his  property,  removed  to  Louisville,  Ken- 


MPENDIUM   OF    lUiU.RM'HV 


L67 


tacky,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits. About  two  years  later  he  began  to 
make  extensive  excursions  through  the  pri- 
meval forests  of  the  southern  and  south- 
:n  states,  in  the  exploration  of  which 
he  passed  many  years.  He  made  colored 
drawings  of  all  the  species  of  birds  that  he 
found.  For  several  years  he  made  his  home 
with  his  wife  and  children  at  Henderson,  on 
the  Ohio  river.  It  is  said  that  about  this 
time  he  had  failed  in  business  and  was  re- 
duced to  poverty,  but  kept  the  wolf  from  the 
door  by  giving  dancing  lessons  and  in  portrait 
painting.  In  1S24,  at  Philadelphia,  he  met 
Charles  Lucien  Bonaparte,  who  encouraged 
hrm  to  publish  a  work  on  ornithology.  Two 
years  later  he  went  to  England  and  com- 
menced the  publication  of  his  great  work, 
"  The  Birds  of  America."  He  obtained  a 
large  number  of  subscribers  at  one  thousand 
dollars  a  copy.  This  work,  embracing  five 
volumes  of  letterpress  and  five  volumes  of 
beautifully  colored  plates,  was  pronounced 
by  Cuvier  "  the  most  magnificent  monument 
that  art  ever  raised  to  ornithology. " 

Audubon  returned  to  America  in  1829, 
and  explored  the  forests,  lakes  and  coast 
from  Canada  to  Florida,  collecting  material 
for  another  work.  This  was  his  "  Ornitho- 
logical Biography:  or.  An  Account  of  the 
Habits  of  the  Birds  of  the  United  States, 
Etc."  He  revisited  England  in  1S31,  and 
returned  in  1839,  after  which  he  resioed  on 
the  Hudson,  near  New  York  City,  in  which 
place  he  died  January  27.  1S51.  During 
his  life  he  issued  a  cheaper  edition  of  his 
great  work,  and  was,  in  association  with 
Dr.  Bachman,  preparing  a  work  on  the 
quadrupeds  of  North  America. 


the  superior  British  squadron,  under  Com- 
modore Downie,  September  11,  1814.    Coin- 
re  McDonou^h  was  born  in  Newcastle 

county,  Delaware,  December  23,  I  "S3,  and 
when  seventeen  years  old  entered  the 
United  States  navy  as  midshipman,  serving 
in  the  expedition  to  Tripoli,  under  Decatur, 
in  1803  4.  In  1807  he  was  promoted  to 
lieutenant,  and  in  July,  1S13,  was  made  a 
commander.  The  following  year,  on  Lake 
Champlain,  he  gained  the  celebrated  victory 
above  referred  to,  for  which  he  was 
promoted;  also  received  a  gold  medal  from 
congress,  and  from  the  state  of  Vermont  an 
estate  on  Cumberland  Head,  in  view  of  the 
scene  of  the  engagement.  His  death  oc- 
curred at  sea,  November  16,  1825,  while  he 
was  returning  from  the  command  of  the 
Mediterranean  squadron. 


COMMODORE    THOMAS    McDON- 
*  >r<.H  gained  his  principal  fame  from 
he  celebrated  victory  which  he  gained  over 


CHARLES  FRANCIS  HALL,  one  of 
America's  most  celebrated  arctic  ex- 
plorers, was  born  in  Rochester,  New  Hamp- 
shire, in  1821.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  located  in  Cincinnati,  where  later 
he  became  a  journalist.  For  several  years 
he  devoted  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  cal- 
orics. Becoming  interested  in  the  fate  of  the 
explorer,  Sir  John  Franklin,  he  joined  the 
expedition  fitted  out  by  Henry  Grinnell  and 
sailed  in  the  ship  "George  Henry,"  under 
Captain  Buddington,  which  left  New  Lon- 
don, Connecticut,  in  i860.  He  returned  in 
1862,  and  two  years  later  published  his 
■•  Arctic  Researches."  He  again  joined  the 
expedition  fitted  out  by  Mr.  Grinnell,  and 
sailed  in  the  ship,  "  Monticello."  under 
in  Buddington,  this  time  remaining  in 
the  arctic  region  over  four  years.  On  his 
return  he  brought  back  many  evidences  of 
having  found  trace  of  Franklin. 

In  1 87 1  the  "  Polaris  "  was  fitted  out  by 
the  United  States  government,  and  Captain 


168 


COMTENDIlWr   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


Hall  again  sailed  for  the  polar  regions.  He 
died  in  Greenland  in  October,  1 871,  and  the 
"Polaris"  was  finally  abandoned  by  the 
crew,  a  portion  of  which,  under  Captain 
Tyson,  drifted  with  the  icebergs  for  one 
hundred  and  ninety-five  days,  until  picked 
up  by  the  "  Tigress,"  on  the  30th  of  April, 
1873.  The  other  portion  of  the  crew  built 
boats,  and,  after  a  perilous  voyage,  were 
picked  up  in  June,  1873,  by  a  whaling  vessel. 


OLIVER  ELLSWORTH,  the  third  chief 
justice  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
at  Windsor,  Connecticut,  April  29,  1745. 
After  graduating  from  Princeton,  he  took 
up  the  study  of  law,  and  was  licensed 
to  practice  in  1 77 1 .  In  1777  he  was  elected 
as  a  delegate  to  the  Continental  congress. 
He  was  judge  of  the  superior  court  of  his 
state  in  17S4,  and  was  chosen  as  a  delegate 
to  the  constitutional  convention  in  [787. 
He  sided  with  the  Federalists,  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  in  1789,  and 
was  a  firm  supporter  of  Washington's  policy. 
He  won  great  listinction  in  that  body,  and 
was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States  by  Washington 
in  1796.  The  relations  between  this  coun- 
try and  France  having  become  violently 
strained,  he  was  sent  to  Paris  as  envoy  ex- 
traordinary in  [799,  and  was  instrumental 
in  negotiating  the  treaty  that  averted  war. 
He  resigned  the  following  year,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Chief  Justice  Marshall.  His 
death  occurred  November  26,   1S07. 


MELLVILLL  WE 
eminent    Americ 


ESTON  FULLER,  an 
imerican  jurist  and  chief 
justice  of  the  United  States  supreme  court, 
was  born  in  Augusta,  Maine,  in  1S33.  His 
education  was  looked  after  in  boyhood,  and 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  Bowdoin 
College,  and  on  graduation  entered  the  law 


department  of  Harvard  University.  He  then 
entered  the  law  office  of  his  uncle  at  Ban- 
gor, Maine,  and  soon  after  opened  an  office 
for  the  practice  of  law  at  Augusta.  He  was 
an  alderman  from  his  ward,  city  attorney, 
and  editor  of  the  "  Age,"  a  rival  newspaper 
of  the  "Journal,"  which  was  conducted  by 
James  G.  Blaine.  He  soon  decided  to  re- 
move to  Chicago,  then  springing  into  notice 
as  a  western  metropolis.  He  at  once  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  interests  of  the 
new  city,  and  by  this  means  acquired  an 
experience  that  fitted  him  for  his  future 
work.  He  devoted  himself  assiduously  to 
his  profession,  and  had  the  good  fortune  to 
connect  himself  with  the  many  suits  grow- 
ing out  of  the  prorogation  of  the  Illinois 
legislature  in  1863.  It  was  not  long  before 
he  became  one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  in 
Chicago.  He  made  a  three  days'  speech  in 
the  heresy  trial  of  Dr.  Chenej  ,  which  added 
to  his  fame.  He  was  appointed  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  United  States  by  President  Cleve- 
land in  1888,  the  youngest  man  who  ever 
held  that  exalted  position.  His  income  from 
his  practice  had  for  many  years  reached 
thirty  thousand  dollars  annually. 


CHESTER  ALLEN  ARTHUR,  twenty- 
first  president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Vermont,  Octo- 
ber 5,  1830.  He  was  educated  at  Union 
College,  Schenectady,  New  York,  from 
which  he  graduated  with  honor,  and  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school.  After  two  years 
he  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge  E.  D. 
Culver,  of  New  York,  as  a  student..  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  an  old  room-mate,  Henry  D.  Gar- 
diner, with  the  intention  of  practicing  law 
in  the  west,  but  after  a  few  months'  seart  h 
for  a  location,  they  returned  to  New  York 
and  opened  an  office,  and   at  once  entered 


co.)//' /:x />/(.)/  (>/■'  /;/( ><;k. i /•//}-. 


169 


upon  a  profitable  practice.  He  was  shortly 
afterwards  married  to  a  daughter  of  Lieu- 
tenant Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Davy. 
Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  his  nomina- 
tion for  the  vice-presidency.  In  1 856  a 
colored  woman  in  New  York  was  ejected 
from  a  street  car  and  retained  Mr.  Arthur 
in  a  suit  against  the  company,  ami  obtained 
a  verdict  of  five  hundred  dollars.  It  result- 
ed in  a  general  order  by  all  superintendents 
of  street  railways  in  the  city  to  admit  col- 
ored people  to  the  cars. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  first 
Republican  national  convention,  and  was 
appointed  judge-advocate  for  the  Second 
Brigade  of  New  York,  and  then  chief  engi- 
neer of  Governor  Morgan's  staff.  At  the 
close  of  his  term  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
law  in  New  York.  In  [872  he  was  made 
collector  of  the  port  of  New  York,  which 
position  he  held  four  years.  At  the  Chi- 
cago convention  in  1880  Mr.  Arthur  was 
nominated  for  the  vice-presidency  with 
Garfield,  and  after  an  exciting  campaign 
was  elected.  Four  months  after  the  inau- 
guration President  Garfield  was  assassinated, 
and  Mr.  Arthur  was  called  to  take  the  reins 
of  government.  His  administration  of 
affairs  was  generally  satisfactory.  At  its 
close  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  New 
York.  His  death  occurred  November  iS, 
1886. 

ISAAC  HULL  was  one  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous and  prominent  naval  officers  in 
the  early  history  of  America.  He  was  born 
at  Derby,  Connecticut,  March  9,  1775,  be- 
ing the  son  of  a  Revolutionary  officer.  Isaac 
Hull  early  in  life  became  a  mariner,  and 
when  nineteen  years  of  age  became  master 
of  a  merchant  ship  in  the  London  trade. 
In  1  798  he  became  a  lieutenant  in  the  United 

States  navv,  and  three  years  later  was  made 
io 


first  lieutenant  of  the  frigate  "Constitution." 
He  distinguished  himself  by  skill  and  valor 
against  the  French  on  the  coast  of  Hayti,  and 
served  with  distinction  in  the  Barbary  expe- 
ditions. July  12.  [812,  he  sailed  from 
Annapolis,  in  command  of  the  "Constitu- 
tion," and  for  three  days  was  pursued  by  a 
British  squadron  of  five  ships,  from  which 
he  escaped  by  bold  and  ingenious  seaman- 
ship. In  August  of  the  same  year  he  cap- 
tured the  frigate  "  Guerriere,"  one  of  his 
late  pursuers  and  for  this,  the  first  naval 
advantage  of  that  war,  he  received  a  gold 
medal  from  congress.  Isaac  Hull  was  later 
made  naval  commissioner  and  had  command 
of  various  navy  yards.  His  death  occurred 
February  13,  1843,  at  Philadelphia. 


MARCUS  ALONZO  HANNA,  famous 
as  a  prominent  business  man,  political 
manager  and  senator,  was  born  in  New  Lis- 
bon, Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  September 
24,  1837.  He  removed  with  his  father's 
family  to  Cleveland,  in  the  same  state,  in 
1852,  and  in  the  latter  citv,  and  in  the 
Western  Reserve  College,  at  Hudson,  Ohio, 
received  his  education.  He  became  an  em- 
ploye of  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of 
Hanna,  Garrettson  &  Co.,  his  father  being 
the  senior  member  of  the  firm.  The  latter 
died  in  1862,  and  Marcus  represented  his 
interest  until  1867,  when  the  business  was 
closed  up. 

Our  subject  then  became  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Rhodes  &  Co.,  engaged  in  the 
iron  and  coal  business,  but  at  the  expira- 
tion of  ten  years  this  firm  was  changed  to 
that  of  M.  A.  Hanna  &  Co.  Mr.  Hanna 
was  long  identified  with  the  lake  carrying 
business,  being  interested  in  vessels  on  the 
lakes  and  in  the  construction  of  them.  As 
a  director  of  the  Globe  Ship  Manufacturing 
Company,    of    Cleveland,    president   of  the 


170 


COMPENDIUM  OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


Union  National  Bank, of  Cleveland, president 
of  the  Cleveland  City  Railway  Company, 
and  president  of  the  Chapin  Mining  Com- 
pany, oi  Lake  Superior,  he  became  promi- 
nently identiried  with  the  business  world. 
He  was  one  of  the  government  directors  of 
the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  being  appointed 
to  that  position  in  1885  by  President  Cleve- 
land. 

Mr.  Hanna  was  a  delegate  to  the  na- 
tional Republican  convention  of  1SX4,  which 
was  his  first  appearance  in  the  political 
world.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  con- 
ventions oi  (888  and  1896,  and  was  elect- 
ed chairman  of  the  Republican  national 
committee  the  latter  year,  and  practically 
managed  the  campaign  of  William  Mc Kin- 
ley  for  the  presidency  In  [897  Mr.  Hanna 
appointed  senator  by  Governor  Bush- 
nell,  of  Ohio,  to  till  the  vacancy  caused  by 
tin   resignation  of  John  Sherman. 


GEORGE  PEABODY  was  one  of  the 
best  known  and  esteemed  of  all  philan- 
thropists, whose  munificent  gifts  to  Ameri- 
can institutions  have  proven  oi  so  much 
benefit  to  tlie  cause  of  humanity.  He  was 
born  February  18,  1795,  at  South  Danvers, 
Massachusetts,  which  is  now  called  I 
body  in  honor  of  him.       Hi    1  but  a 

meager  education,  and  during  his  early  life 
he  was  a  mercantile  clerk  at  Thetford,  Vi  r- 
mont,  and  Newburyport,  Massachusetts.  In 
[814  he  became  a  partner  with  1 
Ri.^gs,  at  Georgetown,  District  of  Columbia, 
and  in  1  S  1 5  they  moved  to  Baltimore,  Mary- 
Ian  I.  The  business  grew  to  great  propor- 
tion's, and  they  opened  branch  houses  at 
New  York  and  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Peabody 
made  several  voyages  to  Europe  of  com- 
mercial" importance,  and  in  1829  became  the 
head  of  the  firm,  which  was  then  called 
Peabody,  Riggs  &  Co.,  and  in  1838   he  re- 


moved to  London,  England.  He  retired 
from  the  firm,  and  established  the  cele- 
brated banking  house,  in  which  he  accumu- 
lated a  large  fortune.  He  aided  Mr.  Grin- 
nell  in  fitting  out  Dr.  Kane's  Arctic  expedi- 
tion, in  1852,  and  founded  in  the  same  year 
the  Peabody  Institute,  in  his  native  town, 
which  he  afterwards  endowed  with  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Peabody  visited 
the  United  States  in  1857,  and  gave  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars  for  the  establish- 
ment at  Baltimore  of  an  institute  of  science, 
literature  and  fine  arts.  In  1862  he  gave 
two  million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars 
for  the  erecting  of  lodging  houses  for  the 
poor  in  London,  and  on  another  visit  to  the 
lulled  States  he  gave  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  to  establish  at  Harvard  a 
museum  and  professorship  of  American 
archaeology  and  ethnology,  an  equal  sum  for 
the  endow  iik  nt  of  a  department  of  physical 
seience  at  Yale,  and  gave  the  "Southern 
Educational  Fund"  two  million  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  besides  devoting  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  to  various  objects  of 
public  utility.  Mr,  Peabody  made  a  final 
visit  to  the  United  States  in  1869,  and  on 
this  occasion  he  raised  the  endowment  of 
the  Baltimore  Institute  one  million  dollars, 
created  the  Peabody  Museum,  at  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  with  a  fund  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  gave  sixty  thou- 
sand dollars  to  Washington  College,  Vir- 
ginia; fifty  thousand  dollars  for  a  "Peabody 
Museum,"  at  North  Danvers,  thirty  thousand 
dollars  to  Phillips  Academy,  Andover;  twen- 
ty-five thousand  dollars  to  Kenyan  College, 
Ohio,  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  to  the 
Maryland  Historical  Society.  Mr.  Peabody 
also    endowed    an    art  school  at  Rome,   in 

1868.  He   died   in   London,  November  4, 

1869,  less   then  a  month    after   he  had    re- 
turned   from    the    United    States,    and    his 


MPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


171 


remains  were  brought  to  the  United  States 
and  interred  in  his  native  town.  He  made 
several  other  bequests  in  his  will,  and  left 
his  family  about  five  million  dollars. 


wi 


Dillsburgh 


ATTHEW  S.  QUAY,  a  celebrated 
public  man  and  senator,  was  born  at 
York  county,  Pennsylvania, 
September  30,  1833,  of  an  old  Scotch-Irish 
family,  some  of  whom  bad  settled  in  the 
Keystone  state  in  1715.  Matthew  received 
a  good  education,  graduating  from  the  Jef- 
(erson  College  at  Canonsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
at  the  age  of  seventeen.  He  then  traveled, 
taught  school,  lectured,  and  studied  law 
under  Judge  Sterrett.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1854,  was  appointed  a  prothon- 
otary  in  1855  and  elected  to  the  same 
office  in  1856  and  1 S 59.  Later  he  was 
made  lieutenant  of  the  Pennsylvania  Re 
serves,  lieutenant-colonel  and  assistant  com- 
missary-general of  the  state,  private  secre- 
tary of  the  famous  war  governor  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Andrew  G.  Curtin,  colonel  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth  Pennsylva- 
nia Infantry  (nine  months  men),  military 
state  agent  and  held  other  offices  at  different 
times. 

Mr.  Quay  was  a  member  of  the  house  of 
representatives  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania 
from  1865  to  1868.  He  filled  the  office  of 
secretary  of  the  commonwealth  from  1872 
to  1878,  and  the  position  of  delegate-at- 
large  to  the  Republican  national  conventions 
of  1X72.  1  871  ■.  l^SoandiSSS.  He  was  the 
editor  of  the  •■Beaver  Radical"  and  the 
"  Philadelphia  Record  "  for  a  time,  and  held 
many  offices  in  the  state  conventions  and  on 
their  committees.  He  was  elected  secre- 
tary of  the  commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania, 
1869,  and  served  three  years,  and  in  1885 
was  chosen  state  treasurer.  In  1886  his 
great    abilities    pointed    him    out    as    the 


natural  candidate  for  United  States  senator, 
and  he  was  accordingly  elected  to  that  posi- 
tion and  re-elected  thereto  in  1892.  He 
was  always  noted  for  a  genius  for  organiza- 
tion, and  as  a  political  leader  had  but  few 
peers.  Cool,  serene,  far-seem:,',  resourceful, 
holding  his  impulses  and  forces  in  hand,  he 
never  quailed  from  any  policy  he  ado; 
and  carried  to  success  most,  if  not  all,  of 
the  political  campaigns  in  which  he  took 
part. 

JAMES  K.  JONES,  a  noted  senator  and 
political  leader,  attained  national  fame 
while  chairman  of  the  national  executive 
committee  of  the  Democratic  party  in  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1896.  He  was  a 
native  of  Marshall  county,  Mississippi,  and 
was  born  September  29,  1839.  His  father, 
a  well-to-do  planter.settled  in  Dallas  county, 
Arkansas,  in  1848,  and  there  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  received  a  careful  education. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  served  as  a  private 
soldier  in  the  Confederate  army.  From 
1866  to  1873  he  passed  a  quiet  life  as  a 
planter,  but  in  the  latter  year  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
About  the  same  time  he  was  elected  to  the 
Arkansas  senate  and  re-elected  in  1S74.  In 
1877  he  was  made  president  of  the  senate 
and  the  following  year  was  unsuccessful  in 
obtaining  a  nomination  as  member  of  con- 
gress. In  1880  he  was  elected  representa- 
tive and  his  ability  at  once  placed  him  in  a 
foremost  position.  He  was  re-elected  to 
congress  in  1882  and  in  1S84,  and  served  as 
an  influential  member  on  the  committee  of 
ways  and  means.  March  4,  1885,  Mr.  Jones 
took  his  seat  in  the  United  States  senate  to 
succeed  James  D.  Walker,  and  was  after- 
ward re-elected  to  the  same  office.  In  this 
branch  of  the  national  legislature  his  capa- 
bilities had  a   wider  scope,  and  he  was  rec- 


172 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


ognized  as  one   of  the  ablest  leaders  of  his 
party. 

On  the  nomination  of  William  J.  Bryan 
as  its  candidate  for  the  presidency  by  the 
national  convention  of  the  Democratic 
party,  held  in  Chicago  in  1896,  Mr.  Jones 
was  made  chairman  of  the  national  com- 
mittee. 

THEODORE  THOM AS,  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  musical  directors  America 
has  known,  was  born  in  the  kingdom  of  Han- 
over in  1835,  and  received  his  musicai  educa- 
tion from  his  father.  He  was  a  very  apt  scholar 
and  played  the  violin  at  public  concerts  at 
the  age  of  six  years.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  America  in  1845,  and  joined  the 
orchestra  of  the  Italian  Opera  in  New  York 
City.  He  played  the  first  violin  in  the 
orchestra  which  accompanied  Jenny  I. ml 
in  lnr  first  American  concert.  In  [861  Mr. 
Tin unas  established  the  orchestra  that  be- 
came famous  under  his  management,  and 
gave  his  first  symphony  concerts  in  New 
York  in  1864.  He  began  his  first  "summer 
night  concerts"  in  the  same  city  in  1868, 
and  in  1869  he  started  on  his  first  tour  of 
the  principal  cities  in  the  United  States, 
which  he  made  every  year  for  many  years. 
He  was  director  of  the  College  of  Music  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  but  resigned  in  1880,  after 
having  held  the  position  for  three  years. 

Later  he  organized  one  of  the  greatest 
and  most  successful  orchestras  ever  brought 
together  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  was 
very  prominent  in  musical  affairs  during  the 
World's  Columbian  Exposition,  thereby  add- 
ing greatly  to  his  fame. 


father  invented  a  reaping  machine.  It  was 
a  rude  contrivance  and  not  successful.  In 
1 83 1  Cyrus  made  his  invention  of  a  reaping 
machine,  and  had  it  patented  three  years 
later.  By  successive  improvements  he  was 
able  to  keep  his  machines  at  the  head  of 
its  class  during  his  life.  In  [845  he  removed 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  two  years  later 
located  in  Chicago,  where  he  amassed  a 
great  fortune  in  manufacturing  reapers  and 
harvesting  machinery.  In  1859  he  estab- 
lished the  Theological  Seminary  of  the 
Northwest  at  Chicago,  an  institution  for  pre- 
paring  young  men  for  the  ministry  in  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  he  afterward  en- 
dowed  a  chair  in  the  \\  ashington  and  Lee 
College  at  Lexington,  Virginia.  He  mani- 
fested  great  interest  in  educational  and  re- 
ligious matters,  and  by  his  great  wealth  he 
was  able  to  extend  aid  and  encouragement 
to  many  charitable  causes.  His  death  oc- 
curred May   1  3,    1  884. 


CYRUS  HALL  McCORMICK.  the  fa- 
mous inventor  and  manufacturer,  was 
born  at  Walnut  Grove,  Virginia,  February 
15,1 809.     When  he  was  seven  years  old  his 


DAVID  ROSS  LOCKE.— Under  the 
pen  name  of  Petroleum  V.  Nasby,  this 
well-known  humorist  and  writer  made  for 
himself  a  household  reputation,  and  estab- 
lished a  school  that  has  many  imitators. 

The  subject  of  this  article  was  born  at 
Vestal,  Broome  county,  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 30,  1833.  After  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  county  of  his  birth  he  en- 
tered the  office  of  the  "  Democrat,"  at  Cort- 
land, New  York,  where  he  learned  the 
printer's  trade.  He  was  successively  editor 
and  publisher  of  the  '  'Plymouth  Advertiser, " 
the  "Mansfield  Herald,"  the  "  Bucyrus 
Journal,"  and  the  "Findlay  Jeffersonian." 
Later  he  became  editor  of  the  "Toledo 
Blade."  In  i860  he  commenced  his 
•'  Nasby"  articles,  several  series  of  which 
have  been  given  the  world  in  book  form. 
Under  a  mask  of  misspelling,  and  in  a  auaioS 


COM  P  EX  HI  I'M   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


178 


and  humorous  style,  a  keen  political  satire 
is  couched — a  most  effective  weapon. 
Mr.  Locke  was  the  author  of  a  num- 
ber of  serious  political  pamphlets,  and 
later  on  a  more  pretentious  work,  "  The 
Morals  of  Abou  Ben  Adhem."  As  a  news- 
paper writer  he  gained  many  laurels  and  his 
works  are  widely  read.  Abraham  Lincoln 
is  said  to  have  been  a  warm  admirer  of  P. 
V.  Nasby,  of  "  Confedrit  X  Roads"  fame. 
Mr.  Locke  died  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  February 
15,  i 

RUSSELL  A.  ALGER,  noted  as  a  sol- 
dier, governor  and  secretary  of  war, 
was  born  in  Medina  county,  Ohio,  February 
z~ .  1S36,  and  was  the  son  of  Russell  and 
Caroline  (Moulton")  Alger.  At  the  age  of 
twelve  years  he  was  left  an  orphan  and  pen- 
niless. For  about  a  year  he  worked  for 
his  board  and  clothing,  and  attended  school 
part  of  the  time.  In  1S50  he  found  a  place 
which  paid  small  wages,  and  out  of  his 
scanty  earnings  helped  his  brother  and  sister. 
While  there  working  on  a  farm  he  found 
time  to  attend  the  Richfield  Academy,  and 
by  hard  work  between  times  managed  to  get 
a  fair  education  for  that  time.  The  last 
two  years  of  his  attendance  at  this  institu- 
tion of  learning  he  taught  school  during  the 
winter  months.  In  1857  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law.  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1859.  For  a  while  he  found  employ- 
ment in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  but  impaired 
health  induced  him  to  remove  to  Grand 
Rapids,  where  he  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business.  He  was  thus  engaged  when  the 
Civil  war  broke  out,  and,  his  business  suf- 
fering and  his  savings  swept  away,  he  en- 
listed as  a  private  in  the  Second  Michigan 
Cavalry.  He  was  promoted  to  be  captain 
the  following  month,  and  major  for  gallant 
conduct  at  Boonesville,  Mississippi,  July  I, 


1862.  October  16,  1862,  he  was  made 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Sixth  Michigan 
Cavalry,  and  in  February,  1863,  colonel  of 
the  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry.  He  rendered 
excellent  service  in  the  Gettysburg  cam- 
paign. He  was  wounded  at  Boonesboro, 
Maryland,  and  on  returning  to  his  command 
took  part  with  Sherman  in  the  campaign  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley.  For  services  ren- 
dered, that  famous  soldier  recommended 
him  for  promotion,  and  he  was  brevetted 
I  major-general  of  volunteers.  In  1866  Gen- 
|  eral  Alger  took  up  his  residence  at  Detroit, 
and  prospered  exceedingly  in  his  business, 
which  was  that  of  lumbering,  and  grew 
quite  wealthy.  In  1SS4  he  was  a  delegate 
to  the  Republican  national  convention,  and 
the  same  year  was  elected  governor  of 
Michigan.  He  declined  a  nomination  for 
re-election  to  the  latter  office,  in  18S7,  and 
was  the  following  year  a  candidate  for  the 
nomination  for  president.  In  18S0  he  was 
elected  commander-in-chief  of  the  Grand 
■  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  at  different 
times  occupied  many  offices  in  other  or- 
ganizations. 

In    March,    1897,    President     McKinley 
appointed  General  Alger  secretary  of   war. 


CYRUS  WEST  FIELD,  the  father  of 
submarine  telegraphy,  was  the  son  of 
the  Rev.  David  D.  Field,  D.D.,  a  Congre- 
gational minister,  and  was  born  at  Stock- 
bridge,  Massachusetts,  November  30,  1819. 
He  was  educated  in  his  native  town,  and  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years  became  a  clerk  in  a 
store  in  New  York  City.  Being  gifted  with 
excellent  business  ability  Mr.  Field  pros- 
pered and  became  the  head  of  a  large  mer- 
cantile house.  In  1853  he  spent  about  six 
months  in  travel  in  South  America.  On  his 
return  he  became  interested  in  ocean  teleg- 
raphy.     Being  solicited  to  aid  in  the  con- 


71 


COMPENDIUM  OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


struction  of  a  land  telegraph  across  New 
Foundland  to  receive  the  news  from  a  line 
of  fast  steamers  it  was  proposed  to  run  from 
from  Ireland  to  St.  Johns,  the  idea  struck 
him  to  carry  the  line  across  the  broad  At- 
lantic. In  1850  Mr.  Field  obtained  a  con- 
cession from  the  legislature  of  Newfound- 
land, giving  him  the  sole  right  for  fifty 
to  land  submarine  cables  on  the  shores  ol 
that  island.  In  company  with  Peter  Cooper, 
Moses  Taylor,  Marshall  O.  Roberts  and 
Chandler  White,  he  organized  a  con 
under  the  name  of  the  New  York,  New- 
foundland &  London  Telegraph  Company. 
In  two  yens  the  line  from  New  York  across 
Newfoundland  was  built.  The  first  cable 
connecting  Cape  Breton  Island  with  New- 
foundland having  been  lost  in  a  storm  while 
being  laid  in  1855,  another  was  put  down  in 
1856.  In  the  latter  year  Mr.  Field  went  to 
London  and  organized  the  Atlantic  Tele- 
graph Company,  furnishing  one-fourth  of  the 
capital  himself.  Botli  governments  loaned 
ships  to  carry  out  the  enterprise.  Mr.  Field 
accompanied  the  expeditions  of  1857  and 
two  in  [858.  The  first  and  second  1 
were  failures,  and  the  third  worked  but  a 
short  time  and  then  ceased.  The  people  of 
both  continents  became  incredulous  of  the 
feasibility  of  laying  a  successful  cable  under 
so  wide  an  expanse  of  sea,  and  the  war 
breaking  out  shortly  after,  nothing  was  done 
until  1865-66.  Mr.  Field,  in  the  former 
year,  again  made  the  attempt,  and  the  Great 
Eastern  laid  some  one  thousand  two  hun- 
dred miles  when  the  cable  parted  and  was 
lost.  The  following  year  the  same  vessel 
succeeded  in  laying  the  entire  cable,  and 
picked  up  the  one  lost  the  year  before,  and 
both  were  carried  to  America's  shore.  After 
thirteen  years  of  care  and  toil  Mr.  Field  had 
his  reward.  He  was  the  recipient  of  many 
medals   and   honors  from    both   home    and 


abroad.  He  gave  his  attention  after  this 
to  establishing  telegraphic  communication 
throughout  the  world  and  many  other  large 
enterprises,  notably  the  construction  of  ele- 
vated railroads  in  New  York.  Mr.  Field 
died  July  11,1  S92. 


G  ROVER  CLEVELAND,  the  twenty- 
cond  president  of  the  United  States, 
born  in  Caldwell,  Essex  county,  New 
Jersey,  March  [8,  1837,  :uu'  was  the  son 
of  Rev.  Richard  and  Annie  (Neale)  Cleve- 
land. The  father,  of  distinguished  New 
England  ancestry,  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister in  charge  of  the  church  at  Caldwell  at 
the  time. 

When  Grover  was  about  three  years  of 
age  the  family  removed  to  Fayetteville, 
Onondaga    county.     New    York,    where     he 

nded  the  district  school,  and  was  in  the 

lemj  for  a  short  time.  His  father  be- 
lievingthat  boys  should  early  learn  to  labor, 

1  ver  entered  a  village  store  and  worked 
for  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  for  the  first  year. 
While  he  was  thus  engaged  the  family  re- 
moved to  Clinton,  New  York,  and  there 
young  Cleveland  took  up  h<s  studies  at  the 
academy.  The  death  of  his  father  dashed 
all  his  hopes  of  a  collegiate  education,  the 
family  being  left  in  straightened  circum- 
stances, and  Grover  started  out  to  battle 
for  himself.  After  acting  for  a  year  (1853- 
541  as  assistant  teacher  and  bookkeeper  in 
the  Institution  for  the  Blind  at  New  York 
City,  he  went  to  Buffalo.  A  short  time 
after  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  that  city,  and  after  a 
hard  struggle  with  adverse  circumstances, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1859.  He  be- 
came confidential  and  managing  clerk  for 
the  firm  under  whom  he  had  studied,  and 
remained  with  them  until  1863.  In  the  lat- 
ter year  he  was  appointed  district  attorney 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


173 


of  Erie  county.  It  was  during  his  incum- 
bency of  this  office  that,  on  being  nominated 
b\  the  Democrats  for  supervisor,  he  came 
within  thirteen  votes  of  election,  although 
the  district  was  usually  Republican  by  two 
hundred  and  fifty  majority.  In  1 866  Grover 
Cleveland  formed  a  partnership  with  Isaac 
V.  Yanderpoel.  The  most  of  the  work  here 
fell  upon  the  shoulders  of  our  subject,  and 
he  soon  won  a  good  standing  at  the  bar  of 
the  state.  In  1S69  Mr.  Cleveland  associated 
himself  in  business  with  A.  P.  Laning  and 
Oscar  Folsom,  and  under  the  firm  name  of 
Laning,  Cleveland  &  Folsom  soon  built  up  a 
fair  practice.  In  the  fall  of  i87oMr.  Cleve- 
land was  elected  sheriff  of  Erie  county,  an 
office  which  he  filled  for  four  years,  after 
which  he  resumed  his  profession,  with  L.  K. 
Bass  and  .Wilson  S.  Bissell  as  partners. 
This    firm    was     -  and     popular   and 

shortly  was  in  possession  of  a  lucrative 
practice.  Mr.  Bass  retired  from  the  firm 
in  1879,  and  George  J.  Secard  was  admit- 
ted a  member  in  188 1.  In  the  latter  year 
Mr.  Cleveland  was  elected  major  of  Buffalo, 
and  in  1882  he  was  chosen  governor  by 
the  enormous  majority  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety-two  thousand  votes.  July  11,  : 
he  was  nominated  for  the  presidency  by  the 
Democratic  national  convention,  and  in 
November  following  was  elected. 

Mr.  Cleveland,  after  serving  one  term  as 
president  of  the  United  States,  in  188S  was 
nominated  by  his  party  to  succeed  himself, 
but  he  failed  of  the  election,  being  beaten 
by  Benjamin  Harrison.  In  1892.  however, 
being  nominated  again  in  opposition  to  the 
then  incumbent  of  the  presidency.  Mr.  Har- 
rison, Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  pres- 
ident for  the  second  time  and  served  for  the 
usual  term  of  four  years.  In  1S97  Mr. 
Cleveland  retired  from  the  chair  of  the  first 
magistrate  of  the  nation,  and  in   New  Y   rk 


City  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  in  which 
city  he  had  established  himself  in  18S9. 

June  2.  1 886,  Grover  Cleveland  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Frances  Fol- 
som, the  daughter  of  his  former  partner. 


ALEXANDER  WINCHELL,  for  many 
irs  one  of  the  greatest  of  American 
scientists,  and  one  of  the  most  noted  and 
prolific  writers  on  scientific  subjects,  was 
born  in  Duchess  county.  New  York.  Decem- 
ber 31,  1S24.  He  received  a  thorough  col- 
legiate education,  and  graduated  at  the 
Wesleyan  University.  Middletown,  Connect- 
icut, in  1847.  His  mind  took  a  scientific 
turn,  which  manifested  itself  while  he  was 
yet  a  boy,  and  in  1848  he  became  teacher 
of  natural  sciences  at  the  Armenian  Semi- 
nary, in  his  native  state,  a  position  which 
he  filled  for  three  years.  In  185  1-3  he  oc- 
cupied the  same  position  in  the  Mesopo- 
tamia Female  Seminary,  in  Alabama,  after 
which  he  was  president  of  the  Masonic  Fe- 
male Seminary,  in  Alabama.  In  1S53  he 
became  connected  with  the  University  of 
Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  at  which  institu- 
tion he  performed  the  most  important  work 
of  his  life,  and  gained  a  wide  reputation  as 
a  scientist.  He  held  many  important  posi- 
tions, among  which  were  the  following: 
Professor  of  physics  and  civil  engineering  at 
the  University  of  Michigan,  also  of  geology, 
zoology  and  botany,  and  later  professor  of 
geology  and  palaeontology  at  the  same  insti- 
tution. He  also,  for  a  time,  was  president 
of  the  Michigan  Teachers'  Association,  and 
state  geologist  of  Michigan.  Professor 
Winchell  was  a  very  prolific  writer  on  scien- 
tific subjects,  and  published  many  standard 
works,  his  most  important  and  widely  known 
being  those  devoted  to  geology.  He  also 
contributed  a  large  number  of  article*  I 
scientific  and  popular  journals. 


176 


COMPEXD1UM    OF    /l/OCRA  PUT. 


ANDREW  HULL  FOOTE,  of  the 
United  States  navy,  was  a  native  of 
New  England,  born  at  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, May  4,  1808.  He  entered  the 
navy,  as  a  midshipman,  December  4,  1822. 
He  slowly  rose  in  his  chosen  profession,  at- 
taining the  rank  of  lieutenant  in  1830,  com- 
mander in  1852  and  captain  in  1861. 
Among  the  distinguished  nun  in  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  war,  but  few  stood  higher 
in  the  estimation  of  his  brother  officers  than 
Foote,  and  when,  in  the  fall  <>f  [861,  he 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  tlotilla 
then  building  on  the  Mississippi,  the  act 
gave  great  satisfaction  to  the  service. 
Although  embarrassed  by  want  of  navj 
yards  and  supplies,  Foote  threw  himself  into 
his  new  work  with  unusual  energy.  He 
overcame  all  obstacles  and  in  the  new,  and, 
until  that  ti ,  untried  experiment,  of  creat- 
ing and  maintaining  a  navy  on  a  river, 
achieved  a  success  beyond  the  1  <>ns 

of  the  country.  Great  in<  redulitj  existed  as 
to  the  possibility  of  carrying  <>n  hostilities 
on  a  river  where  batteries  from  the  shore 
might  bar  the  passage.  But  in  spite  of  all, 
Foote  soon  had  a  navy  cm  the  great  river, 
and  by  the  heroic  qualities  of  the  crews  en- 
trusted to  him,  demonstrated  the  utility  "I 
this  new  departure  in  naval  architecture. 
All  being  prepared,  February  6,  1862,  Foote 
took  Fort  Henry  after  a  hotly-contested 
action.  On  the  14th  of  the  same  month, 
for  an  hour  and  a  half  engaged  the  batteries 
of  Fort  Donelson,  with  four  ironclads  and 
two  wooden  gunboats,  thereby  dishearten- 
ing the  garrison  and  assisting  in  its  capture. 
April  7th  of  the  same  year,  after  several 
hotly-contested  actions,  Commodore  Foote 
received  the  surrender  of  Island  No.  10,  one 
of  the  great  strongholds  of  the  Confederacy 
on  the  Mississippi  river.  Foote  having  been 
wounded  at  Fort  Donelson,  and  by  neglect 


it  having  become  so  serious  as  to  endanger 
his  life,  he  was  forced  to  resign  his  command 
and  return  home.  June  16,  1862,  he  re- 
ceived  the  thanks  of  congress  and  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  rear  admiral.  He  was 
appointed  chief  of  the  bureau  of  equipment 
and  recruiting.  June  4,  1863,  he  was 
ordered  to  the  lleet  off  Charleston,  to  super- 
cede Rear  Admiral  Dupont,  but  on  his  way 
to  that  destination  was  taken  sick  at  New 
York,  and  died  June  26,    1S63. 


Nl  I  SON  A.  MILES,  the  well-known  sol- 
dier,  was  born  at  Westminster,  Massa- 
chusetts, August  8,1839.  His  ancestors  set- 
tled in  that  state  in  [643  among  the  early 
pioneers,  and  their  descendants  were,  many 
of  them,  tip  be  found  among  those  battling 
against  Great  Britain  during  Revolutionary 
times  and  during  the  war  of  1812.  Nelson 
was  reared  <>n  a  farm,  received  an  academic 
education,  and  in  early  manhood  engagedin 
mercantile  pursuits  in  Boston.  Early  in 
18(11  he  raised  a  company  and  offered  his 
services  to  the  government,  and  although 
commissioned  as  captain,  on  account  of  his 
youth  went  out  as  first  lieutenant  in  the 
Twenty-second  Massachusetts  Infantry.  In 
1  862  he  w  as  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel 
and  colonel  of  the  Sixty-first  New  York  In- 
fantry. At  the  request  of  Generals  Grant 
and  Meade  lie  was  made  a  brigadier  by 
l'i.  sident  Lincoln,  He  participated  in  all 
but  one  of  the  battles  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  until  the  close  of  the  war.  During 
the  latter  part  of  the  time  he  commanded 
the  first  division  of  the  Second  Corps. 
General  Miles  was  wounded  at  the  battles 
of  Fair  Oaks,  Fredericksburg  and  Chan- 
cellorsville,  and  received  four  brevets  for 
distinguished  service.  During  the  recon- 
struction period  he  commanded  in  North 
Carolina,  and  on   the  reorganization  of  the 


'     MPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


177 


regular  army  he  was  made  colonel  of  in- 
fantry. In  18S0  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general,  and  in  1890  to 
that  of  major-general.  He  successfully  con- 
ducted several  campaigns  among  the  In- 
dians, and  his  name  is  known  among  the 
tribes  as  a  friend  when  they  are  peacefully 
inclined.  He  many  times  averted  war 
with  the  red  men  by  judicious  and  humane 
settlement  of  difficulties  without  the  military 
power.  In  1892  General  Miles  was  given 
command  of  the  proceedings  in  dedicating 
the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1894,  during  the  great  railroad 
strike  at  the  same  city,  General  Miles,  then 
in  command  of  the  department,  had  the 
disposal  of  the  troops  sent  to  protect  the 
United  States  mails.  On  the  retirement  of 
General  J.  M.  Schofield,  in  1895,  General 
Miles  became  the  ranking  major-general  of 
the  United  States  army  and  the  head  of  its 
forces. 

JUNIUS  BRUTUS  BOOTH,  the  great 
actor,  though  born  in  London  (1796),  is 
more  intimately  connected  with  the  Amer- 
ican than  with  the  English  stage,  and  his 
popularity  in  America  was  almost  un- 
bounded, while  in  England  he  was  not  a 
prime  favorite.  He  presented  "  Richard  III.  " 
in  Richmond  on  his  first  appearance  on  the 
American  stage  in  1821.  This  was  his 
greatest  role,  and  in  it  he  has  never  had  an 
equal.  In  October  of  the  same  year  he 
appeared  in  New  York.  After  a  long  and 
successful  career  he  gave  his  final  perform- 
ance at  New  Orleans  in  1852.  He  con- 
tracted a  severe  cold,  and  for  lack  of  proper 
medical  attention,  it  resulted  in  his  death 
on  November  30th  of  that  year.  He  was, 
without  question,  one  of  the  greatest  tra- 
gedians that  ever  lived.  In  addition  to  his 
professional   art  and  genius,  he  was  skilled 


in  languages,  drawing,  painting  and  sculp- 
ture. In  his  private  life  he  was  reserved, 
and  even  eccentric.  Strange  stories  are 
related  of  his  peculiarities,  and  on  his  farm 
near  Baltimore  he  forbade  the  use  of  animal 
food,  the  taking  of  animal  life,  and  even  the 
felling  of  trees,  and  brought  his  butter  and 
eggs  to  the  Baltimore  markets  in  person. 

Junius  Brutus  Booth,  known  as  the  elder 
Booth,  gave  to  the  world  three  sons  of  note: 
Junius  Brutus  Booth,  Jr.,  the  husband  of 
Agnes  Booth,  the  actress;  John  Wilkes 
Booth,  the  author  of  the  greatest  tragedy 
in  the  life  of  our  nation;  Edwin  Booth,  in 
his  day  the  greatest  actor  of  America,  if  not 
of  the  world. 

JAMES  MONTGOMERY  BAILEY,  fa- 
mous as  the  "Danbury  News  Man," 
was  one  of  the  best  known  American  humor- 
ists, and  was  born  September  25,  1841,  at 
Albany,  N.  Y.  He  adopted  journalism  as  a 
profession  and  started  in  his  chosen  work  on 
the  "Danbury  Times,"  which  paper  he  pur- 
chased on  his  return  from  the  war.  Mr. 
Bailey  also  purchased  the  "Jeffersonian," 
another  paper  of  Danbury,  and  consolidated 
them,  forming  the  "Danbury  News,"  which 
paper  soon  acquired  a  celebrity  throughout 
the  United  States,  from  an  incessant  How  of 
rich,  healthy,  and  original  humor,  which  the 
pen  of  the  editor  imparted  to  its  columns, 
and  he  succeeded  in  raising  the  circulation 
of  the  paper  from  a  few  hundred  copies  a 
week  to  over  forty  thousand.  The  facilities 
of  a  country  printing  office  were  not  so  com- 
plete in  those  days  as  they  are  now,  but  Mr. 
Bailey  was  resourceful,  and  he  put  on  re- 
lays of  help  and  ran  his  presses  night  and 
day,  and  always  prepared  his  matter  a  week 
ahead  of  time.  The  "Danbury  News  Man" 
was  a  new  figure  in  literature,  as  his  humor 
was  so  different  from  that  of  the  newspaper 


1*8 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY 


wits — who  had  preceded  him,  and  he  maybe 
ca  led  the  pioneer  of  that  school  now  so 
familiar.  Mr.  Bailey  published  in  book 
form  "Life  in  Danbury"  and  "The  Danbury 
News  Man's  Almanac. "  One  of  his  most 
admirable  traits  was  philanthrophy,  as  he 
gave  with  unstinted  generosity  to  all  comers, 
and  died  comparatively  poor,  notwithstand- 
ing his  ownership  of  a  very  profitable  busi- 
ness which  netted  him  an  income  of  $40,000 
a  year.      He  died  March  4,    1 


M 


ATTHEW  HALE  CARPENTER,  a 
famous  lawyer,  orator  and  sen 
was  born  in  Moretown,  Vermont,  December 
22,  [824.  After  receiving  a  common-si 
education  he  entered  the  United  States 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  but  onl) 
remained  two   years.     On   returning   to  his 

home  he  c menced   the  study  of  law  with 

Paul  Dillingham,  afterwards  governor  of 
Vermont,  and  whose  daughter  he  married. 
In  1847  he  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the 
bar  iii  Vermont,  but  he  wenl  to  Boston  and 
for  atime  studied  with  Ruf  us  Choate.  In  1848 
ived  wes-t,  settling  at  Beloit,  Wisconsin, 
and  comment  ing  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion soon  obtained  a  wide  reputation  for 
ability.  In  1856  Mr.  Carpenter  removed  to 
Milwaukee,  where  he  found  a  wider  field  for 
his  now  increasing  powers.  During  the 
Civil  war,  although  a  strong  Democrat,  he 
was  loyal  to  the  government  and  aided  the 
Union  cause  to  his  utmost.  In  [86 
was  counsel  for  the  government  in  a  test 
case  to  settle  the  legality  of  the  reconstruc- 
tion act  before  the  United  States  supreme 
court,  and  won  his  case  against  Jeremiah  S. 
Black.  This  gave  him  the  election  for  sen- 
ator from  Wisconsin  in  1869,  and  he  served 
until  1  875,  during  part  of  which  time  he  was 
president  pro  tempore  of  the  senate.  Failing 
01  a  re-election  Mr.  Carpenter  resumed  the 


practice  of  law,  and  when  William  W. 
Belknap,  late  secretary  of  war,  was  im- 
peached, entered  the  case  for  General 
Belknap,  and  secured  an  acquittal.  During 
the  sitting  of  the  electoral  commission  of 
1  S 7 7 ,  Mr.  Carpenter  appeared  for  Samuel 
].  Tilden.  although  the  Republican  man- 
agers had  intended  to  have  him  represent 
R.  B.  Hayes.  Mr.  Carpenter  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  again  in  1879, 
and  remained  a  member  of  that  body  until 
the  day  of  his  dea'h,  which  occurred  at 
Washington,  District  of  Columbia  Feb- 
ruary 24,   1  s:  1 . 

nator  Carpenter's  real  name  was  De- 
catur Merritt  Hammond  Carpenter  but  about 
[852  he  1  h'angi  d  it  to  the  one  by  which  he 
was  unh ersally  known. 


THOMAS  E.  WATSON,  lawyer  and 
congressman,  the  well-known  Geor- 
gian, whose  name  appeals  at  the  head  of 
this  sketch,  made  himself  a  place  in  the  his- 
tory  of   our  country   by    his    ability,  energy 

!  fervid  oratory.  1  [e  was  born  in  (  ol- 
umbia  1  now  McDuffie)  county,  Georgia, 
September  5,  1856.  He  had  a  common- 
school  education,  and  in  1 872  entered  Mer- 
cer University,  at  Macon,  Georgia,  as  fresh- 
man, but  for  want  of  money  left  the  college 
at  the  end  of  his  sophomore  year.  He 
taught  school,  studying  law  at  the  same 
time,  until  1875,  when  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  He  opened  an  office  and  com- 
menced practice  in  Thomson,  Georgia,  in 
November,  1876.  He  carried  on  a  success- 
ful business,  and  bought  land  and  farmed  on 
an  extensive  scale. 

Mr.  Watson  was  a  delegate  to  the  Demo- 
cratic state  convention  of    1880,  and  was  a 
member  of  the   house  of  representatives  of 
the  legislature  of   his   native  state   in   1882 
In  1888  he  was   an  elector-at-large  on  the 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


179 


Cleveland  ticket,  and  in  1S90  was  elected 
io  represent  his  district  in  the  fifty-second 
congress.  This  latter  election  is  said  to  have 
been  due  entirely  to  Mr.  Watson's  "  dash- 
ir.g  display  of  ability,  eloquence  and  popular 
power."  In  his  later  years  he  championed 
the  alliance  principles  and  policies  until  he 
became  a  leader  in  the  movement.  In  the 
heated  campaign  of  1896,  Mr.  Watson  was 
nominated  as  the  candidate  for  vice-presi- 
dent on  the  Bryan  ticket  by  that  part  of  the 
People's  party  that  would  not  endorse  tlie 
nominee  for  the  same  position  made  by  the 
Democratic  party. 


FREDERICK  A.  P.  BARNARD,  mathe- 
matician, physicist  and  educator,  was 
born  in  Sheffield,  Massachusetts,  May  5 , 1 809. 
He  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1828, and 
in  1830  became  a  tutor  in  the  same.  From 
1837  to  1848  he  was  professor  of  mathe- 
matics and  natural  philosophy  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Alabama,  and  from  1S48  to  1S50, 
professor  of  chemistry  and  natural  history 
in  the  same  educational  institution.  In 
1854  he  became  connected  with  the  Univer- 
sity of  Mississippi,  of  which  he  became 
president  in  1856,  and  chancellor  in  1858. 
In  1S54  he  took  orders  in  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church.  In  1861  Professor  Barnard 
resigned  his  chancellorship  and  chair  in  the 
university,  and  in  1863  and  1864  was  con- 
nected with  the  United  States  coast  survey 
in  charge  of  chart  printing  and  lithography. 
In  May,  1864,  he  was  elected  president  of 
Columbia  College,  New  York  City,  which 
he  served  for  a  number  of  years. 

Professor  Barnard  received  the  honorary 
degree  of  LL.  D.  from  Jefferson  College, 
Mississippi,  in  1855,  and  from  Yale  College 
in  1859;  also  the  degree  of  S.  T.  D.  from 
the  University  of  Mississippi  in  18G1,  and 
that  of  L.  H.  D.  from   the   regents   of   the 


University  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  1X72. 
In  i860  he  was  a  member  of  the  eclipse 
party  sent  by  the  United  States  coast  sur- 
vey to  Labrador,  and  during  his  absence 
was  elected  president  of  the  American  Asso- 
ciation for  the  Advancement  of  Science  Ii. 
the  act  of  congress  establishing  the  National 
Academy  of  Sciences  in  1863.  he  was  named 
as  one  of  the  original  corporators.  In  1867 
he  was  one  of  the  United  States  commis- 
sioners to  the  Paris  Exposition.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  American  Philosophical 
Society,  associate  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and 
many  other  philosophical  and  scientific 
societies  at  home  and  abroad.  Dr.  Barnard 
was  thoroughly  identified  with  the  progress 
of  the  age  in  those  branches.  His  published 
works  relate  wholly  to  scientific  or  educa- 
tional subjects,  chief  among  which  are  the 
following:  Report  on  Collegiate  Education; 
Art  Culture;  History  of  the  American  Coast 
Survey;  University  Education;  Undulatory 
Theory  of  Light;  Machinery  and  Processes 
of  the  Industrial  Arts,  and  Apparatus  of  the 
Exact  Sciences,  Metric  System  of  Weights 
and  Measures,  etc. 


EDWIN  McMASTERS  STANTON,  the 
secretary  of  war  during  the  great  Civil 
war,  was  recognized  as  one  of  America's 
foremost  public  men.  He  was  born  Decem- 
ber 19,  1 S 1 4,  at  Steuben ville,  Ohio,  where 
he  received  his  education  and  studied  law. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1836,  and 
was  reporter  of  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio 
from  1842  until  1S45.  He  removed  to 
Washington  in  1856  to  attend  to  his  prac- 
tice before  the  United  States  supreme 
court,  and  in  [858  he  went  to  California  as 
counsel  for  the  government  in  certain  land 
cases,  which  he  carried  to  a  successful 
conclusion.      Mr.    Stanton    was    appointed 


ISO 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


attorney-general  of  the  United  States  in 
December,  i860,  by  President  Buchanan. 
On  March  4,  1 86 1 ,  Mr.  Stanton  went  with 
the  outgoing  administration  and  returned  to 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was 
appointed  secretary  of  war  by  President 
Lincoln  January  20,  1862,  to  succeed  Simon 
Cameron.  After  the  assassination  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  and  the  accession  of  Johnson 
to  the  presidency,  Mr.  Stanton  was  still  in 
the  same  office.  He  held  it  for  three  years, 
and  by  his  strict  adherence  to  the  Repub- 
lican party,  he  antagonized  President  John- 
son, who  endeavored  to  remove  him.  On 
August  5,  [867,  the  president  requested  him 
to  resign,  and  appointed  General  Grant  to 
succeed  him,  but  when  congress  convened 
in  December  the  senate  refused  to  concur  in 
the  suspension.  Mr.  Stanton  returned  to 
his  post  until  the  president  again  removed 
him  from  office,  but  was  again  foiled  by 
congress.  Soon  after,  however,  he  retired 
voluntarily  from  office  and  took  up  the 
practice  of  law,  in  which  he  engaged  until 
his  death,  on  December  24,  1869. 


ALEXANDER  CAMPBELL,  the  eminent 
theologian  and  founder  of  the  church 
known  as  Disciples  of  Christ,  was  born  in 
the  country  of  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  June, 
17SS,  and  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Campbell,  a  Scoth-Iri.-h  "Seceder."  After 
Studying  at  the  University  of  Glasgow,  he, 
in  company  with  his  father,  came  to  America 
in  1S08,  and  both  began  labor  in  western 
Pennsylvania  to  restore  Christianity  to 
apostolic  simplicity.  They  organized  a 
church  at  Brush  Run,  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1 8 1 1 ,  which,  however,  the 
year  following,  adopted  Baptist  views,  and 
in  1 S 1  3.  with  other  congregations  joined  a 
Baptist  association.  Some  of  the  under- 
lying principles  and   many    practices    of  the 


Campbells  and  their  disciples  were  repug- 
nant to  the  Baptist  church  and  considerable 
friction  was  the  result,  and  1827  saw  the 
separation  of  that  church  from  the  Church 
of  Christ,  as  it  is  sometimes  calied.  The 
latter  then  reorganized  themselves  anew. 
They  reject  all  creeds,  professing  to  receive 
the  Bible  as  their  only  guide.  In  most  mat- 
ters of  faith  they  are  essentially  in  accord  with 
the  other  Evangelical  Christian  churches, 
especially  in  regard  to  the  person  and  work 

\  of  Christ,    the  resurrection  and    judgment. 

I  They  celebrate  the  Lord's  Supper  weekly, 
hold  that  repentance  and  faitli  should  precede 

I  baptism,  attaching  much  importance  to  the 
latter  ordinance.      On  all  other  points    they 

I  encourage  individual  liberty  of  thought.  In 
1841,  Alexander  Campbell  founded  Bethany 
College,  West   Virginia,    of    which   he   was 

I  president  for  many  years,  and  died  March  4, 
1 S66. 

The  denomination  which  they  founded 
is  quite  a  large  and  important  church  body 
in  the  United  States.  They  support  quite 
a  number  of  institutions  of  learning,  among 
which  are:  Bethany  College,  West  Virginia; 
Hiram  College,  Hiram,  Ohio;  Northwestern 
Christian  University,  Indianapolis,  Indiana; 
Hureka  College,  Illinois;  Kentucky  Univer- 
sity, Lexington,  Kentucky;  Oskaloosa 
College,  Iowa;  and  a  number  of  seminaries 
and  schools.  They  also  support  several 
monthly  and  quarterly  religious  periodicals 
and  many  papers,  both  in  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain  and  her  dependencies. 


WILLIAM  L.WILS<  >N,  the  noted  West 
Virginian,  who  was  postmaster-gener- 
al under  President  Cleveland's  second  ad- 
ministration, won  distinction  as  the  father 
of  the  famous  "  Wilson  bill,"  which  bt 
a  law  under  the  same  administration.  Mr. 
Wilson  was  born    May  3,    1843,   in    Jeffer- 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


181 


son  county.  West  Virginia,  and  received 
a  good  education  at  the  Charlestown 
Academy,  where  he  prepared  himself  for 
college.  He  attended  the  Columbian  Col- 
lege in  the  District  of  Columbia,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1S60,  and  then 
attended  the  University  of  Virginia.  Mr. 
Wilson  served  in  the  Confederate  army  dur- 
ing the  war,  after  which  he  was  ;i  professor 
in  Columbian  College.  Later  he  entered 
into  the  practice  of  law  at  Charlestown. 
He  attended  the  Democratic  convention 
held  at  Cincinnati  in  1880,  as  a  delegate, 
and  later  was  chosen  as  one  of  the  electors 
for  the  state-at-large  on  the  Hancock 
ticket.  In  the  Democratic  convention  at 
Chicago  in  1892,  Mr.  Wilson  was  its  per- 
manent president.  He  was  elected  pres- 
ident of  the  West  Virginia  University  in 
.  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office 
on  September  6,  but  having  received  the 
nomination  for  the  forty-seventh  congress 
on  the  Democratic  ticket,  he  resigned  the 
presidency  of  the  university  in  June,  1883, 
to  take  his  seat  in  congress.  Mr.  Wil- 
son was  honored  by  the  Columbian  Uni- 
versity and  the  Hampden-Sidney  College, 
both  of  which  conferred  upon  him  the  de- 
gree of  LL.  D.  In  1884  he  was  appointed 
regent  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution  at 
Washington  for  two  years,  and  at  the  end 
of  his  term  was  re-appointed.  He  was 
elected  to  the  forty-seventh,  forty-ninth, 
fiftieth,  fifty-first,  fifty-second  and  fifty- 
third  congresses,  but  was  defeated  for  re- 
election to  the  fifty- fourth  congress.  Upon 
the  resignation  of  Mr.  Rissell  from  the  office 
of  postmaster-general,  Mr.  Wilson  was  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  vacancy  by  President 
Cleveland.  His  many  years  of  public  serv- 
ice and  the  pi  :  part  he  took  in  the 
discussion  of  public  questions  gave  him  a 
national  reputation. 


C\L\  IN  S.  BRK  i:,  a  successful  and 
noted  financier  and  politician,  was 
born  at  Denmark,  Ohio,  September  17, 
1S45,  of  an  old  Maryland  family,  who  trace 
their  lineage  from  the  Bryces,  or  Bruc 
Airth,  Scotland.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  a  prominent  Presbyterian  clergyman, 
who  removed  to  Ohio  in  [812.  Calvin  S. 
Brice  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  town,  and  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen entered  the  preparatory  department  of 
Miami  University  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  and  the 
following  year  entered  the  freshman  class. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war, 
although  but  fifteen  years  old,  he  enlisted  in 
a  company  of  three-months  men.  He  re- 
turned to  complete  his  college  course,  but 
re-enlisted  in  Company  A.  Eighty-sixth 
Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  in  the  Virginia 
campaign.  He  then  returned  to  college, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1863.  In  1864 
he  organized  Company  E,  One  Hundred 
and  Eightieth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  hostilities,  in  the  western 
armies. 

On  his  return  home  Mr.  Brice  entered 
the  law  department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  and  in  1S66  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  Cincinnati.  In  the  winter  of  1X70- 
71  he  went  to  Europe  in  the  interests  of  the 
Lake  Erie  &  Louisville  Railroad  and  pro- 
cured a  foreign  loan.  This  road  became 
the  Lake  Erie  &  Western,  of  which,  in 
Mr.  Brice  became  president.  This 
was  the  first  railroad  in  which  he  had  a 
personal  interest.  The  conception,  build- 
ing and  sale  of  the  New  York,  Chicago  & 
St.  Louis  Railroad,  known  as  the  ••Nickel 
Plate,"  was  largely  due  to  him.  He  was 
connected  with  many  other  railroads,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  the  following: 
Chicago  &  Atlantic;  Ohio  Central;  Rich- 
mond &  Danville;  Richmond  &  West  Point 


182 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY 


Terminal;  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & 
Georgia;  Memphis  &  Charleston;  Mobile  & 
Birmingham;  Kentucky  Central;  Duluth, 
South  Shore  &  Atlantic,  and  the  Marquette, 
Houghton  &  Ontonagon.  In  [890  he  was 
elected  United  States  senator  from  Ohio. 
Notwithstanding  his  extensive  business  inter- 
ests, Senator  Brice  gave  a  considerable 
time  to  political  matters,  becoming  one  of 
the  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party  and 
of  the  most  widely  known  men  in  the 
country. 

BENJAMIN  HARRISON,  twenty-third 
dent  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  August  20,  [833,  at  North  \)<nA, 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  in  the  house  of  his 
grandfather.  General  William  Henry  II 
rison,  afterwards  president  of  the  United 
States.  His  great-grandfather,  Benjamin 
Harrison,  was  a  m<  I  the  Continental 

congress,  signed  the   Declaration    of   Inde- 
pendence, and  was  three  times  elected  : 
ernor  of  Virginia. 

The  subject  of  this  sketi  h entered  Farm- 
ers College  at  an  early  age,  and  two  years 
later  entered  Miami  University,  at  Oxford, 
Ohio.  Upon  graduation  he  entered  the 
office  of  Stover  &  Gwyne,  of  Cincinnati,  as  a 
law  student.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
two  years  later,  and  having  inherited  about 
eight  hundred  dollars  worth  of  property,  he- 
married  the  daughter  of  Doctor  Scott,  pres- 
ident of  a  female  school  at  Oxford,  Ohio, 
and  selected  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  to  begin 
practice.  In  i860  he  was  nominated  by 
the  Republicans  as  candidate  for  state 
supreme  court  reporter,  and  did  his  first 
political  speaking  in  that  campaign.  He 
was  elected,  and  after  two  years  in  that 
position  he  organized  the  Seventieth  Indi- 
ana Infantry,  of  which  he  was  made  colonel, 
and  with  his  regiment  joined  General  Sher- 


man's army.      For  bravery  displayed  at  Re- 

saca  and  Peach  Tree  Creek  he  was  made  a 

brig  1  iieral.      In     the     meantime    the 

office  of  supreme  court   reporter   had  been 

declared  vacant,  and   another  party  elected 

to  fill  it.      In  the  fall   of    [864,  having   been 

nominated  for  that  office,  General  Harrison 

obtained  a  thirty-day  leave  of  absence,  went 

to    Indiana,    canvassed    the  state    and    was 

ted.      As    he    was    about   to    rejoin    his 

iiuand  he  was  stricken  down  by  an  attack 

of    fever.      After    his    recovery    he  joined 

sin  . -in. m's  army  and  participated  in 

the  closing  events  of  the  war. 

In  [868  General  Harrison  declined  to 
be  a  candidate  for  the  ..nice  of  supreme 
court  reporter,  and  returned  to  tin  prai  I 
of  the  law.  His  brilliant  campaign  for  the 
office  of  governor  of  Indiana  in  [8; 
brought  him  into  public  notice,  although  he 
was  defeated,      lie  took  a  prominent  part 

in  the  presidential  canvass  of   [880,  and  was 

en   Unite. 1  Mates  senator  from  Indiana, 

serving  six  years.  He  then  returned  to  the 
practice  of  his  profession.      In   1 888  he  was 

selected  by  the  Republican  convention  at 
Chicago  as  candidate  for  the  presidency,  and 
alter  a  heated  campaign  was  elected  over 
Cleveland.  He  was  inaugurated  March  4, 
[889,  and  signed  the  McKinley  bill  October 
1,  1890,  perhaps  the  most  distinctive  feature 
of  his  administration.  In  [892  he  was 
again  the  nominee  of  the  Republican  party 
tor  president,  hut  was  defeated  by  Grover 
Cleveland,  the  Democratic  candidate,  and 
again  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  Indian- 
apolis. 

JOHN  CRAIG  HAVEMEYER,  the 
celebrated  merchant  and  sugar  refiner, 
was  born  in  New  York  City  in  1833.  His 
father,  William  F.  Havemeyer,  and  grand- 
father, William  Havemeyer,  were  both  sugar 


COMP/-.\ TDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY 


1-:; 


refiners.  The  latter  named  came  from 
Buckeburg,  Germany,  in  1799,  and  settled 
in  New  York,  establishing  one  of  the  first 
refineries  in  that  city.  William  F.  succeeded 
his  father,  and  at  an  early  age  retired  from 
business  with  a  competency.  He  was  three 
times  mayor  of  his  native  city,  New  York. 
John  C.  Havemeyer  was  educated  in 
private  schools,  and  was  prepared  for  college 
at  Columbia  College  grammar  school. 
Owing  to  failing  eyesight  he  was  unable  to 
finish  his  college  course,  and  began  his 
business  career  in  a  wholesale  grocery  store, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  In  1854, 
after  a  year's  travel  abroad,  he  assumed  the 
responsibility  of  the  office  work  in  the  sugar 
refinery  of  Havemeyer  &  Molter,  but  two 
years  later  etablished  a  refinery  of  his  own 
in  Brooklyn.  This  afterwards  developed  into 
the  immense  business  of  Havemeyer  &  Elder. 
The  capital  was  furnished  by  his  father, 
and,  chafing  under  the  anxiety  caused  by  the 
use  of  borrowed  money,  he  sold  out  his 
interest  and  returned  to  Havemeyer  & 
Molter.  This  firm  dissolving  the  next  year, 
John  C.  declined  an  offer  of  partnership 
from  the  successors,  not  wishing  to  use 
borrowed  money.  For  two  years  he  remain- 
ed with  the  house,  receiving  a  share  of  the 
profits  as  compensation.  For  some  years 
thereafter  he  was  engaged  in  the  commission 
business,  until  failing  health  caused  his 
retirement.  In  1871,  he  again  engaged  in 
the  sugar  refining  business  at  Greenport, 
Long  Island,  with  his  brother  and  another 
partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  Havemeyer 
Brothers  &  Co.  Here  he  remained  until 
1880,  when  his  health  a^ain  declined. 
During  the  greater  part  of  his  life  Mr. 
Havemeyer  was  ident:f:ed  witli  many  benev- 
olent societies,  including  the  New  York 
Port  Society,  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  American  Bible  Society, 


New  York  Sabbath  School  Society  and 
others.  He  was  active  in  Young  Mens 
Christian  Association  work  in  New  York, 
and  organized  and  was  the  first  president  of 
an  affiliated  society  of  the  same  at  Yonkers. 
He  was  director  of  several  railroad  corpo- 
rations and  a  trustee  of  the  Continental  Trust 
Company  of  New   York. 


w 


ALTER    QUINTIN   GRESHAM,   an 


jurist,  was  born  March  17,  1833,  near  Cory- 
don,  Harrison  county,  Indiana.  He  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  local  schools  of 
the  county  and  at  Bloomin^ton  Academy, 
akhough  he  did  not  graduate.  After  leav- 
ing college  he  rsad  law  with  Judge  Porter 
at  Corydon,  and  just  before  the  war  he  be- 
gan to  take  an  interest  in  politics.  Mr. 
Gresham  was  elected  to  the  legislature  from 
Harrison  county  as  a  Republican;  previous 
to  this  the  district  had  been  represented  by 
a  Democrat.  At  the  commencement  of 
hostilities  he  was  made  lieutenant-colonel  of 
the  Thirty-eighth  Indiana  Infantry,  but 
served  in  that  regiment  only  a  short  time, 
when  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Fifty- 
third  Indiana,  and  served  under  General 
Grant  at  the  siejje  of  Yicksburg  as  brigadier- 
general.  Later  he  was  under.  Sherman  in 
the  famous  "March  to  the  Sea,"  and  com- 
manded a  division  of  Blair's  corps  at  the 
siege  of  Atlanta  where  he  was  so  badly 
wounded  in  the  leg  that  he  was  compelled 
to  return  home.  On  his  way  home  he  was 
forced  to  stop  at  New  Albany',  where  he  re- 
mained a  year  before  he  was  able  to  leave. 
He  was  brevetted  major-general  at  the  close 
of  the  war.  While  at  New  Albany.  Mr. 
Gresham  was  appointed  state  agent,  his 
duty  being  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  state 
debt  in  New  York,  and  he  ran  twice  for 
congress    against  ex-Speaker   Kerr,  but  was 


184 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


defeated  in  both  cases,  although  he  greatly 
reduced  the  Democratic  majority.  He  was 
held  in  high  esteem  by  President  Grant, 
who  offered  him  the  portfolio  of  the  interior 
but  Mr.  Gresham  declined,  but  accepted 
the  appointment  of  United  States  judge  for 
Indiana  to  succeed  David  McDonald. 
Judge  Gresham  served  on  the  United  States 
district  court  bench  until  1883,  when  he 
was  appointed  postmaster-general  by  Presi- 
dent Arthur,  but  held  that  office  only  a  few 
months  when  he  was  made  secretary  of  the 
treasury.  Near  the  end  of  President 
Arthur's  term.  Judge  Gresham  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  United  States  circuit 
court  of  the  district  composed  of  Indiana, 
Illinois  and  contiguous  states,  which  he  held 
until  1893.  Judge  Gresham  was  one  of  the 
presidential  possibilities  in  the  National  Re- 
publican convention  in  is.ss.  when  General 
Harrison  was  nominated,  and  was  also  men- 
tioned for  president  in  1892.  Later  the 
People's  party  made  a  strenuous  effort  to 
induce  him  to  become  their  candidate  for 
dent,  he  refusing  the  offer,  however, 
and  a  few  weeks  before  the  election  he  an- 
nounced that  he  would  support  Mr.  Cleve- 
land, the  Democratic  nominee  for  president. 
Upon  the  a  of   Mr.  Cleveland  in   the 

fall  of  1892,  Judge  Gresham  was  made   the 
secretary 'of   state,  and    filled  that  pos 
until  his  death  on    May  28,   1895,  at  Wash- 
ington, District  of  Columbia. 


ELISHA  B.  ANDREWS,  noted  as  an  ed- 
ucator and  college  president,  was  born 
at  Hinsdale,  New  Hampshire,  January  10, 
1844,  his  father  and  mother  being  Erastus 
and  Elmira  (Bartlett)  Andrews.  In  1861, 
he  entered  the  service  of  the  general  gov- 
ernment as  private  and  non-commissioned 
officer  in  the  First  Connecticut  Heavy  Ar- 
tillery,  and  in    1863   was  promoted  to  the 


rank  of  second  lieutenant.  Returning  home 
he  was  prepared  for  college  at  Powers  In- 
stitute and  at  the  Wesleyan  Academy,  and 
entered  Brown  University.  From  here  he 
was  graduated  in  1870.  For  the  succeeding 
two  years  he  was  principal  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Literary  Institute  at  Sufneld, Connecticut. 
Completing  a  course  at  the  Newton  Theo- 
logical Institute,  lie  was  ordained  pastor  of 
the  First  Baptist  church  at  Beverly,  Massa- 
chusetts, July  2,  1874.  The  following 
year  he  became  president  of  the  Denison 
University,  at  Granville,  Ohio.  In  1879 
he  accepted  the  professorship  of  homiletics, 
pastoral  duties  and  church  polity  at  Newton 
Theological  Institute.  In  1882  he  was 
elected  to  the  chair  of  history  and  political 
economy  at  Brown  University.  The  Uni- 
versity of  Nebraska  honored  him  with  an 
LL.  D.  in  1 884,  and  the  same  year  Colby 
University  conferred  the  degree  of  D.  D. 
In  1888  he  became  professor  of  political 
economy  and  public  economy  at  Cornell 
University,  but  the  next  year  returned  to 
Brown  University  as  its  president.  From 
the  time  of  his  inauguration  the  college  work 
broadened  in  many  ways.  Many  timely 
and  generous  donations  from  friends  and 
alumni  of  the  college  were  influenced  by 
him,  and  large  additions  made  to  the  same. 

Professor  Andrews    published,  in    1 
"  Institutes    of     General    History,"    and   in 
1  SSS,   "  Institutes  of  !  lies." 


JOHN  WILLIAM  DRAPER,  the  subject 
of  the  present  biography,  was,  during  his 
life,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  chemists 
and  scientific  writers  in  America.  He  was 
an  Englishman  by  birth,  born  at  Liverpool, 
May  5,  iSii.and  was  reared  in  his  native 
land,  receiving  an  excellent  education, 
graduating  at  the  University  of  London.  In 
1833    he   came   to    the   United    States,  and 


COMPENDIUM    OF    /UUdh'A /•// r 


1-7 


settled  first  in  Pennsylvania.  He  graduated 
in  medicine  at  the  University  of  Philadel- 
phia, in  1836,  and  for  three  years  following 
was  professor  of  chemistry  and  physiology 
at  Hampden-Sidney  College.  He  then  be- 
came professor  of  chemistry  in  the  New  York 
University,  with  which  institution  he  was 
prominently  connected  for  many  years.  It 
is  stated  on  excellent  authority  that  Pro- 
fessor Draper,  in  1S39.  took  the  first  photo- 
graphic picture  ever  taken  from  life.  He 
was  a  great  student,  'and  carried  on  many 
important  and  intricate  experiments  along 
scientific  lines.  He  discovered  many  of  the 
fundamental  facts  of  spectrum  analysis, 
which  he  published.  He  published  a  number 
of  works  of  great  merit,  many  of  which  are 
recognized  as  authority  upon  the  subjects  of 
which  they  treat.  Among  his  work  were: 
"Human  Physiology,  Statistical  and  Dyna- 
mical of  the  Conditions  and  Cause  of  Life 
in  Man,"  "History  of  Intellectual  Develop- 
ment of  Europe,"  "History  of  the  Ameri- 
can Civil  War,"  besides  a  number  of  works 
on  chemistry,  optics  and  mathematics.  Pro- 
fessor Draper  continued  to  hold  a  high  place 
among  the  scientific  scholars  of  America 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  January, 
1882. 

GEORGE  W.  PECK,  ex-governor  of 
the  state  of  Wisconsin  and  a  famous 
journalist  and  humorist,  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son county,  New  York,  September  28,  1840. 
When  he  was  about  three  years  of  age  his 
parents  removed  to  Wisconsin,  settling  near 
Whitewater,  where  young  Peck  received  his 
education  at  the  public  schools.  At  fifteen 
he  entered  the  office  of  the  "Whitewater 
[  ter,"    where  he   learned    the  printer's 

art.  He  helped  start  the  "Jefferson  County 
Republican"     later    on,     but    sold    out    his 

interest  therein  and  set  type  in  the  office  of 

11 


the  "  State  Journal,"  at  Madison.  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the 
Fourth  Wisconsin  Cavalry  as  a  private,  and 
after  serving  four  years  returned  a  si 
lieutenant.  He  then  started  the  "  Ripon 
Representative,"  which  he  sold  not  long 
after,  and  removing  to  New  York,  was  on 
the  staff  of  Mark  Pomeroy's  "Democrat." 
Going  to  La  Crosse,  later,  he  conducted  the 
La  Crosse  branch  paper,  a  half  interest  in 
which  he  bought  in  1874.  He  next  started 
"Peck's  Sun,"  which  four  years  later  he 
removed  to  Milwaukee.  While  in  La 
Crosse  he  was  chief  of  police  one  year,  and 
also  chief  clerk  of  the  Democratic  assembly 
in  1874.  It  was  in  1878  that  Mr.  Peck- 
took  his  paper  to  Milwaukee,  and  achieved 
his  first  permanent  success,  the  circulation 
increasing  to  80,000.  For  ten  years  he  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  original,  versa- 
tile and  entertaining  writers  in  the  country, 
and  he  has  delineated  every  phase  of 
country  newspaper  life,  army  life,  domestic 
experience,  travel  and  city  adventure.  Up 
to  [890  Mr.  Peck  took  but  little  part  in 
politics,  but  in  that  year  was  elected  mayor 
of  Milwaukee  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 
The  following  August  he  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  Wisconsin  by  a  large  majority, 
the  "Bennett  School  Bill"  figuring  to  a 
large  extent  in  his  favor. 

Mr.  Peck,  besides  many  newspaper  arti- 
cles in  his  peculiar  vein  and  numerous  lect- 
ures, bubbling  over  with  fun,  is  known  to 
fame  by  the  following  books:  "  Peck's  Bad 
Boy  and  his  Pa,"  and  "The  Grocery  Man 
and  Peck's  Bad  Boy." 


CHARLES  O'CONOR,  who  was  for 
many  years  the  acknowledged  leader 
of  the  legal  profession  of  New  York  City, 
was  also  conceded  to  be  one  of  the  greatest 
lawyers   America   has   produced.      He  was 


188 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


born  in  New  York  City  in  1804,  his  father 
being  an  educated  Irish  gentleman.  Charles 
received  a  common-school  education,  and 
early  took  up  the  study  of  law,  being  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  1824.  His  close  ap- 
plication and  untiring  energy  and  industry 
soon  placed  him  in  the  front  rank  of  the 
profession,  and  within  a  few  years  he  was 
handling  many  of  the  most  important  cases. 
One  of  the  first  great  cases  he  had  and  which 
gained  him  a  wide  reputation,  was  that  of 
••  Jack,  the  Fugitive  Slave,  "  in  1835,  in  which 
his  masterful  argument  before  the  supreme 
court  attracted  wide  attention  and  com- 
ment. Charles  O'Conor  was  a  Democrat 
all  his  life.  He  did  not  aspire  to  office- 
holding,  however,  and  never  held  any  office 
except  that  of  district  attorney  under  Presi- 
dent Pierce's  administration,  which  he  only 
retained  a  short  time.  He  took  an  active 
interest,  however,  in  public  questions,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  state  1  New  York)  con- 
stitutional convention  in  1864,  In  [868  he 
was  nominated  for  the  presidem  y  by  the 
' '  Extreme  Democrats. "  His  death  occurred 
in  May,   1884, 

SIMON  BOLIVAR  BUCKNER,  a  noted 
American  officer  and  major-general  in 
the  Confederate  army,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1823.  He  graduated  from  West 
Point  Military  Academy  in  1844,  served  in 
the  United  States  infantry  and  was  later  as- 
signed to  commissary  duty  with  the  rank  of 
captain.  He  served  several  years  at  fron- 
tier posts,  and  was  assistant  professor  in  the 
military  academy  in  1846.  He  was  with 
General  Scott  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  en- 
gaged in  all  the  battles  from  Vera  Cruz  to 
the  capture  of  the  Mexican  capital.  He 
was  wounded  at  Cherubusco  and  brevetted 
first  lieutenant,  and  at  Molino  del  Rey  was 
brevetted  captain.     After  the  close   of  the 


Mexican  war  he  returned  to  West  Point  as 
assistant  instructor,  and  was  then  assigned 
to  commissary  duty  at  New  York.  He  re- 
signed in  1855  and  became  superintendent 
of  construction  of  the  Chicago  custom  house. 
He  was  made  adjutar.t-gener.al,  with  the 
rank  of  colonel,  of  Illinois  militia,  and  was 
colonel  of  Illinois  volunteers  raised  for  the 
Utah  expedition,  but  was  not  mustered  into 
service.  In  i860  he  removed  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  settled  on  a  farm  near  Louisville 
and  became  inspector-general  in  command 
of  the  Kentucky  Home  Guards.  At  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  war  he  joined  the  Con- 
federate army,  and  was  given  command  at 
Howling  Green,  Kentucky,  which  he  was 
compelled  to  abandon  after  the  capture  of 
Fort  Henry.  He  then  retired  to  Fort  Don- 
elson,  and  was  there  captured  with  sixteen 
thousand  men,  and  an  immense  store  of  pro- 
visions, by  General  Grant,  in  February, 
1862.  He  was  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war 
at  Fort  Warren  until  August  of  that  year. 
He  commanded  a  division  of  Hardee's  corps 
in  Bragg's  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  was 
afterward  assigned  to  the  third  division  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga, 
and  Murfreesboro.  He  was  with  Kirby 
Smith  when  that  general  surrendered  his 
army  to  General  Canby  in  May,  1865.  He 
was  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  the  vice- 
presidency  on  the  Gold  Democratic  ticket 
with  Senator  John  M.  Palmer  in  1896. 


SIMON  KENTON,  one  of  the  famous  pio- 
neers and  scouts  whose  names  fill  the 
pages  of  the  early  history  of  our  country, 
was  born  in  Fauquier  county,  Virginia, 
April  3,  1755.  In  consequence  of  an  affray, 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  young  Kenton  went 
to  Kentucky,  then  the  "Dark  and  Bloody 
Ground,"  and  became  associated  with  Dan- 
iel Boone  and  other  pioneers  of  that  region. 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


189 


For  a  short  time  he  acted  as  a  scout  and 
spy  for  Lord  Dunmore,  the  British  governor 
of  Virginia,  but  afterward  taking  the  side 
of  the  struggling  colonists,  participated  in 
the  war  for  independence  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies.  In  1784  he  returned  to  Virginia, 
hut  did  not  remain  there  long,  going  back 
with  his  family  to  Kentucky.  From 
that  time  until  1793  he  participated  in  all 
the  combats  and  battles  of  that  time,  and 
until  "Mad  Anthony"  Wayne  swept  the 
Valley  of  the  Ohio,  and  settled  the  suprem- 
acy of  the  whites  in  that  region.  Kenton 
laid  claim  to  large  tracts  of  land  in  the  new 
country  he  had  helped  to  open  up,  but 
through  ignorance  of  law,  and  the  growing 
value  of  the  land,  lost  it  all  and  was  reduced 
to  poverty.  During  the  war  with  England 
in  1812-15,  Kenton  took  part  in  the  inva- 
sion of  Canada  with  the  Kentucky  troops 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames. 
He  finally  had  land  granted  him  by  the 
legislature  of  Kentucky,  and  received  a  pen- 
sion from  the  United  States  government. 
He  died  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  April  29, 
1836.  

ELIHU  BENJAMIN  WASHBURNE,  an 
American  statesman  of  eminence,  was 
born  in  Livermore,  Maine,  September  23, 
1 8 16.  He  learned  the  trade  of  printer,  but 
abandoned  that  calling  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een and  entered  the  Kent's  Hill  Academy  at 
Reading,  Maine,  and  then  took  up  the  study 
of  law,  reading  in  Hallowell,  Boston,  and  at 
the  Harvard  Law  School.  He  began  prac- 
tice at  Galena,  Illinois,  in  1840.  He  was 
elected  to  congress  in  1852,  and  represented 
his  district  in  that  body  continuously  until 
March,  1869,  and  at  the  time  of  his  retire- 
ment he  had  served  a  greater  number  of 
consecutive  terms  than  any  other  member 
of  the  house.      In  1873  President  Grant  ap- 


pointed him  secretary  of  state,  which  posi- 
tion he  resigned  to  accept  that  of  minister 
to  France.  During  the  Franco-Prussian 
war,  including  the  siege  ol  Paris  and  the 
reign  of  the  Commune,  Mr.  Washburne  re- 
mained at  his  post,  protecting  the  lives  and 
property  of  his  countrymen,  as  well  as  that 
of  other  foreign  residents  in  Paris,  while  the 
ministers  of  all  other  powers  abandoned 
their  posts  at  a  time  when  they  were  most 
needed.  As  far  as  possible  he  extended 
protection  to  unfortunate  German  residents, 
who  were  the  particular  objects  of  hatred  of 
the  populace,  and  his  firmness  and  the  suc- 
cess which  attended  his  efforts  won  the  ad- 
miration of  all  Europe.  Mr.  Washburne 
died  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  October  22,  1887. 


WILLIAM  CRAMP,  one  of  the  most 
extensive  shipbuilders  of  this  coun- 
try, was  born  in  Kensington,  then  a  suburb, 
now  a  part  of  Philadelphia,  in  1806.  He 
received  a  thorough  English  education,  and 
when  he  left  school  was  associated  with 
Samuel  Grice,  one  of  the  most  eminent 
naval  architects  of  his  day.  In  1830,  hav- 
ing mastered  all  the  details  of  shipbuilding, 
Mr.  Cramp  engaged  in  business  on  his  own 
account.  By  reason  of  ability  and  excel- 
lent work  he  prospered  from  the  start,  until 
now,  in  the  hands  of  his  sons,  under  the 
name  of  William  Cramp  &  Sons'  Ship  and 
Engine  Building  Company,  it  has  become  the 
most  complete  shipbuilding  plant  and  naval 
arsenal  in  the  western  hemisphere,  and  fully 
equal  to  any  in  the  world.  As  Mr.  Cramp's 
sons  attained  manhood  they  learned  their 
father's  profession,  and  were  admitted  to  a 
partnership.  In  1872  the  firm  was  incor- 
porated under  the  title  given  above.  Until 
i860  wood  was  used  in  building  vessels,  al- 
though pace  was  kept  with  all  advances  in 
the  art  of  shipbuilding.      At  the  opening  of 


190 


CO.\fPK.\nU'M    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


the  war  came  an  unexpected  demand  for 
war  vessels,  which  they  promptly  met.  The 
sea-going  ironclad  "New  Ironsides"  was 
built  by  them  in  1862,  followed  by  a  num- 
ber of  formidable  ironclads  and  the  cruiser 
"Chattanooga."  They  subsequently  built 
several  war  vessels  for  the  Russian  and 
other  governments  which  added  to  their 
reputation.  When  the  American  steamship 
line  was  established  in  1870,  the  Cramps 
were  commissioned  to  build  for  it  four  first- 
class  iron  steamships,  the  "  Pennsylvania," 
"Ohio,"  "  Indiana  "  and  "  Illinois,"  which 
they  turned  out  in  rapid  order,  some  of  the 
finest  specimens  of  the  naval  architecture  of 
their  day.  William  Cramp  remained  at  the 
head  of  the  great  company  he  had  founded 
until  his  death,  which   occurred  January  6, 

-9. 

Charles  H.  Cramp,  the  successor  of  his 
father  as  head  of  the  William  Cramp  & 
Sons'  Ship  and  Engine  Building  Company, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia  May  9,  1829,  and 
received  an  excellent  education  in  his  native 
city,  which  he  sedulously  sought  to  sup- 
plement by  close  study  until  he  became 
an  authority  on  general  subjects  and  the 
best  naval  architect  on  the  western  hemis- 
phere. Many  of  the  best  vessels  of  our 
new  navy  were  built  by  this  immense  con- 
cern. 

WASHINGTON  ALLSTON,  probably 
the  greatest  American  painter,  was 
born  in  South  Carolina  in  1779.  He  was 
sent  to  school  at  the  age  of  seven  years  at 
Newport,  Rhode  Island,  where  he  met  Ed- 
ward Malbone,  two  years  his  senior,  and 
who  later  became  a  painter  of  note.  The 
friendship  that  sprang  up  between  them  un- 
doubtedly influenced  young  Allston  in  the 
choice  of  a  profession.  He  graduated  from 
Harvard   in   1800,  and  went  to  England  the 


following  year,  after  pursuing  his  studies  for 
a  year  under  his  friend  Malbone  at  his  home 
in  South  Carolina.  He  became  a  student 
at  the  Royal  Academy  where  the  great 
American,  Benjamin  West,  presided,  and 
who  became  his  intimate  friend.  Allston 
later  went  to  Paris,  and  then  to  Italy,  where 
four  years  were  spent,  mostly  at  Rome.  In 
1S09  he  returned  to  America,  but  soon  after 
returned  to  London,  having  married  in  the 
meantime  a  sister  of  Dr.  Channing.  In 
a  short  time  his  first  great  work  appeared, 
"The  Dead  Man  Restored  to  Life  by  the 
Bones  of  Elisha,"  which  took  the  British 
Association  prize  and  firmly  established  his 
reputation.  Other  paintings  followed  in 
quick  succession,  the  greatest  among  which 
were  "Uriel  in  the  Center  of  the  Sun," 
"Saint  Peter  Liberated  by  the  Angel,"  and 
"Jacob's  Dream,"  supplemented  by  many 
smaller  pieces.  Hard  work,  and  grief  at  the 
death  of  his  wife  began  to  tell  upon  his  health, 
and  he  left  London  in  [818  for  America. 
The  same  year  he  was  elected  an  associate 
of  the  Royal  Academy.  During  the  next 
few  years  he  painted  "Jeremiah,"  "Witch 
ofEndor,"  and  "Beatrice."  In  1830  Alls- 
ton  married  a  daughter  of  Judge  Dana,  and 
went  to  Cambridge,  which  was  his  home 
until  his  death.  Here  he  produced  the 
"Vision  of  the  Bloody  Hand,"  "Rosalie," 
and  many  less  noted  pieces,  and  had  given 
one  week  of  labor  to  his  unfinished  master- 
piece, "Belshazzar's  Feast,"  when  death 
ended  his  career  July  9,  1843. 


JOHN  ROACH,  ship  builder  and  manu- 
facturer, whose  career  was  a  marvel  of 
industrial  labor,  and  who  impressed  his  in- 
dividuality and  genius  upon  the  times  in 
which  he  lived  more,  perhaps,  than  anv 
other  manufacturer  in  America.  He  was 
born    at    Mitchelstown,    County  Cork,    Ire- 


CO.W/'/:.Y/>/C.U   OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


191 


land,  December  25,  181 5,  the  son  of  a 
wealthy  merchant.  He  attended  school 
until  he  was  thirteen,  when  his  father  be- 
came financially  embarrassed  and  failed 
and  shortly  after  died;  John  determined  to 
come  to  America  and  carve  out  a  fortune 
for  himself.  He  landed  in  New  York  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  and  soon  obtained  employ- 
ment at  the  Howell  Iron  Works  in  New  Jer- 
sey, at  twenty-five  cents  a  day.  He  soon 
made  himself  a  place  in  the  world,  and  at 
the  end  of  three  years  had  saved  some 
twelve  hundred  dollars,  which  he  lost  by 
the  failure  of  his  employer,  in  whose  hands 
it  was  left.  Returning  to  New  York  he 
began  to  learn  how  to  make  castings  for 
marine  engines  and  ship  work.  Having 
again  accumulated  one  thousand  dollars,  in 
company  with  three  fellow  workmen,  he 
purchased  a  small  foundry  in  New  York, 
but  soon  became  sole  proprietor.  At  the 
end  of  four  years  he  had  saved  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars,  besides  enlarging  his  works. 
In  1856  his  works  were  destroyed  by  a 
boiler  explosion,  and  being  unable  to  collect 
ths  insurance,  was  left,  after  paying  his 
debts,  without  a  dollar.  However,  his 
credit  and  reputation  for  integrity  was  good, 
and  he  built  the  Etna  Iron  Works,  giving  it 
capacity  to  construct  larger  marine  engines 
than  any  previously  built  in  this  country. 
Here  he  turned  out  immense  engines  for 
the  steam  ram  Dunderberg,  for  the  war  ves- 
sels Winooski  and  Neshaning,  and  other 
large  vessels.  To  accommodate  his  increas- 
ing business,  Mr.  Roach,  in  1869,  pur- 
chased the  Morgan  Iron  Works,  one  of  the 
largest  in  New  York,  and  shortly  after  sev- 
eral others.  In  1871  he  bought  the  Ches- 
ter ship  yards,  which  he  added  to  largely, 
erecting  a  rolling  mill  and  blast  furnace,  and 
providing  every  facility  for  building  a  ship 
out  of  the  ore  and   timber.     This  immense 


plant  covered  a  large  area,  was  valued  at 
several  millions  of  dollars,  and  was  known 
as  the  Delaware  River  Iron  Shipbuilding 
and  Engine  Works,  of  which  Mr.  Roach 
was  the  principal  owner.  He  built  a  large 
percentage  of  the  iron  vessels  now  Hying 
the  American  flag,  the  bulk  of  his  business 
being  for  private  parties.  In  1875  he  built 
the  sectional  dry  docks  at  Pensacola.  He, 
about  this  time,  drew  the  attention  of  the 
government  to  the  use  of  compound  marine 
engines,  and  thus  was  the  means  of  im- 
proving the  speed  and  economy  of  the  ves- 
sels of  our  new  navy.  In  1883  Mr.  Roach 
commenced  work  on  the  three  cruisers  for 
the  government,  the  "Chicago,"  "Boston" 
and  "Atlanta,"  and  the  dispatch  boat 
"  Dolphin."  For  some  cause  the  secretary 
of  the  navy  refused  to  receive  the  latter  and 
decided  that  Mr.  Roach's  contract  would 
not  hold.  This  embarrassed  Mr.  Roach, 
as  a  large  amount  of  his  capital  was  in- 
volved in  these  contracts,  and  for  the  pro- 
tection of  bondsmen  and  creditors,  July  18, 
1885,  he  made  an  assignment,  but  the 
financial  trouble  broke  down  his  strong  con- 
stitution, and  January  10,  1887,  he  died. 
His  son,  John  13.  Roach,  succeeded  to  the 
shipbuilding  interests,  while  Stephen  W. 
Roach  inherited  the  Morgan  Iron  Works  at 
New  York. 

JOHN  SINGLETON  COPLEY,  one  of 
the  two  great  painters  who  laid  the 
foundation  of  true  American  art,  was  born 
in  Boston  in  1737,  one  year  earlier  than  his 
great  contemporary,  Benjamin  West.  His 
education  was  limited  to  the  common  schools 
of  that  time,  and  his  training  in  art  he  ob- 
tained by  his  own  observation  and  experi- 
ments solely.  When  he  was  about  seven- 
teen years  old  he  had  mapped  out  his  future, 
however,  by  choosing  painting  as  his  pro- 


192 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


fession.  If  he  ever  studied  under  any 
teacher  in  his  early  efforts,  we  have  no  au- 
thentic account  of  it,  and  tradition  credits 
the  young  artist's  wonderful  success  en- 
tirely to  his  own  talent  and  untiring  effort. 
It  is  almost  incredible  that  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years  his  income  from  his 
works  aggregated  fifteen  hundred  dollars 
per  annum,  a  very  great  sum  in  those  days. 
In  1774  he  went  to  Europe  in  search  of  ma- 
terial for  study,  which  was  so  rare  in  his 
native  land.  After  some  time  spent  in  Italy 
he  finally  took  up  his  permanent  residence 
in  England.  In  17S3  he  was  made  a  mem- 
1  the  Royal  Academy,  and  later  his 
son  had  the  high  honor  of  becoming  lord 
chancellor  of  England  and  Lord  Lyndhurst. 
Many  specimens  of  Copley's  work  are  to 
iund  in  the  Memorial  Hall  at  Harvard 
and  in  the  Boston  Museum,  as  well  as  a  few 
of  the  works  upon  which  he  modeled  his 
style.  Copley  was  essentially  a  portrait 
painter,  though  his  historical  paintings  at- 
tained great  celebrity,  his  masterpiece 
being  his  "  Heath  of  Major  Pierson,"  though 
that  distinction  has  by  some  been  given  to 
his  "Death  of  Chatham.''  It  is  said  that 
he  never  saw  a  good  picture  until  he  was 
thirty-five  years  old,  yet  his  portraits  prior 
to  that  period  are  regarded  as  rare  speci- 
mens.     He  died  in  I  S  I  5. 


HENRY  B.  PLANT,  one  of  the  greatest 
railroad  men  of  the  country,  became 
famous  as  president  of  the  Plant  system  of 
railway  and  steamer  lines,  and  also  the 
Southern  &  Texas  Express  Co.  He  was 
born  in  October,  18 19,  at  Branford, 
Connecticut,  and  entered  the  railroad  serv- 
ice in  1S44,  serving  as  express  messenger 
on  the  Hartford  &  New  Haven  Railroad  until 
1853,  during  which  time  he  had  entire 
charge  of  the  express  business  of  that  road. 


He  went  south  in  1853  and  established  ex- 
press lines  on  various  southern  railways,  and 
in  1S61  organized  the  Southern  Express 
Co.,  and  became  its  president.  In  1879  he 
purchased,  with  others,  the  Atlantic  &  Gulf 
Railroad  of  Georgia,  and  later  reorganized 
the  Savannah,  Florida  &  Western  Railroad, 
of  which  he  became  president.  He  pur- 
chased and  rebuilt,  in  1880,  the  Savannah 
&  Charleston  Railroad,  now  Charleston  & 
annah.  Not  long  after  this  he  organ- 
ized the  Plant  Investment  Co.,  to  control 
these  railroads  and  advance  their  interests 
generally,  and  later  established  a  steamboat 
line  on  the  St.  John's  river,  in  Florida. 
From  1853  until  i860  he  was  general 
superintendent  of  the  southern  division  of 
the  Ad. mis  Express  Co.,  and  in  1867  be- 
came president  of  the  Texas  Express  Co. 
The  "Plant  system"  of  railway,  steamer 
and  steamship  lines  is  one  of  the  greatest 
business  corporations  of  the  southern  states. 


WADE  HAMPTON,  a  noted  Confeder- 
ate officer,  was  born  at  Columbia, 
South  Carolina,  in  1818.  He  graduated 
from  the  South  Carolina  College,  took  an 
active  part  in  politics,  and  was  twice  elected 
to  the  legislature  of  his  state.  In  1861  he 
joined  the  Confederate  army,  and  command- 
ed the  "  Hampton  Legion"  at  the  first  bat- 
tle of  Bull  Run,  in  July,  1861.  He  did 
meritorious  service,  was  wounded,  and  pro- 
moted to  brigadier-general.  He  command- 
ed a  brigade  at  Seven  Pines,  in  1862,  and 
was  again  wounded.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Antietam  in  September  of  the 
same  year,  and  participated  in  the  raid  into 
Pennsylvania  in  October.  In  1863  he  was 
with  Lee  at  Gettysburg,  where  he  was 
wounded  for  the  third  time.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general,  and 
commanded    a    troop    of    cavalry   in    Lee's 


MPEND1UM   Ol-    BIOGRAPHT, 


198 


army  during  1864.  and  was  in  numerous  en- 
naents.  In  1865  he  was  in  South  Car- 
olina, and  commanded  the  cavalry  rear 
guard  of  the  Confederate  army  in  its  stub- 
born retreat  before  General  Sherman  on  his 
advance  toward  Richmond. 

After  the  war  Hampton  took  an  active 
part  in  politics,  and  was  a  prominent  figure 
at  the  Democratic  national  convention  in 
1868,  which  nominated  Seymour  and  Blair 
for  president  and  vice-president.  He  was 
governor  of  South  Carolina,  and  took  his 
seat  in  the  United  States  senate  in  1879, 
where  he  became  a  conspicuous  figure  in 
national  affairs. 


NIKOLA  TESLA,  one  of  the  most  cele- 
brated electricians  America  has  known, 
was  born  in  1857,  at  Smiljau,  Lika,  Servia. 
He  descended  from  an  old  and  representative 
family  of  that  country.  His  father  was  a 
a  minister  of  the  Greek  church,  of  high  rank, 
while  his  mother  was  a  woman  of  remarka- 
ble skill  in  the  construction  of  looms,  churns 
and  the  machinery  required  in  a  rural  home. 
Nikola  received  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Gospich,  when  he  was 
sent  to  the  higher  "Real  Schule"  at  Karl- 
stadt,  where,  after  a  three  years'  course, 
he  graduated  in  1873.  He  devoted  him- 
self to  experiments  in  electricity  and 
magnetism,  to  the  chagrin  of  his  father, 
who  had  destined  him  for  the  ministry, 
but  giving  way  to  the  boy's  evident  genius 
he  was  allowed  to  continue  his  studies  in 
the  polytechnic  school  at  Gratz.  He  in- 
herited a  wonderful  intuition  which  enabled 
him  to  see  through  the  intricacies  of  ma- 
chinery, and  despite  his  instructor's  demon- 
stration that  a  dynamo  could  not  be  oper- 
ated without  commutators  or  brushes, 
began  experiments  which  finally  resulted  in 
his  rotating  field  motors.      After  the  study 


of  languages  at  Prague  and  Buda-Pestb,  he 
became  associated  with  M.  Puskas,  who 
had  introduced  the  telephone  into  Hungary. 
He  invented  several  improvements,  but 
being  unable  to  reap  the  necessary  benefit 
from  them,  he,  in  search  of  a  wider  field, 
went  to  Paris,  where  he  found  employment 
with  one  of  the  electric  lighting  companies 
as  electrical  engineer.  Soon  he  set  his  face 
westward,  and  coming  to  the  United  States 
for  a  time  found  congenial  employment  with 
Thomas  A.  Edison.  Finding  it  impossible, 
overshadowed  as  he  was,  to  carry  out  his 
own  ideas  he  left  the  Edison  works  to  join 
a  company  formed  to  place  his  own  inven- 
tions on  the  market.  He  perfected  his 
rotary  field  principle,  adapting  it  to  circuits 
then  in  operation.  It  is  said  of  him  that 
some  of  his  proved  theories  will  change  the 
entire  electrical  science.  It  would,  in  an 
j.rticle  of  this  length,  be  impossible  to  ex- 
plain all  that  Tesla  accomplished  for  the 
practical  side  of  electrical  engineering. 
His  discoveries  formed  the  basis  of  the  at- 
tempt to  utilize  the  water  power  of  Niagara 
Falls.  His  work  ranges  far  beyond  the 
vast  department  of  polyphase  currents  and 
hii;h  potential  lighting  and  includes  many 
inventions  in  arc  lighting,  transformers, 
pyro  and  thermo-magnetic  motors,  new 
forms  of  incandescent  lamps,  unipolar  dyna- 
mos and  many  others. 


CHARLES  B.  LEWIS  won  fame  as  an 
American  humorist  under  the  name  of 
"M.  Quad."  It  is  said  he  owes  his 
celebrity  originally  to  the  fact  that  he  was 
once  mixed  up  in  a  boiler  explosion  on  the 
Ohio  river,  and  the  impressions  he  received 
from  the  event  he  set  up  from  his  case  when 
he  was  in  the  composing  room  of  an  ob- 
scure Michigan  paper.  His  style  possesses  a 
peculiar  quaintness,  and  there  runs  tnrough 


m 


comp  i:\nu\i  of  biographt. 


it  a  vein  of  philosophy.  Mr.  Lewis  was 
born  in  1844,  near  a  town  called  Liverpool, 
Ohio.  He  was,  however,  raised  in  Lansing, 
Michigan,  where  he  spent  a  year  in  an  agri- 
cultural college,  going  from  there  to  the 
composing  room  of  the  "Lansing  Demo- 
crat." At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  en- 
listed in  the  service,  remained  during  the 
entire  war,  and  then  returned  to  Lansing. 
The  explosion  of  the  boiler  that  "blew  him 
into  fame,"  took  place  two  years  later,  while 
he  was  on  his  way  south.  When  he  re- 
covered physically,  he  brought  suit  for  dam- 
ages against  the  steamboat  company,  which 
he  gained,  and  was  awarded  a  verdict  of 
twelve    thousand    dollars    for    injuries    re- 

d.     It  was  while  he  was  employed  by 

Jacksonian"  of  Pontiac,  Mich., that  he 

set  up  his  account  of  how  he  felt  while  being 

blown  up.     He  says  that   be  signed  it    "M 

Quad,"  because  "  a  bourgeoisc    em  quad  is 

ss  except  in  its  own  line — it  won't 
justify  with  any  other  type."  Soon  after, 
because  of  the  celebrity  he  attained  by  this 
screed,  Mr.  Lewis  secured  a  place  on  the 
staff  of  tin  -Detroit  Free  Press, "  and  made 
for  that  paper  a  wide  reputation.  His 
sketches  of  the  "Lime  Kiln  Club"  and 
"  Brudder  Gardner "  are  perhaps  the  best 
known  of  his  humorous  writings. 


HIRAM  S.  MAXIM,  the  famous  inventor, 
was  born  in  Sangersville,  Maine, 
February  5,  1 840,  the  son  of  Isaac  W. 
and  Harriet  B.  Maxim.  The  town  of  his 
birth  was  but  a  small  place,  in  the 
woods,  on  the  confines  of  civilization, 
and  the  family  endured  many  hardships. 
They  were  without  means  and  entirely 
dependent  on  themselves  to  make  out  of 
raw  materials  all  they  needed.  The  mother 
was  an  expert  spinner,  weaver,  dyer  and 
seamstress  and  the  father  a  trapper,  tanner, 


miller,  blacksmith,  carpenter,  mason  and 
farmer.  Amid  such  surroundings  young 
Maxim  gave  early  promise  of  remarkable 
aptitude.  With  the  universal  Yankee  jack- 
knife  the  products  of  his  skill  excited  the 
wonder  and  interest  of  the  locality.  His 
parents  did  not  encourage  his  latent  genius 
but  apprenticed  him  to  a  coach  builder. 
Pour  years  he  labored  at  this  uncongenial 
trade  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  forsook 
it  and  entered  a  machine  shop  at  Fitchburg, 
Massachusetts.  Soon  mastering  the  details 
of  that  business  and  that  of  mechanical 
drawing,  he  went  to  Boston  as  the  foreman 
n|  the  philosophical  instrument  manufactory. 
From  thence  he  went  to  New  York  and  with 
the  Novelty  Iron  Works  Shipbuilding  Co. 
he  gained  experience  in  those  trades.  His 
inventions  up  to  this  time  consisted  of 
improvements  in  steam  engines,  and  an 
automatic  gas  machine,  which  came  into 
general  use.  In  1877  he  turned  his  attention 
to  electricity,  and  in  1S7S  produced  an 
incandescent  lamp,  that  would  burn  1,000 
hours.  He  was  the  first  to  design  a  process 
for  flashing  electric  carbons,  and  the  first 
to  "standardize"  carbons  for  electric  light- 
ing. In  1S80  he  visited  Europe  and  exhibit- 
ing, at  the  Paris  Exposition  of  1881,  a  self- 
regulating  machine,  was  decorated  with  the 
Legion  of  Honor.  In  1883  he  returned  to 
London  as  the  European  representative  of  the 
United  States  Electric  Light  Co.  An  incident 
of  his  boyhood,  in  which  the  recoil  of  a  rifle 
was  noticed  by  him,  and  the  apparent  loss 
of  power  shown,  in  1881-2  prompted  the 
invention  of  a  gun  which  utilizes  the  recoil  to 
automatically  load  and  fire  seven  hundred 
and  seventy  shots  per  minute.  The  Maxim- 
Nordenfelt  Gun  Co.,  with  a  capital  of  nine 
million  dollars,  grew  from  this.  In  1883  he 
patented  his  electric  training  gear  for  large 
guns.     And  later  turned  his  attention  to  fly- 


MPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY, 


196 


ing  machines,  which  he  claimed  were  not  an 
impossibility.  He  took  out  over  one  hundred 
patents  for  smokeless  gunpowder,  and  for  pe- 
troleum and  other  motors  and  autocycles. 


JOHN  DAVISON  ROCKEFELLER, 
one  of  America's  very  greatest  financiers 
and  philanthropists,  was  born  in  Richford, 
Tioga  county,  New  York,  July  8,  1S39.  He 
received  a  common-school  education  in  his 
native  place,  and  in  1853,  when  his  parents 
removed  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  he  entered  the 
high  school  of  that  city.  After  a  two-years' 
course  of  diligent  work,  he  entered  the  com- 
mission and  forwarding  house  of  Hewitt  & 
Tuttle,  of  Cleveland,  remaining  with  the 
firm  some  years,  and  then  began  business 
for  himself,  forming  a  partnership  with 
Morris  B.  Clark.  Mr.  Rockefeller  was  then 
but  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  during  the 
year  1S60,  in  connection  with  others,  they 
started  the  oil  refining  business,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Andrews,  Clark  &  Co.  Mr. 
Rockefeller  and  Mr.  Andrews  purchased  the 
interest  of  their  associates,  and,  after  taking 
William  Rockefeller  into  the  firm, established 
offices  in  Cleveland  under  the  name  of 
William  Rockefeller  &  Co.  Shortly  after 
this  the  house  of  Rockefeller  &  Co.  was  es- 
tablished in  New  York  for  the  purpose  of 
finding  a  market  for  their  products, -and  two 
years  later  all  the  refining  companies  were 
consolidated  under  the  firm  name  of  Rocke- 
feller, Andrews  &  Flagler.  This  firm  was 
succeeded  in  1870  by  the  Standard  Oil 
Company  of  Ohio,  said  to  be  the  most 
gigantic  business  corporation  of  modern 
times.  John  D.  Rockefeller's  fortune  has 
been  variously  estimated  at  from  one  hun- 
dred million  to  two  hundred  million  dollars. 
Mr.  Rockefeller's  philanthropy  mani- 
fested itself  principally  through  the  American 
Baptist   Educational  Society.      He  donated 


the  building  for  the  Spelman  Institute  at 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  a  school  for  the  instruction 
of  negroes.  His  other  gifts  were  to  the 
University  of  Rochester,  Cook  Academy, 
Peddie  Institute,  and  Yassar  College,  be- 
sides smaller  gifts  to  many  institutions 
throughout  the  country.  His  princely  do- 
nations, however,  were  to  th^  University  of 
Chicago.  His  first  gift  to  this  institution 
was  a  conditional  offer  of  six  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  in  1S89,  and  when  this  amount 
was  paid  he  added  one  million  more.  Dur- 
ing 1892  he  made  it  two  gifts  of  one  million 
each,  and  all  told,  his  donations  to  this  one 
institution  aggregated  between  seven  and 
eight  millions  of  dollars. 


JOHN  M.  PALMER.— For  over  a  third 
J  of  a  century  this  gentleman  occupied  a 
prominent  place  in  the  political  world,  both 
in  the  state  of  Illinois  and  on  the  broader 
platform  of  national  issues. 

Mr.  Palmer  was  born  at  Eagle  Creek, 
Scott  county,  Kentucky,  September  13, 
1817.  The  family  subsequently  removed 
to  Christian  county,  in  the  same  state,  where 
he  acquired  a  common-school  education,  and 
made  his  home  until  1831.  His  father  was 
opposed  to  slavery,  and  in  the  latter  year 
removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  near  Alton. 
In  1834  John  entered  Alton  College,  or- 
ganized on  the  manual-labor  plan,  but  his 
funds  failing,  abandoned  it  and  entered  a 
cooper  shop.  He  subsequently  was  en- 
gaged in  peddling,  and  teaching  a  district 
school  near  Canton.  In  1838  he  began  the 
study  of  law,  and  the  following  year  re- 
moved toCarlinville,  where,  in  December  of 
that  year,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He 
was  shortly  after  defeated  for  county  clerk. 
In  1843  he  was  elected  probate  judge.  In 
the  constitutional  convention  of  1847,  Mr. 
Palmer  was  a   delegate,  and   from  1849  to 


106 


COMI'EXDICU    OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


1 051  he  was  county  judge.  In  1852  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  state  senate,  but  not 
being  with  his  party  on  the  slavery  question 
he  resigned  that  office  in  1854.  In  1856 
Mr.  Palmer  was  chairman  of  the  first  Re- 
publican state  convention  held  in  Illinois, 
and  the  same  year  was  a  delegate  to  the 
national  convention.  In  1S60  he  was  an 
elector  on  the  Lincoln  ticket,  and  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  entered  the  service 
as  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infan- 
try bu<  w  hortly  after  brevetted  brigadier- 
general.  In  August,  [862,  be  organized 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  but  in  September  he  was 
placed  in  '"l  of  the   first  division  "I 

the  Army  of  the  Mississippi,  afterward  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general.  In 
1865  Ik- was  assigned  to  the  military  ad- 
ministration in  Kentucky.  In  [867G1 
Palmer  was  elected  governor  ol  Illinois  and 
served  four  years.  In  [872  he  went  with 
the  Liberal  Republicans,  who  supported 
Horace  Greeley,  after  which  time  he  was 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  In 
li>  w.is  elected  United  States  senator 
from  Illinois,  and  served  as  such  for  six 
In  [896,  on  the  adoption  of  the  sil- 
ver plank  in  the  platform  of  the  Democratic 
party,  General  Palmer  consented  to  lead, 
as  presidential  candidate,  the  National  Dem- 
oc  rats,  or  Gold  Democracy. 


WILLIAM  H.  BEARD,  the  humorist 
among  American  painters,  was  born 
at  Painesville,  Ohio,  in  1821.  His  father, 
James  H.  Beard,  was  also  a  painter  of  na- 
tional reputation.  William  H.  Beard  be- 
gan his  career  as  a  traveling  portrait 
painter.  He  pursued  his  studies  in  New 
York,  and  later  removed  to  Buffalo,  where 
he  achieved  reputation.      He   then    went  to 


Italy  and  after  a  short  stay  returned  to  New 
York  and  opened  a  studio.  One  of  his 
earliest  paintings  was  a  small  picture  called 
"Cat  and  Kittens,"  which  was  placed  in 
the  National  Academy  onexhibition.  Among 
his  best  productions  are  "Raining  Cats  and 
Dogs,"  "The  Dance  of  Silenus,"  "Bears 
on  a  Bender,"  "Bulls  and  Bears,"  "  Whoo!" 
"  Grimalkin's  Dream,"  "  Little  Red  Riding 
Hood,"  "The  Guardian  of  the  Flag."  His 
animal  pictures  convey  the  most  ludicrous 
and  satirical  ideas,  and  the  intelligent, 
human  expression  in  their  faces  is  most 
comical.  Some  artists  and  critics  have  re- 
fused 1  Mr  Beard  a  place  among  the 
first  circles  in  art,  solely  on  account  of  the 
class  of  subjects  he  lias  chosen. 


WW.   CORCORAN,  the  noted  philan- 
throphist,  was  born  at    Georgetown, 

District  of  Columbia  December  27,  170.X. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  five  he  entered  the 
banking  business  in  Washington,  and  in 
time  became  very  wealthy.  He  was 
noted  for  his  magnificent  donations  to  char- 
ity. Oak  Hill  cemetery  was  donated  to 
Georgetown  in  1847,  and  ten  years  later  the 
Corcoran  Art  Gallery,  Temple  of  Art,  was 
presented  to  the  city  of  Washington.  The 
uncompleted  building  was  utilized  by  the 
government  as  quartermaster's  headquar- 
ters during  the  war.  The  building  was 
completed  after  the  war  at  a  cost  of  a  mil- 
lion and  a  half  dollars,  all  the  gift  of  Mr. 
Corcoran.  The  Louise  Home  for  Women 
is  another  noble  charity  to  his  credit.  Its 
object  is  the  care  of  women  of  gentle  breed- 
ing who  in  declining  years  are  without 
means  of  support.  In  addition  to  this  he 
gave  liberally  to  many  worthy  institutions 
of  learning  and  charity.  He  died  at  Wash- 
ington February  24,  1888. 


COM/'/:\/)/L.U   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


197 


ALBERT  BIERSTADT,  the  noted  paint- 
er of  American  landscape,  was  born  in 
Dusseldorf,  Germany,  in  1829,  and  was 
brought  to  America  by  his  parents  at  the 
age  of  two  years.  He  received  his  early 
education  here,  but  returned  to  Dusseldorf 
to  study  painting,  and  also  went  to  Rome. 
On  his  return  to  America  he  accompanied 
Lander's  expedition  across  the  continent,  in 
.  and  soon  after  produced  his  most 
popular  work,  "The  Rocky  Mountains — 
Lander's  Peak."  Its  boldness  and  grandeur 
were  so  unusual  that  it  made  him  famous. 
The  picture  sold  for  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars.  In  1867  Mr.  Bierstadt  went  to  1 
Europe,  with  a  government  commission,  I 
and  gathered  materials  for  his  great  historic-  | 
al  work.  '-Discovery  of  the  North  River 
by  Hendrik  Hudson."  Others  of  his  great 
works  were  "Storm  in  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains," "Valley  of  the  Yosemite,"  "N  rth 
Fork  of  tne  Platte,"  "Diamond  Pool," 
"Mount  Hood."  "Mount  Rosalie,"  and 
"The  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains."  His 
"Estes  Park'  sold  for  fifteen  thousand 
dollars,  and  "Mount  Rosalie"  brought 
thirty-five  thousand  dollars.  His  smaller 
Rocky  mountain  scenes,  however,  are  vast- 
ly superior  to  his  larger  works  in  execution 
and  coloring. 

ADDISON'  CAM  MACK,  a  famous  mill- 
ionaire Wall  street  speculator,  was 
born  rn  Kentucky.  When  sixteen  years  old 
he  ran  away  from  home  and  went  to  New 
Orleans,  where  he  went  to  work  in  a  ship- 
ping house.  He  outlived  and  outworked 
all  the  partners,  and  became  the  head  of  the 
firm  before  the  opening  of  the  war.  At 
that  time  he  ntted  out  small  vessels  and  en- 
gaged in  running  the  blockade  of  southern 
ports  and  carrying  ammunition,  merchan- 
dise,  etc.,   to  the    southern    people.      This  ; 


made  him  a  fortune.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  quit  business  and  went  to  New 
York.  For  two  years  he  did  not  enter  any 
active  business,  but  seemed  to  be  simply  an 
on-looker  in  the  great  speculative  center  of 
America.  He  was  observing  keenly  the 
methods  and  financial  machinery,  however, 
and  when,  in  1S67,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  the  popular  Charles  J.  Osborne,  the 
firm  began  to  prosper.  He  never  had  an 
office  on  the  street,  but  wandered  into  the 
various  brokers'  offices  and  placed  his  orders 
as  he  saw  fit.  In  1S73  he  dissolved  his 
partnership  with  Osborne  and  operated 
alone.  He  joined  a  band  of  speculative 
conspirators  known  as  the  "Twenty-third 
party,"  and  was  the  ruling  spirit  in  that  or- 
ganization for  the  control  of  the  stock  mar- 
ket. He  was  always  on  the  ■  ■  bear  "  side  and 
the  only  serious  obstacle  he  ever  encoun- 
tered was  the  persistent  boom  in  industrial 
stocks,  particularly  sugar,  engineered  by 
James  R.  Keane.  Mr.  Cammack  fought 
Keane  for  two  years,  and  during  the  time  is 
said  to  have  lost  no  less  than  two  million 
dollars  before  he  abandoned  the  li^ht. 


WALT.  WHITMAN— Foremost  among 
the  lesser  poets  of  the  latter  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  the  gentleman  whose 
name  adorns  the  head  of  this  article  takes 
a  conspicuous  place. 

Whitman  was  born  at  West  Hills,  Long 
Island,  New  York,  May  13,  1809.  In  the 
schools  of  Brooklyn  he  laid  the  foundation 
of  his  education,  and  early  in  life  learned  the 
printer's  trade.  For  a  time  he  taught  coun- 
try schools  in  his  native  state.  In  18 
he  was  editor  of  the  "  Brooklyn  Ea 
but  in  1S48-9  was  on  the  editorial  staff  of 
the  "Crescent,"  of  New  Orleans.  He 
made  an  extended  tour  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  and  returned  to 


i98 


COM P EX  1)1  I'M   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


Brooklyn,  where,  in  1S50,  he  published  the 
"Freeman.  "  For  some  years  succeeding 
'.his  he  was  engaged  as  carpenter  and  builder. 
During  the  Civil  war,  Whitman  acted  as 
a  volunteer  nurse  in  the  hospitals  at 
Washington  and  vicinity  and  from  the  close 
of  hostilities  until  1 S73  he  was  employed 
in  various  clerkships  in  the  government 
offices  in  the  nation's  capital.  In  the  latter 
year  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis  as  a 
result  of  his  labors  in  the  hospital,  it  is 
said,  and  being  partially  disabled  lived  for 
many  years  at  Camden,    New  Jersey. 

The  first  edition  of  the  work  which  was 
to  bring  him  fame,  "Leaves  of  Grass,"  was 
published  in  [855  and  was  but  a  small 
volume  of  about  ninety-four  pages.  Seven 
or  eight  editions  of  "Leaves  of  Grass"  have 
bee-  I,  each  enlarged  and  enriched  with 

new    poems        "Drum    Taps,"    at    first    a 

irate  publication,  has  been  incorporated 
with  the  others.  This  volume  and  one 
prose  writing  entitled  "Specimen  Days  and 
Collect,"  constituted  his  whole  work. 

Walt.  Whitman  died  at  Camden,  New 
Jersey,   March  26,    1892. 


HENRY  DUPONT,  who  became  cele- 
brated as  America's  greatest  manufact- 
urer of  gunpowder,  was  a  native  of  Dela 
ware,  born  August  8,  1S12.  He  received 
his  education  in  its  higher  branches  at  the 
United  States  Military  Academy  at  West 
Feint,  from  which  he  graduated  and  entered 
the  army  as  second  lieutenant  of  artillery  in 
1833.  In  1 S 34  he  resigned  and  became 
ictor  of  the  extensive  gunpowder 
manufacturing  plant  that  bears  his  name, 
near  Wilmington,  Delaware.  His  large- 
business  interests  interfered  with  his  tak- 
ing any  active  participation  in  political 
life,  although  for  many  years  he  served 
as  adjutant-general  of  his  native  state,  ami 


during  the  war  as  major-general  command- 
ing the  Home  Guards.  He  died  August  8, 
1889.  His  son,  Henry  A.  Dupont,  also  was 
a  native  of  Delaware,  and  was  born  July  30, 
1838.  After  graduating  from  West  Point 
in  [861,  he  entered  the  army  as  second 
lieutenant  of  engineers.  Shortly  after  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Fifth  Artillery  as  first 
lieutenant.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  captain  in  1864,  serving  in  camp  ami 
garrison  most  of  the  time.  He  was  in  com- 
mand of  a  battery  in  the  campaign  of 
1863-4.  Aschief  of  artillery  of  the  army  of 
\  irginia,  he  figured  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  being  in  the  battles  of  Opequan, 
Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  besides 
many  minor  1  nents.      He    afterward 

acted  as  instructor  in  the  artillery  school  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  and  on  special  duty  at 
West  Point.  He  resigned  from  the  army 
March  1,   1 S  7  5 . 


WILLIAM  DEERING,  one  of  the  fa- 
mous manufacturers  of  America,  and 
also  a  philanthropist  and  patron  of  educa- 
tion, was  born  in  Maine  in  1S26.  His  an- 
cestors were  English,  having  si  ttled  in  New 
land  in  1634.  Early  in  life  it  was  Will- 
iam's intention  to  become  a  physician,  and 
after  completing  his  common-school  educa- 
tion, when  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  he 
began  an  apprenticeship  with  a  physician. 
A  short  time  later,  however,  at  the  requ*  1 
of  his  father,  he  took  charge  of  his  father's 
business  interests,  which  included  a  woolen 
mill,  retail  store  and  grist  mill,  after  which 
he  became  agent  for  a  dry  goods  commission 
house  in  Portland,  where  he  was  married. 
Later  he  became  partner  in  the  firm,  and 
removed  to  New  York.  The  business  pros- 
pered,  and  after  a  number  of  years,  on  ac- 
count of  failing  health,  Mr.  Deering  sold  his 
interest  to  his  partner,  a  Mr.  Milner.      The 


COMl'i:\l>irM   OF    BIOGRAPHr, 


199 


business  has  since  made  Mr.  Milner  a  mill- 
ionaire many  times  over.  A  few  years 
later  Mr.  Deering  located  in  Chicago.  His 
beginning  in  the  manufacture  of  reapers, 
which  has  since  made  his  name  famous, 
was  somewhat  of  an  accident.  He  had 
loaned  money  to  a  man  in  that  business, 
and  in  [878  was  compelled  to  buy  out  the 
business  to  protect  his  interests.  The  busi- 
ness developed  rapidly  and  grew  to  immense 
proportions.  The  factories  now  cover  sixty- 
two  acres  of  ground  and  employ  many  thou- 
sands of  men. 


John  McAllister  schofield,  an 
American  general,  was  born  in  Chautau- 
qua county,  New  York,  September  29,  1831. 
He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1853,  and 
was  for  five  years  assistant  professor  of  nat- 
ural philosophy  in  that  institution.  In  1861 
he  entered  the  volunteer  service  as  major  of 
the  First  Missouri  Volunteers,  and  was  ap- 
pointed chief  of  staff  by  General  Lyon,  under 
whom  he  fought  at  the  battle  of  Wilson's 
Creek.  In  November,  186 1,  he  was  ap- 
pointed brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Missouri 
militia  until  November,  1862,  and  of  the 
armv  of  the  frontier  from  that  time  until 
1863.  In  1862  he  was  made  major-general 
of  volunteers,  and  was  placed  in  command  of 
the  Department  of  the  Missouri,  and  in  1864 
of  the  Department  of  the  Ohio.  During  the 
campaign  through  Georgia  General  Scho- 
field was  in  command  of  the  Twenty-third 
Arm}'  Corps,  and  was  engaged  in  most  of  the 
fighting  of  that  famous  campa.ign.  Novem- 
ber 30,  1864,  he  defeated  Hood's  army  at 
Franklin,  Tennessee,  and  then  joined  Gen- 
eral Thomas  at  Nashville.  He  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Nashville,  where  Hood's  army 
was  destroyed.  In  January,  1865,  he  led 
his   corps    into    North    Carolina,    captured 


Wilmington,  fought  the  battle  of  Kingston, 
and  joined  General  Sherman  at  Goldsboro 
March  22,  1S05.  He  executed  the  details 
of  the  capitulation  of  General  Johnston  to 
Sherman,  which  practically  closed  the  war. 
In  June,  186S,  General  Schofield  suc- 
ceeded Edwin  M.  Stanton  as  secretary  of 
war,  but  was  the  next  year  appointed  major- 
general  of  the  United  States  arm},  ami  order- 
ed to  the  Department  of  the  Missouri.  From 
[870  to  1876  he  was  in  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  Pacific;  from  1876  to  1881 
superintendent  of  the  West  Point  Military 
Academy;  in  1883  he  was  in  charge  of  the 
Department  of  the  Missouri,  and  in  1  S86  of 
the  division  of  the  Atlantic.  In  iXSS  he 
became  general-in-chief  of  the  United  States 
army,  and  in  February,  1895,  was  appoint- 
ed lieutenant-general  by  President  Cleve- 
land, that  rank  having  been  revived  by  con- 
gress. In  September,  1895,  he  was  retired 
from  active  service. 


LEWIS  WALLACE,  an  American  gen- 
eral and  famous  author,  was  born  in 
Brookville,  Indiana,  April  10,  1S27.  He 
served  in  the  Mexican  war  as  first  lieutenant 
of  a  company  of  Indiana  Volunteers.  After 
his  return  from  Mexico  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  practiced  law  in  Covington  and 
Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  until  1 86 1 .  At  the 
opening  of  the  war  he  was  appointed  ad- 
jutant-general of  Indiana,  and  soon  after  be- 
came colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Indiana  Vol- 
unteers. He  defeated  a  force  of  Confeder- 
ates at  Roinney,  West  Virginia,  and  was 
made  brigadier-general  in  September,  1861. 
At  the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson  in  1862  he 
commanded  a  division,  and  was  engaged  in 
the  second  day's  fight  at  Sbiloh.  In  1 
his  defenses  about  Cincinnati  saved  that  city 
from  capture  by  Kirby  Smith.  At  Monoc- 
acy  in  July,    1864,    he    was  defeated,   but 


200 


COMPENDIUM   OF    A' /(><; A' ,1  /' //)'. 


his  resistance  delayed  the  advance  of  Gen- 
eral Early  and  thus  saved  Washington  from 
capture. 

General  Wallace  was  a  member  of  the 
court  that  tried  the  assassins  of  President 
Lincoln,  and  also  of  that  before  whom  Cap- 
tain Henry  W'irtz,  who  had  charge  of  the 
Andersonville  prison,  was  tried.  In  [88l 
General  Wallace  was  sent  as  minister  to 
Turkey.  When  not  in  official  service  he 
devoted  much  of  his  time  to  literature. 
Among  his  better  known  works  are  his 
• '  Fair  God,"  "Ben  Ilur,"  "Prince  of 
India,"  and  a  "  Life  of  Benjamin  Harrison." 


THOMAS  FRANCIS  BAYARD,  an  Ameri- 
can statesman  and  diplomat,  was  born 
at  Wilmington,  Delaware,  October  29,  [828, 

He  obtained  his  education  at  an  Episcopal 
academy    at    Flushing,    Long    Island,    and 

after  a  short  service  in  a  mercantile  house  in 
New  York,  he  returned  to  Wilmington  and 
entered  his  father's  law  office  to  prepare 
himself  for  the  practice  of  that  profession. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1S51.  He- 
was  appointed  to  the  office  of  United  States 
district  attorney  for  the  state  of  Delaware, 
serving  one  year.  In  1 869  he  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  senate,  and  continuously 
represented  his  state  in  that  body  until  1 S S  5 . 
and  in  1SS1,  when  Chester  A.  Art  bur  entered 
the  presidential  chair,  Mr.  Bayard  was 
chosen  president  pro  tempore  of  the  senate. 
He  had  also  served  on  the  famous  electoral 
commission  that  decided  the  Hayes-Tilden 
contestin  1876-7.  In  1885  President  Cleve- 
land appointed  Mr.  Bayard  secretary  of 
state.  At  the  beginning  of  Cleveland's  sec- 
ond term,  in  1893,  Mr.  Bayard  was  selected 
for  the  post  of  ambassador  at  the  court  of 
St.  James,  London,  and  was  the  first  to  hold 
that  rank  in  American  diplomacy,  serving 
until  the  beginning  of  the  McKinley  admin- 


istration. The  questions  for  adjustment  at 
that  time  between  the  two  governments 
were  the  Behring  Sea  controversy  and  the 
Venezuelan  boundary  question.  He  was 
very  popular  in  England  because  of  his 
tariff  views,  and  because  of  his  criticism  of 
the  protective  policy  of  the  United  States 
in  his  public  speeches  delivered  in  London, 
Edinburgh  and  oilier  places,  he  received,  in 
March,  [896,  .1  vote  of  censure  in  the  lower 
house  of  congress. 


JOHN  WORK  GARRETT,  For  so  many 
years  at  the  bead  of  the  great  Baltimore 

&  Ohio  railroad  system,  was  born  in  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  July  31,  [82O.  His  father, 
Robert  Garrett,  an  enterprising  merchant, 
had  amassed  a  large  fortune  from  a  small 
beginning.  The  son  entered  Lafayette  Col- 
in 1834,  but  left  the  following  year  and 
entered  Ins  lather's  counting  room,  and  in 
1839  became  a  partner.  John  W.  Gar- 
rett took  a  great  interest  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad,  He 
elected  one  of  the  directors  in  1857, 
and  was  its  president  from  1858  until  Ins 
death.  When  he  took  charge  of  the 
it  was  in  an  embarrassed  condition,  but 
within  a  year,  for  the  first  time  in  its  - 
ence,  it  paid  a  dividend,  the  increase  in  its 
tins  being  $725,385.  After  the  war, 
during  which  the  road  suffered  much  damage 
from  the  Confederates,  numerous  branches 
and  connecting  roads  were  built  or  acq u 
until  it  reached  colossal  proportions.  Mr. 
Garrett  was  also  active  in  securing  a  regular 
line  of  steamers  between  Baltimore  and 
Bremen,  and  between  the  same  port  and 
Liverpool.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active 
trustees  of  Johns  Hopkins  University,  and  a 
liberal  contributor  to  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  of  Baltimore.  He 
died  September  26,   1884. 


THE   BI(  (GRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


201 


then  sold  out  and  returned  to  the  farm,  but 
in  1895  he  again  came  to  Hallsville,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for  two 
years.  On  disposing  of  that  business,  he 
became  interested  in  the  grain  trade  at  Ken- 
ney,  where  he  spent  several  months.  After 
living  retired  for  a  year  or  so,  he  bought  an 
interest  with  his  son  in  the  grain  business 
at  I '."-well.  Indiana,  where  he  remained 
fifteen  months.  Since  then  he  has  lived  a 
retired  life  at  Hallsville,  Illinois,  enjoying 
a  well-earned  rest. 

In  Barnett  township  Mr.  Samuel  was 
married.  February  .}.  1859,  *o  Miss  Eliza- 
beth J.  Williams,  who  was  born  in  I 
county.  Indiana,  and  was  a  child  of  thir 
teen  years  when  she  came  to  DeWitl  county. 
Illinois,  with  her  father.  Simon  Williams, 
in  1851.  B)  this  union  were  horn  ten  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Siiencer  A.  married  and 
died,  leaving  one  daughter,  Maud:  Amedia 
I.  is  the  wife  of  William  Conner,  of  Bar- 
nett township,  and  they  have  two  children. 
Elva  and  Willis:  Willis  and  Frank  are  en- 

I  in  the  grain  business  in  partnt 
at  Boswell,  Indiana:  Lora  I',  married 
Charles  Downs  and  died,  leaving  one  son, 
Dudley,  who  now  finds  a  home  with  our 
subject;  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  ('.  I.  Kirby, 
of  Barnett  township,  and  has  two  sons, 
Harold  A.  and  Warren;  Ella  married  John 
H.  McKinney  and  i-  now  deceased;  I  let 
tie  i-  the  wife  of  W.  A.  Voder,  agent  for 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Mt.  Olive. 
Illinois,  and  they  have  one  child.  Maurine; 
Thomas  E.  i-  employed  in  a  -tore  at  Allen- 
town.  Illinois;  and  Alice  is  at  home  with 
her  parents. 

Mr.  Samuel  and  his  wife  and  daughter 
are  members  of  the  Hallsville  Christian 
church.  Politically  he  has  always  been 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party  since 
ca-ting     his     first     presidential     vote     for 


Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  i860,  hut  has  never 
political   positions,   preferring   to 

:ii-  time  and  attention   to  hi-  business 
interests,     lie  started  out  in  life  for  himself 
empty-handed,    hut.   being    industrious 
ergetic  and  enterprising,   he  steadih    pros- 

.  and  i>  to-day  one  of  the  well-to-do 
citi/ens  of  hi-  community,  a-  well  a-  one  of 
the  honored  residents  of  Hallsville. 


WILLI  AM   ARG  » 


Prominent  among  the  business  men  of 

Clinton  i>  William  Argo,  who  throughout 
life  ha-  been  closely  identified  with  the  in- 
terests of  tin-  city,  and  i-  now  president  of 
the  State  Bank  at  that  place,  lie  was  horn 
on  the  20th  of  March.  1844,  in  the  city 
where  he  -till  resides,  and  i-  a  son  of  Alex- 
ander and  Eliza  A.  1  Walraven  1  Argo. 
His  paternal  grandfather  was  Moses  Argo, 
who  was  horn  in  New  Jersey,  of  French 
ancestry,  and  front  that  state  removed  to 
Virginia  and  later  t. .  Ohio.  lie  wa-  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  a  soldier  of  the 
war  of  1812. 

Alexander  Argo,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject,  was  born  in  the  Buckeye  state  in  1807, 
and  was  reared  by  hi-  uncle.  Robert  Wat- 
kin.-,  with  whom  he  served  a  regular  ap- 
prenticeship to  the  wagonmaker's  trade, 
which  he  continued  to  foUow  to  some  ex- 
tent throughout  hi-  active  business  life, 
lie  acquired  some  property  in  Ohio,  which 
he  traded  for  a  lot  of  spinning  wheels,  and 
he  shipped  by  boat  down  the  Ohio 
river  and  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois 
rivers  to  Pekin,  tin-  state.  They  were  then 
brought  overland  to  Clinton  and 
throughout  tin-  section,  many  being  still 
found    in    DeWitt   county.      .Mr.    Argo   first 


202 


Till-    lilOGRAIMJH    \L    RECORD. 


visited  this  locality  in  1S40.  and  purchased 
the  old  homestead  of  Daniel  Newcomb,  but 
did  n«  >i  locate  permanent  1\  here  until  1^44. 
when  he  opened  a  wagon  -li"i>  in  Clinton 
and  made  1>\  hand  the  first  and  must  sub- 
stantial wagons  used  by  the  pioneers  <>i  the 
\  trinity.  I  le  also  devoted  some  time  ti  - 
the  cultivation  and  improvemenl  oi  the 
property  purchased  in  [840.  Being  a  man 
of  good  business  abilit)  and  sound  judg 
ment,  he  acquit  irtune,  and  was   re 

garded   as   one  "f   the   leading  citizens  •'! 

ton.  The  railroad  now  passes  over 
the  site  "i"  hi-  second  -hup.  lie  had  jn-t 
began  the  erection  uf  this  when  the  rail- 
road was  surveyed,  and,  as  it  passed  oyer 
the  -ite.  he  moved  it  up  town,  where  alter 
a  time  it  wa-  occupied  b)    R.   R.  Craig.      In 

\  life  Mr.  Wgo  wa-  a  member  of  the 
Methodisl  church,  and  wa-  instrumental  in 
establishing  and  building  the  church  in 
1  linton,  "i'  which  he  wa-  an  active  member 
until  death.  In  politics  h*  was  firs)  a 
Whig  and   later   a    Republican.       Me  died   at 

his  home  on  the  corner  of  Madison  ami  J 
ferson  streets  in  [883,  honored  and 
spected  by  all  who  knew  him.  Hi-  estim- 
able wife,  who  wa-  1m. in  September  19, 
[815,  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  passed 
away  August  17.  [899.  They  were  the 
parent-  of  -i\  children,  namely:  Mr-. 
I'hilena  Campbell;  Samuel  M.:  Emanuel 
G. ;  Thomas  I.:  William,  our  subject;  and 
Martin  Luther,  who  died  in  infancy. 

\\  illiam  Arj  i\  ed  In-  early  tn 

ing  upon  the  home  farm  and  obtained  his 
literary  education  in  the  public  schools  ol 
the  neighborhood.  In  187*)  he  embarked 
in  the  iee  business  with  hi-  brother  Eman- 
uel, and  continued  t"  carry  on  that  busi- 
ness in  Clinton  until  [899,  when  he  sold 
..ut.  The  brothers  own  considerable  real 
e-tate.  including  eight)   acre    of  line  farm- 


ing land  on  section  9,  Harp  township,  and 
two  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  '>n  sections 
32  and  33,  the  -ame  township.  On  the  i-t 
of  July,  1890,  he  assisted  m  the  establish- 
ment of  the  State  I  '..ink  of  Clinton,  which 
wa-  organized  with  a  capital  of  lift)  thou- 
sand dollars.  It-  first  officers  were  Thomas 
II.  Slick,  president;  Dr.  J.  N  Wilcox,  vice 
president;  ami  James  II.  Harrison,  cashier 
Later  Mr.  Slick  wa-  succeeded  by  Thomas 
M.  Levett  a-  president,  and  since  then  J.  1'.. 
Holderman  and  I).  T.  Gay  have  also  filled 
that  ..Hue.  while  Mr.  Vrgo  ha-  served  in 
that  capacitj  since  1898.  I>-.  Wilcox  has 
always  been  vice-president,  and  the  other 
officers  at  the  present  time  are  Lewis  Mur 
phy,    cashier;    George    G.     Vrgo,  assistant 

cashier;    and    A.    R.     Young,    I kkeeper. 

'I"he  hank  purchased  a  new  block  erected  by 
John  <  i.  Cackley,  ami  bave  built  a  lire  and 
burglar-proof  vault  with  deposit  boxes  and 
a  time-kick  safe.  It  1-  now  in  a  flourishing 
condition,  and  i-  considered  one  of  the  mosl 
reliable  financial  institutions  of  the  county. 
It-  success  1-  certainly  due  in  a  large  meas 
nre  to  Mr.  Vrgo,  who  1-  one  of  the  most 
conservative  business  men  ami  ablest  finan 

ciers  1  a'  I   linn  .11.       Me  1-  a  man  1  if  keen  di- 
crimination  and  -mmd   judgment,  ami  in  all 
In-  undertakings  ha-  been  quite  successful. 
lie  occupies  a  prominent  position  in  busi 
ne--  circles,  and  i-  a  worthy  representative 
of  an  1. Id  and   honored   family   of   DeWitt 

county. 

♦  -♦• 

GE(  >RGE  \\.  M<  >0RE. 

George  W.  Moore,  now  deceased,  was 
"tie  "f  the  leading  men  of  Wilson  township, 
DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  and  during  his  later 
days  Ik-  resided  on  section  30.  lie  was 
In 'in  in  Case\  countv,  Kentucky,  in  Febru- 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPlir. 


208 


of  consequence.  "The  Card -Players  "  and 
"The  Savoyard.''  He  then  went  to  Paris, 
but  was  called  home,  after  an  absence  from 
America  of  six  years.  He  lived  some  time 
in  Washington,  and  then  spent  two  years 
among  the  Indians  of  Lake  Superior.  In 
1858  he  produced  his  famous  picture,  "The 
Old  Kentucky  Home."  He  took  up  his 
permanent  residence  at  New  York  at  that 
time.  His  "  Sunday  Morning  in  Virginia  " 
is  a  work  of  equal  merit.  He  was  espe- 
cially successful  in  coloring,  a  master  of 
drawing,  and  the  expression  conveys  with 
precision  the  thought  of  the  artist.  His 
portrayal  of  family  life  and  child  life  is  un- 
equalled. Among  his  other  great  works  are 
"The  Confab,"  "Crossing  a  Stream,' 
"Chimney  Sweep,"  "Old  Stage  Coach," 
"  The  New  Bonnet,"  "  The  Drummer  Boy," 
"Childhood  of  Lincoln,"  and  a  great  vari- 
ety of  equally  familiar  subjects. 


PIERCE  GUSTAVE  TOUTAXT  BEAU- 
REGARD, one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished generals  in  the  Confederate  army, 
was  born  near  New  Orleans,  Louisiana, 
May  28,  181 8.  He  graduated  from  West 
Point  Military  Academy  in  1838,  and  was 
made  second  lieutenant  of  engineers.  He 
was  with  General  Scott  in  Mexico,  and  dis- 
tinguished himself  at  Vera  Cruz,  Cerro 
Gordo,  and  the  battles  near  the  City  of 
Mexico,  for  which  he  was  twice  brevetted. 
After  the  Mexican  war  closed  he  was  placed 
in  charge  of  defenses  about  New  Orleans, 
and  in  i860  was  appointed  superintendent 
of  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point.  He  held  this  position  but  a 
few  months,  when  he  resigned  February  20, 
1 86 1,  and  accepted  a  commission  of  briga- 
dier-genera! in  the  Confederate  army.  He 
directed   the    attack    on    Fort    Sumter,  the 

first  engagement  of  the  Civil  war.      He  was 
12 


in  command  of  the  Confederates  at  the  first 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  for  this  victory  was 
made  general.  In  [862  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  planned  the  attack  upon  General  Grant 
at  Shiloh,  and  upon  the  death  of  General 
Johnston  he  took  command  of  the  army 
and  was  only  defeated  by  the  timely  arrival 
of  General  Buell  with  reinforcements.  He 
commanded  at  Charleston  and  successfully 
defended  that  city  against  the  combined  at- 
tack by  land  and  sea  in  1863.  In  1S64  he 
was  in  command  in  Virginia,  defeating  Gen- 
eral Butler,  and  resisting  Grant's  attack 
upon  Petersburg  until  reinforced  from  Rich- 
mond. During  the  long  siege  which  fol- 
lowed he  was  sent  to  check  General  Sher- 
man's march  to  the  sea,  and  was  with  Gen- 
eral Joseph  E.  Johnston  when  that  general 
surrendered  in  1865.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  he  was  largely  interested  in  railroad 
management.  In  1866  he  was  offered  chief 
command  of  the  Army  of  Roumania,  and  in 
1869,  that  of  the  Army  of  Egypt.  He  de- 
clined these  offers.  His  death  occurred 
February  20,   1S93. 


HENRY  GEORGE,  one  of  America's 
most  celebrated  political  economists, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
September2,  1839.  He  received  acommon- 
school  education  and  entered  the  high 
school  in  1853,  and  then  went  into  a  mer- 
cantile office.  He  made  several  voyages  on 
the  sea,  and  settled  in  California  in  I 
He  then  worked  at  the  printer's  trade  for  a 
number  of  years,  which  he  left  to  follow  the 
editorial  profession.  He  edited  in  succession 
several  daily  newspapers,  and  attracted  at- 
tention by  a  number  of  strong  essays  and 
speeches  on  political  and  social  questions. 
In  1S71  he  edited  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "Out 
Land  and  Policy,"  in  which  he   outlined  a 


1-01 


com n:\mr.\r  of  biogkm'ii)- 


theory,  which  has  since  made  him  so  widely 
known.  This  was  developed  in  "  Progress 
and  Poverty,"  a  book  which  soon  attained  a 
large  circulation  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlan- 
tic, which  has  been  extensively  translated. 
In  iSSo  Mr.  George  located  in  New  York, 
where  he  made  his  home,  though  lie  fre- 
quently addressed  audiences  in  Great  Britain, 
Ireland,  Australia,  and  throughout  the 
United  States.  In  1 886  he  was  nominated 
b)  the  labor  organizations  for  mayor  oi  New 
York,  and  made  a  campaign  notable  I 
development  of  um  Ipowei    [n  1887  he 

was  candidate  of  the  Union  Labor  party  for 
secretary  of  state  of  NewYork.  These  cam- 
paigns served  to  formulate  the  idea  of  a 
ta\  and  popularize  the  Australian  ballot  sys- 
tem. Mr.  George  became  a  free  trader  in 
1888.  and  in  [892  supported  the  election  of 
Grover  Cleveland.  His  political  and  eco- 
nomic ideas,  known  as  the  "single  tax," 
have  a  large  and  growing  support,  but  are 
not  confined  to  this  country  alone.  He 
wrote  numerous  miscellaneous  articles  in 
support  of  his  principles,  and  also  published: 
"The  Land  Question, "  "  Social  Probli 
"Protection  or  Free  Trade,"  "The  Condi- 
tion of  Labor,  an  ( >pen  Letter  to  Pope  Leo 
XIII.,"  and  "  Perplexed  Philosopher." 


THOMAS  ALEXANDER  SCOTT. —This 
name    is    indissolubly    connected    with 
the  history  and  development  of  the  railway 

systems  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Scott 
wis  horn  December  28,  [823,  at  London, 
Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  first 
regularly  employed  by  Major  James  Patton, 

the  collector  of  tolls  on  the  state  road  be- 
tween Philadelphia  and  Columbia,  Penn- 
sylvania. He  entered  into  the  employ  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  in  1850, 
and  went  through  all  the  different  branches 
of  work  until  he  had  mastered  all  the  details 


of  the  office  work,  and  in  1858  he  was  ap- 
pointed general  superintendent.  Mr.  Scott 
was  the  next  year  chosen  vice-president  of 
the  road.  This  position  at  once  brought 
him  before  the  public,  and  the  enterprise 
and  ability  displayed  by  him  in  its  manage- 
ment marked  him  as  a  leader  among  the 
railroad  men  of  the  country.  At  the  out- 
break of  the  rebellion  in  1S61,  Mr.  Scott 
was  selected  by  Governor  Curtin  as  a  mem- 
ber Of  his  st. iff,  and  placed  in  charge  of  the 
equipment  and  forwarding  of  the  state  troops 
to  the  seat  of  war.  On  April  27,  [ 86 1 ,  the 
secretary  of  war  desired  to  establish  a  new 
line  of  read  between  the  national  capital 
and  Philadelphia,  for  the  more  expeditions 
transportation  ps,      I  le  called   upon 

\li  Si  tt  to  direct  tins  work,  and  the  road 
by  the  way  of  Annapolis  and  Perryville  was 
completed  in  a  marvelously  short  space  of 
time.  On  May  3,  1861,  he  was  commis- 
sioned colonel  of  volunteers,  and  on  the  23d 
oi  the  same  month  the  government  raili 
.Hid  telegraph  lines  were  placed  in  his  charge, 
Mi    Scott   was  the  first  a  secretary 

of  war  ever  appointed,  and  he  took  charge 
of  this  new  post  August  1,  1 86 1 .  In  Janu- 
ary, [862,  he  was  directed  to  organize 
transportation  in  the  northwest,  and  in 
March  he  performed  the  s.uue  service  on 
the  western  rivers.  He  resigned  June  1, 
1862,  and  resumed  his  direction  of  affaii 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  Coloin-I  Scott 
directed  the  policy  thai  secured  to  his  road 
the  control  of  the  western  roads,  and  be- 
came the  president  of  the  new  company  to 
te  these  lines  in  1871.  For  one  year, 
from  March,  1S71,  he  was  president  of  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad,  and  in  1874  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  presidency  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Company.  He  projected  the  Texas 
Pacific  Railroad  and  was  for  many  years  its 
president.     Colonel    Scott's    health     failed 


MPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHT. 


him  and  he  resigned  the  presidency  of  the 
road  June  i,  1S80,  and  died  at  his  home  in 
Darby,  Pennsylvania,  May  2 1 ,   1SS1. 


ROBERT  TOOMBS,  an  American  states- 
man of  note,  was  born  in  Wilkes  coun- 
ty, Georgia,  July  2,  1S10.  He  attended 
the  University  of  Georgia,  and  graduated 
•from  Union  College,  Schenectady,  New 
York,  and  then  took  a  law  course  at  the 
University  of  Virginia.  In  1830,  before  he 
had  attained  his  majority,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  by  special  act  of  the  legislature, 
and  rose  rapidly  in  his  profession,  attracting 
the  attention  of  the  leading  statesmen  and 
judges  of  that  time.  He  raised  a  volunteer 
company  for  the  Creek  war,  and  served  as 
captain  to  the  close.  He  was  elected  to  the 
state  legislature  in  1837,  re-elected  in  1842, 
and  in  1S44  was  elected  to  congress.  He 
had  been  brought  up  as  a  Jeffersonian 
Democrat,  but  voted  for  Harrison  in  1840 
and  for  Clay  in  1844.  He  made  his  first 
speech  in  congress  on  the  Oregon  question, 
and  immediately  took  rank  with  the  greatest 
debaters  of  that  bod}'.  In  1853  he  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  and 
again  in  1859,  but  when  his  native  state 
seceded  he  resigned  his  seat  in  the  senate 
and  was  elected  to  the  Confederate  con- 
gress. It  is  stated  on  the  best  authority 
that  had  it  not  been  for  a  misunderstanding 
which  could  not  be  explained  till  too  late  he 
would  have  been  elected  president  of  the 
Confederacy.  He  was  appointed  secretary 
of  state  by  President  Davis,  but  resigned 
after  a  few  months  and  was  commissioned 
brigadier-general  in  the  Confederate  army. 
He  won  distinction  at  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run  and  at  Sharpsburg,  but  resigned 
his  commission  soon  after  and  returned  to 
Georgia.  He  organized  the  militia  of 
Georgia  to  resist  Sherman,   and  was  made 


brigadier-general  of  the  state  troops.  He 
left  the  country  at  the  close  of  the  war  and 
did  not  return  until  1SG7.  He  died  Decem- 
ber 1  5,   1 

AUSTIN  CORBIN,  one  of  the  greatest 
railway  magnates  of  the  United  States, 
-  born  July  11,  1827,  at  Newport.  New 
Hampshire.  He  studied  law  with  Chief 
Justice  dishing  and  Governor  Ralph  Met- 
calf,  and  later  took  a  course  in  the  Harvard 
Law  School,  where  he  graduated  in  1849. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  practiced 
law,  with  Governor  Metcalf  as  his  partner, 
until  October  12.  1851.  Mr.  Corbin  then 
removed  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1865.  In  1854  he  was  a  part- 
ner in  the  banking  firm  of  Macklot  &  Cor- 
bin, and  later  he  organized  the  First  Na- 
tional bank  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  which 
commenced  business  June  29,  1863,  and 
which  was  the  first  national  bank  open  for 
business  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Corbin 
sold  out  his  business  in  the  Davenport  bank, 
and  removed  to  New  York  in  1S65  and  com- 
menced business  with  partners  under  the 
style  of  Corbin  Banking  Company.  Soon 
after  his  removal  to  New  York  he  became 
interested  in  railroads,  and  became  one  of 
the  leading  railroad  men  of  the  country. 
The  development  of  the  west  half  of  Coney 
Island  as  a  summer  resort  first  brought  him 
into  general  prominence.  He  built  a  rail- 
road from  New  York  to  the  island,  and 
built  great  hotels  on  its  ocean  front.  He 
next  turned  his  attention  to  Long  Island, 
and  secured  all  the  railroads  and  consoli- 
dated them  under  one  management,  became 
president  of  the  system,  and  under  his  con- 
trol Long  Island  became  the  great  ocean 
suburb  of  New  York.  His  latest  public 
achievement  was  the  rehabilitation  of  the 
Reading    Railroad,    of    Pennsylvania,     and 


206 


COMr/:\/UL'M  OF   biography. 


during  the  same  time  he  and  his  friends 
purchased  the  controlling  interest  of  the 
New  Jersey  Central  Railroad.  He  took  it 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  receiver,  and  in 
three  years  had  it  on  a  dividend-paying 
basis.  Mr.  Corbin's  death  occurred  June 
4.  1896.  

JAMES  GORDON  BENNETT,  Sr., 
was  one  of  the  greatest  journalists  of 
America  in  his  day.  He  was  born  Septem- 
ber 1,  1795,  at  New  Mill,  near  Keith,  Scot- 
land. At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  sent 
to  Aberdeen  to  study  fur  the  priesthood, 
but.  convinced  that  he  was  mistaken  in  his 
vocation,  he  determined  to  emigrate.  He 
landed  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  in  1819, 
where  he  attempted  to  earn  a  living  by 
teaching  bookkeeping.  Failing  in  this  he 
went  to  Boston  and  found  employment  as  a 
proofreader.  Mr.  Bennett  went  to  New 
York  about  [822  and  wrote  for  the  news- 
papers. Later  on  he  became  assistant 
editor  in  the  office  of  the  "Charleston 
Courier. "but  returned  to  New  York  in  1N24 
and  endeavored  to  start  a  commercial 
school,  but  was  unsuccessful  in  this,  and 
again  returned  to  newspaper  work.  He 
continued  in  newspaper  work  with  varying 
success  until,  at  his  suggestion,  the  "En- 
quirer" was  consolidated  with  another 
paper,  and  became  the  "Courier  and  En- 
quirer," with  James  Watson  Webb  as 
editor  and  Mr.  Bennett  for  assistant.  At 
this  time  this  was  the  leading  American 
newspaper.  He,  however,  severed  his  con- 
nection with  this  newspaper  and  tried, 
without  success,  other  ventures  in  the  line 
of  journalism  until  May  6,  1835,  when  he 
issued  the  first  number  of  the  "New  York 
Herald."  Mr.  Bennett  wrote  the  entire 
paper,  and  made  up  for  lack  of  news  by  his 
own  imagination.     The  paper  became  popu- 


lar, and  in  1838  he  engaged  European  jour- 
nalists as  regular  correspondents.  In  1841 
the  income  derived  from  his  paper  was  at 
least  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  the  "  Herald  "  had  on  its 
staff  sixty-three  war  correspondents  and  the 
circulation  was  doubled.  Mr.  Bennett  was 
interested  with  John  W.  Mackay  in  that  great 
enterprise  which  is  now  known  as  the  Mac- 
kay-Bennett  Cable.  He  had  collected  for  use 
in  his  paper  over  fifty  thousand  biographies, 
sketches  and  all  maimer  of  information  re- 
ding  every  well-known  man,  which  are 
still  kept  in  the  archives  of  the  "Herald" 
office.  He  died  in  the  city  of  New  York  in 
1  $72,  and  left  to  his  son,  James  Gordon, 
Jr.,  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  profitable 
journals  in  the  United  States,  or  even  in  the 
world. 

OLIVER  WENDELL  HOLMES,  a 
noted  American,  won  distinction  in  the 
field  of  literature,  in  which  he  attained  a 
world-wide  reputation.  -He  was  born  at 
Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  August  29,  1809. 
He  received  a  collegiate  education  and  Kr;*'l- 
Uated  from  Harvard  in  1829,  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  and  took  up  the  study  of  law  and 
later  studied  medicine.  Dr.  Holmes  at- 
tended several  years  in  the  hospitals  of 
Europe  and  received  his  degree  in  1836. 
He  became  professor  of  anatomy  and  phys- 
iology in  Dartmouth  in  1838,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1847,  when  he  was 
called  to  the  Massachusetts  Medical  School 
at  Boston  to  occupy  the  same  chair,  which 
position  he  resigned  in  1882.  The  first 
collected  edition  of  his  poems  appeared  in 
1836,  and  his  "Phi  Beta  Kappa  Poems," 
"Poetry,"  in  1836;  "Terpsichore,"  in  1843; 
"Urania,"  in  1846,  and  "Astraea,"  won  for 
him  many  fresh  laurels.  His  series  of 
papers   in  the   "Atlantic    Monthly,"    were: 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


"Autocrat  of  the  Breakfast  Table,"  "Pro- 
fessor at  the  Breakfast  Table,''  "Poet  at 
the  Breakfast  Table,"  and  are  a  series  of 
masterly  wit.  humor  and  pathos.  Among 
hismedical  papers  and  addresses, are:  "Cur- 
rents and  Counter-currents  in  the  Medical 
Science,"  and  "Borderland  in  Some  Prov- 
inces of  Medical  Science."  Mr.  Holmes 
edited  quite  a  number  of  works,  of  which 
we  quote  the  following:  "Else  Vernier.  ' 
"Songs  in  Many  Keys,  "Soundings  from 
the  Atlantic,"  "Humorous  Poems,"  "The 
Guardian  Angel,"  •Mechanism  in  Thoughts 
and  Morals,"  "Songs  of  Many  Seasons," 
"John  L.  Motley" — a  memoir,  "The  Iron 
Gate  and  Other  Poems,"  "Ralph  Waldo 
Emerson,"  "A  Moral  Antipathy."  Dr. 
Holmes  visited  England  for  the  second  time, 
and  while  there  the  degree  of  LL.  D. 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  University 
of  Edinburgh.  His  death  occurred  October 
7.  »894-  

RUFUS  CHOATE.  one  of  the  most  em- 
inent of  America's  great  lawyers,  was 
born  October  1,  1799,  at  Essex,  Massachu- 
setts. He  entered  Dartmouth  in  181 5, 
and  after  taking  his  degree  he  remained  as 
a  teacher  in  the  college  for  one  year.  He 
took  up  the  study  of  law  in  Cambridge,  and 
subsequently  studied  under  the  distinguished 
lawyer,  Mr.  Wirt,  who  was  then  United 
States  attorney-general  at  Washington.  M  r. 
Choatebegan  the  practice  of  law  in  Danvers, 
Massachusetts,  and  from  there  he  went  to 
Salem,  and  afterwards  to  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. While  living  at  Salem  he  was 
elected  to  congress  in  1832,  and  later,  in 
1 84 1,  he  was  chosen  United  States  senator 
to  succeed  Daniel  Webster,  Mr.  Webster 
having  been  appointed  secretary  of  state 
under  William  Henry  Harrison. 

After  the  death  of  Webster.  Mr    Choate 


was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts bar,  and  was  looked  upon  by  the 
younger  members  of  the  profession  with  an 
affection  that  almost  amounted  to  a  1 
ence.  Mr.  Choate's  powers  as  an  orator 
were  of  the  rarest  order,  and  his  genius 
made  it  possible  for  him  to  enchant  and  in- 
terest his  listeners,  even  while  discussing  the 
most  ordinary  theme.  He  was  not  merely 
eloquent  on  the  subjects  that  were  calculated 
to  touch  the  feelings  and  stir  the  passions 
of  his  audience  in  themselves,  but  could  at 
all  times  command  their  attention.  He  re- 
tired from  active  life  in  1S58,  and  was  on 
his  way  to  Europe,  his  physician  having 
ordered  a  sea  voyage  for  his  health,  but  had 
only  reached  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  when 
he  died,  July   13,  1858. 


D WIGHT  L.  MOODY,  one  of  the  most 
noted  and  effective  pulpit  orators  and 
evangelists  America  has  produced,  was  born 
in  Northfield,  Franklin  county.  Massachu- 
setts, February  5,  1837.  He  received  but 
a  meager  education  and  worked  on  a  farm 
until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  be- 
came clerk  in  a  boot  and  shoe  store  in 
Boston.  Soon  after  this  he  joined  the  Con- 
gregational church  and  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  zealously  engaged  in  missionary 
work  among  the  poor  classes.  He  met 
with  great  success,  and  in  less  than  a  year 
he  built  up  a  Sunday-school  which  numbered 
over  one  thousand  children.  When  the 
war  broke  out  he  became  connected  with 
what  was  known  as  the  "Christian  Com- 
mission," and  later  became  city  missionary 
of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  at 
Chicago.  A  church  was  built  there  for  his 
converts  and  he  became  its  unordained  pas- 
tor. In  the  Chicago  fire  of  1871  the  church 
and  Mr.  Moody's  house  and  furniture,  which 
had  been  given  him,  were  destroyed.      The 


208 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


church  edifice  was  afterward  replaced  by  a 
new  church  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old 
one.  In  1873,  accompanied  by  Ira  D. 
Sankey,  Mr.  Moody  went  to  Europe  and 
excited  great  religious  awakenings  through- 
out England,  Ireland  and  Scotland.  In 
1875  they  returned  to  America  and  held 
large  meetings  in  various  cities.  They 
afterward  made  another  visit  to  Great 
Britain  for  the  same  purpose,  meeting  with 
great  success,  returning  to  the  United  States 
in  1SS4.  Mr.  Moody  afterward  continued 
his  evangelistic  work,  meeting  everywhi 
with  a  warm  reception  and  success.  Mr. 
Moody  produced  a  number  of  works,  some 
of    which   had  a  wide  circulation. 


JOHN  PIERPONT  MORGAN,  a  financier 
of  world-wide  reputation,  and  famous 
as  the  head  of  one  of  the  largest  banking 
bouses  in  the  world,  was  born  April  17, 
1837,  at  Hartford,  Connecticut.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  English 
high  school,  in  Ho, ton,  and  later  supple- 
mented this  with  a  course  in  the  University 
of  Gottingen,  Germany.  He  returned  to 
the  United  States,  in  1857,  and  entered  the 
banking  firm  of  Duncan,  Sherman  &  Co., 
of  New  York,  and,  in  i*6o,  he  became 
agent  and  attorney,  in  the  United  States,  for 
George  Peabody  ec  Co.,  of  London.  He 
became  the  junior  partner  in  the  banking 
firm  of  Uabney,  Morgan  &  Co.,  in  1864, 
and  that  of  Drexel,  Morgan  &  Co.,  in  1S71. 
This  house  was  among  the  chief  negotiators 
of  railroad  bonds,  and  was  active  in  the  re- 
organization of  the  West  Shore  Railroad, 
and  its  absorption  by  the  New  York  Central 
Railroad.  It  was  conspicuous  in  the  re- 
organization of  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing Railroad,  in  [887,  which  a  syndicate  of 
capitalists,  formed  by  Mr.  Morgan,  placed 
on  a  sound  financial  basis.      After  that  time 


many  other  lines  of  railroad  and  gigantic 
financial  enterprises  were  brought  under  Mr. 
Morgan's  control,  and  in  some  respects  it 
may  be  said  he  became  the  foremost  financier 
of  the  century. 


THOMAS  BRACKETT  REED,  one  of 
the  most  eminent  of  American  states- 
men, was  born  October  18,  1839,  at  Port- 
land, Maine,  where  he  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
city,  and  prepared  himself  for  college,      Mr. 

graduated  from  Bowdoin  College  in 
i860,  and  won  one  of  the  highest  honors  of 
the  college,  the  prize  for  excellence  in  Eng- 
lish composition.      The  following  (our  years 

-pent  by  him  in  teaching  and  in  the 
study  of  law.  Before  his  admission  to  tin- 
bar,  however,  he  was  acting  assistant  pay- 
master   in     the    United    States    navy,    and 

d  on  the    "tin-clad."  Sybil,  which  pa- 
trolled    the     Tennessee,    Cumberland     and 
Mississippi    rivers.      After    his   discharj 
1865,  he  returned  to  Portland,   was   admit- 
ted to  the  bar,  and  began  the  practice  of  his 

sion.  He  entered  into  political  life, 
and  in  [868  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
of  Maine  as  a  Republican,  and  in  1869  he 
was  re-elected  to  the  house,  and  in  1X70 
was  made  state  senator,  from  which  he 
passed  to  attorney-general  of  the  state. 
He  retired  from  this  office  in  1873,  and 
until  1877  he  was  solicitor  for  the  city 
of  Portland.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to 
the  forty-fifth  congress,  which  assembled 
in  1877.  Mr.  Reed  sprung  into  prominence 
in  that  body  by  one  of  the  first  speeches 
which  he  delivered,  and  his  long  service  in 
congress,  coupled  with  his  ability,  gave  him 
a  national  reputation.  His  influence  each 
year  became  more  strongly  marked,  and  the 
leadership  of  his  party  was  finally  conceded 
to  him,  and  in  the  forty-ninth   and  fiftieth 


UPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


congresses  the  complimentary  nomination 
for  the  speakership  was  tendered  him  by  the 
Republicans.  That  party  having  obtained 
the  ascendency  in  the  fifty-first  congress  he 
was  elected  speaker  on  the  first  ballot,  and 
he  was  again  chosen  speaker  of  the  fifty- 
fourth  and  fifth-fifth  congresses.  As  a 
writer,  Mr.  Reed  contributed  largely  to  the 
magazines  and  periodicals,  and  his  book 
upon  parliamentary  rules  is  generally  rec- 
ognized as  authority  on  that  subject. 


CLARA  BARTON  is  a  celebrated  char- 
acter among  what  might  be  termed  as 
the  highest  grade  of  philanthropists  Amer- 
ica has  produced.  She  was  born  on  a  farm 
at  Oxford,  Massachusetts,  a  daughter  of 
Captain  Stephen  Barton,  and  was  educated 
at  Clinton,  New  York.  She  engaged  in 
teaching  early  in  life,  and  founded  a  free 
school  at  Bordentown,  the  first  in  New  Jer- 
sey. She  opened  with  six  pupils,  but  the 
attendance  had  grown  to  six  hundred  up  to 
1854.  when  she  went  to  Washington.  She 
was  appointed  clerk  in  the  patent  depart- 
ment, and  remained  there  until  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war.  when  she  resigned 
her  position  and  devoted  herself  to  the  al- 
leviation of  the  sufferings  of  the  soldiers, 
serving,  not  in  the  hospitals,  but  on  the  bat- 
tle field.  She  was  present  at  a  number  of 
battles,  and  after  the  war  closed  she  origi- 
nated, and  for  some  time  carried  on  at  her 
own  expense,  the  search  for  missing  soldiers. 
She  then  for  several  years  devoted  her  time 
to  lecturing  on  "Incidents  of  the  War." 
About  1868  she  went  to  Europe  for  her 
health,  and  settled  in  Switzerland,  but  on  the 
outbreak  of  the  Franco-German  war  she  ac- 
cepted the  invitation  of  the  grand  duchess 
of  Baden  to  aid  in  the  establishment  of  her 
hospitals,  o.p.d  Miss  Barton  afterward  fol- 
lowed  the  German  army       She  was   deco- 


rated with  the  golden  cross  by  the  j;r.;nd 
duke  of  Baden,  and  with  the  iron  cross  by 
the  emperor  of  Germany.  She  aiso  served 
for  many  years  as  president  of  the  famous 
Red  Cross  Society  and  attained  a  world- 
wide reputation. 


CARDINAL  JAMES  GIBBONS,  one  of 
the  most  eminent  Catholic  clergymen 
in  America,  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, July  23,  1834.  He  was  given  a 
thorough  education,  graduated  at  St.  Charles 
College,  Maryland,  in  1 S 5 7 .  and  studied 
theology  in  St.  Mary's  Seminary,  Baltimore, 
Maryland.  In  1 86 1  he  became  pastor  of 
St.  Bridget's  church  in  Baltimore,  ar.J  in 
1868  was  consecrated  vicar  apostoi.c  of 
North  Carolina.  In  1872  our  subjeci  be- 
came bishop  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  and 
five  years  later  was  made  archbishop  ct  Bal- 
timore. On  the  30th  of  June, 
was  admitted  to  the  full  degree  of  cardinal 
and  primate  of  the  American  Catholic 
church.  He  was  a  fluent  writer,  and  his 
book,  "Faith  of  Our  Fathers,'  had  a  wide 
circulation. 

CHAUNCEY  MITCHELL  DEPEW.— 
This  name  is,  without  doubt,  one  of 
the  most  widely  known  in  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Depew  was  born  April  23.  1S34,  at 
Peekskill,  New  York,  the  home  of  the  Depew 
family  for  two  hundred  years.  He  attended 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  place, 
where  he  prepared  himself  to  enter  college. 
He  began  his  collegiate  course  at  Yale  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  and  graduated  in  1856. 
He  early  took  an  active  interest  in  politics 
and  joined  the  Republican  party  at  lt-^  f<  >r- 
mation.  He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law 
and  went  into  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Will- 
iam Nelson,  of  Peekskill.  for  that  purpose, 
and  in  1858  he  was   admitted   to  the  bar. 


210 


COMPENDIUM  OF   BIOGRAPHY. 


He  was  sent  as  a  delegate  by  the  new  party 
to  the  Republican  state  convention  of  that 
year.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  1859,  but  though  he  was  a  good 
worker,  his  attention  was  detracted  by  the 
campaign  of  i860,  in  which  he  took  an  act- 
ive part.  During  this  campaign  he  gained 
his  first  laurels  as  a  public  speaker.  Mr. 
Depew  was  elected  assemblyman  in  1862 
from  a  Democratic  district.  In  1863  he  se- 
cured the  nomination  for  secretary  of  state, 
and  gained  that  post  by  a  majority  of  thirty 
thousand.  In  1866  he  left  the  field  of  pol- 
itics and  entered  into  the  active  practice 
of  his  law  business  as  attorney  for  the 
New  York  &  Harlem  Railroad  Company, 
and  in  1869  when  this  road  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  New  York  Central,  and 
called  the  New  York  Central  &  Hudson 
River  Railroad,  he  was  appointed  the  attor- 
ney for  the  new  road.  His  rise  in  the  rail- 
road business  was  rapid,  and  ten  years  after 
his  entrance  into  the  Vanderbilt  system  as 
attorney  for  a  single  line,  he  was  the  gen- 
eral counsel  for  one  of  the  largest  railroad 
systems  in  the  world.  He  was  also  a 
director  in  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Southern,  Michigan  Central,  Chicago  & 
Northwestern,  St.  Paul  &  Omaha,  West 
Shore,  and  Nickel  Plate  railroad  companies. 
In  1874  Mr.  Depew  was  made  regent  of 
the  State  University,  and  a  member  of  the 
commission  appointed  to  superintend  the 
erection  of  the  capitol  at  Albany.  In  1882, 
on  the  resignation  of  W.  H.  Vanderbilt 
from  the  presidency  of  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral and  the  accession  to  that  office  by 
James  H.  Rutter,  Mr.  Depew  was  made 
second  vice-president,  and  held  that  posi- 
tion until  the  death  of  Mr.  Rutter  in  1885. 
In  this  year  Mr.  Depew  became  the  execu- 
tive head  of  this  great  corporation.  Mr. 
Depew's  greatest  fame  grew  from  his  ability 


and  eloquence  as  an  orator  and  "  after-din- 
ner speaker, "  and  it  has  been  said  by  emi- 
nent critics  that  this  country  has  never  pro- 
duced his  equal  in  wit,  fluency  and  eloquence. 


PHILIP  KEARNEY.— Among  the  most 
dashing  and  brilliant  commanders  in 
the  United  States  service,  few  have  outshone 
the  talented  officer  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch.  He  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
June  2,  1815,  and  was  of  Irish  ancestry  and 
imbued  with  all  the  dash  and  bravery  of  the 
Celtic  race.  He  graduated  from  Columbia 
College  and  studied  law,  but  in  1837  ac- 
cepted a  commission  as  lieutenant  in  the 
First  United  States  Dragoons,  of  which  his 
uncle,  Stephen  W.  Kearney,  was  then  colo- 
nel. He  was  sent  by  the  government, 
soon  after,  to  Europe  to  examine  and  report 
upon  the  tactics  of  the  French  cavalry. 
There  he  attended  the  Polytechnic  School, 
at  Samur,  and  subsequently  served  as  a  vol- 
unteer in  Algiers,  winning  the  cross  of  the 
Legion  of  Honor.  He  returned  to  the 
United  States  in  1840,  and  on  the  staff  of 
General  Scott,  in  the  Mexican  war,  served 
with  great  gallantry.  He  was  made  a  cap- 
tain of  dragoons  in  1846  and  made  major 
for  services  at  Contreras  and  Cherubusco. 
In  the  final  assault  on  the  City  of  Mexico, 
at  the  San  Antonio  Gate,  Kearney  lost  an 
arm.  He  subsequently  served  in  California 
and  the  Pacific  coast.  In  1851  he  resigned 
his  commission  and  went  to  Europe,  where 
he  resumed  his  military  studies.  In  the 
Italian  war,  in  1859,  he  served  as  a  volun- 
teer on  the  staff  of  General  Maurier,  of  the 
French  army,  and  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Solferino  and  Magenta,  and  for  bravery 
was,  for  the  second  time,  decorated  with 
the  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  On  the 
opening  of  the  Civil  war  he  hastened  home, 
and,  offering  his  services  to  the  general  gov- 


COMPENDIUM  OF   /,'/< ><,/:.!/■// )\ 


211 


ernrr.ent,  was  made  brigadier-general  of 
volunteers  and  placed  in  command  of  a  bri- 
gade of  New  Jersey  troops.  In  the  cam- 
paign under  McClellan  he  commanded  a  di- 
vision, and  at  Williamsburg  and  Fair  Oaks 
his  services  were  valuable  and  brilliant,  as 
well  as  in  subsequent  engagements.  At 
Harrison's  Landing  he  was  made  major-gen- 
eral of  volunteers.  In  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run  he  was  conspicuous,  and  at  the 
battle  of  Chantilly,  September  i,  1862, 
while  leading  in  advance  of  his  troops,  Gen- 
eral Kearney  was  shot  and  killed. 


RUSSELL  SAGE,  one  of  the  financial 
giants  of  the  present  century  and  for 
more  than  an  average  generation  one  of  the 
most  conspicuous  and  celebrated  of  Ameri- 
cans, was  born  in  a  frontier  hamlet  in  cen- 
tral New  York  in  August,  18 16.  While  Rus- 
sell was  still  a  boy  an  elder  brother,  Henry 
Risley  Sage,  established  a  small  grocery 
store  at  Troy,  New  York,  and  here  Russell 
found  his  first  employment,  as  errand  boy. 
He  served  a  five-years  apprenticeship,  and 
then  joined  another  brother,  Elisha  M.  Sage, 
in  a  new  venture  in  the  same  line,  which 
proved  profitable,  at  least  for  Russell,  who 
soon  became  its  sole  owner.  Next  he 
formed  the  partnership  of  Sage  &  Bates, 
and  greatly  extended  his  field  of  operations. 
At  twenty-five  he  had,  by  his  own  exertions, 
amassed  what  was,  in  those  days,  a  consid- 
erable fortune,  being  worth  about  seventy- 
five  thousand  dollars.  He  had  acquired  an 
influence  in  local  politics,  and  four  years 
later  his  party,  the  Whigs,  elected  him  to 
the  aldermanic  board  of  Troy  and  to  the 
treasuryship  of  Rensselaer  county.  In  1848 
he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  New 
York  delegation  to  the  Whig  convention  at 
Philadelphia,  casting  his  first  votes  for  Henry 
Clay,  but  joining   the    "stampede"   which 


nominated  Zachary  Taylor.  In  1850  the 
Whigs  of  Troy  nominated  him  for  congress, 
but  he  was  not  elected — a  failure  which  he 
retrieved  two  years  later,  and  in  1854  he 
was  re-elected  by  a  sweeping  majority.  At 
Washington  he  ranked  high  in  influence  and 
ability.  Fame  as  a  speaker  and  as  a  polit- 
ical leader  was  within  his  grasp,  when  he 
gave  up  public  life,  declined  a  renomination 
to  congress,  and  went  back  to  Troy  to  de- 
vote himself  to  his  private  business.  Six 
years  later,  in  1863,  he  removed  to  New 
York  and  plunged  into  the  arena  of  Wall 
street.  A  man  of  boundless  energy  and 
tireless  pertinacity,  with  wonderful  judg- 
ment of  men  and  things,  he  soon  took  his 
place  as  a  king  in  finance,  and,  it  is  said, 
during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  con- 
trolled more  ready  money  than  any  other 
single  individual  on  this  continent. 


ROGER  QUARLES  MILLS,  a  noted 
United  States  senator  and  famous  as  the 
father  of  the  "Mills  tariff  bill,  "was  born 
in  Todd  county,  Kentucky,  March  30,  1832. 
He  received  a  liberal  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  removed  to  Palestine, 
Texas,  in  1849.  He  took  up  the  study  of 
law,  and  supported  himself  by  serving  as  an 
assistant  in  the  post-office,  and  in  the  offices 
of  the  court  clerks.  In  1S50  he  was  elected 
engrossing  clerk  of  the  Texas  house  of  rep- 
resentatives, and  in  1852  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  while  still  a  minor,  by  special  act 
of  the  legislature.  He  then  settled  at  Cor- 
sicana,  Texas,  and  began  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  He  was  elected  to 
the  state  legislature  in  1859,  and  in  1872  he 
was  elected  to  congress  from  the  state  at 
large,  as  a  Democrat.  After  his  first  elec- 
tion he  was  continuously  returned  to  con- 
gress until  he  resigned  to  accept  the  p.  >^i- 
tion  of  United  States  senator,  to  which  he 


212 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


\\..s  elected  March  23,  1892,  to  succeed 
Hon.  Hoi  are  Chilton.  He  took  his  seat  in 
the  senate  March  30,  1892;  was  afterward 
re-elected  and  ranked  among  the  most  use- 
ful and  prominent  members  of  that  body. 
In  1876  he  opposed  the  creation  of  the  elec- 
toral commission,  and  in  1887  canvassed 
the  state  of  Texas  against  the  adoption  of 
a  prohibition  amendment  to  its  constitution, 
which  was  defeated.  He  introduced  into 
the  house  of  representatives  the  bill  that  was 
known  as  the  "Mills  Bill,"  reducing  duties 
on  imports,  and  extending  the  free  list. 
The  bill  passed  the  house  on  July  21,  1888, 
and  made  the  name  of  "Mills"  famous 
throughout  the  entire  country. 


HAZEN  S.  PINGREE,  the  celebrated 
Michigan  political  leader,  was  born  in 
Maine  in  1842.  Up  to  fourteen  years  of 
age  he  worked  hard  on  the  stony  ground  of 
his  father's  small  farm.  Attending  school 
in  the  winter,  he  gained  a  fair  education, 
and  when  not  laboring  on  the  farm,  he 
found  employment  in  the  cotton  mills  in  the 
vicinity.  He  resolved  to  find  more  steady 
work,  and  accordingly  went  to  Hopkinton, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  entered  a  shoe  fac- 
tory, but  on  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  en- 
listed at  once  and  was  enrolled  in  the  Eirst 
Massachusetts  Heavy  Artillery.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  which  was 
his  initial  right,  and  served  creditably  his 
early  term  of  service,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  he  re-enlisted.  He  fought  in  the 
battles  of  Fredricksburg,  Harris  Farm, 
Spottsylvania  Court  House  and  Cold  Har- 
bor In  1  864  he  was  captured  by  Mosby, 
and  spent  five  months  at  Andersonville, 
Georgia,  as  a  prisoner,  but  escaped  at  the 
end  of  that  time.  He  re-entered  the  service 
and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Fort 
Fisher,  Boyden,    and    Sailor's    Creek.      He 


was  honorably  mustered  out  of  service,  and 
in  1866  went  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  where 
he  made  use  of  his  former  experience  in  a 
shoe  factory,  and  found  work.  Later  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  another  workman 
and  started  a  small  factory,  which  has  since 
become  a  large  establishment.  Mr.  Pin- 
gree  made  his  entrance  into  politics  in  1889, 
in  which  year  he  was  elected  by  a  surpris- 
ingly large  majority  as  a  Republican  to  the 
mayoralty  of  Detroit,  in  which  office  he  was 
the  incumbent  during  four  consecutive  terms. 
In  November,  1896,  he  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  of  Michigan.  While 
mayor  of  Detroit,  Mr.  Pingree  originated 
and  put  into  execution  the  idea  of  allowing 
the  poor  people  of  the  city  the  use  of  va- 
cant city  lands  and  lots  for  the  purpose  of 
raising  potatoes.  The  idea  was  enthusiast- 
ic ally  adopted  by  thousands  of  poor  families, 
attracted  wide  attention,  and  gave  its  author 
a  national  reputation  as  "Potato-patch  Pin- 
gree."   

THOMAS  ANDREW  HENDRICKS,  an 
eminent  American  statesman  and  a 
1  democratic  politician  of  national  fame,  was 
born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 7,  1 8 19.  In  1822  he  removed,  with  his 
father,  to  Shelby  county,  Indiana.  He 
graduated  from  the  South  Hanover  College 
in  1841,  and  two  years  later  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  In  1 85 1  he  was  chosen  a  mem- 
ber of  the  state  constitutional  convention, 
and  took  a  leading  part  in  the  deliberations 
of  that  body.  He  was  elected  to  congress 
in  185 1,  and  after  serving  two  terms  was 
appointed  commissioner  of  the  United  States 
general  land-office.  In  1863  he  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate,  where  his  dis- 
tinguished services  commanded  the  respect 
of  all  parties.  He  was  elected  governor  of 
Indiana  in    1872,  serving  four  years,  and  in 


MPENDIUM   OF    BIPGRAPHY. 


218 


1876  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats  as 
candidate  for  the  vice-presidency  with  Til- 
den.  The  returns  in  a  number  of  states 
were  contested,  and  resulted  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  famous  electoral  commission, 
which  decided  in  favor  of  the  Republican 
candidates.  In  1884  Mr.  Hendricks  was 
again  nominated  as  candidate  for  the  vice- 
presidency,  by  the  Democratic  party,  on  the 
ticket  with  Grover  Cleveland,  was  elected, 
and  served  about  six  months.  He  died  at 
Indianapolis,  November  25.  1885.  He  was 
Med  as  one  of  the  brainiest  men  in  the 
party,  and  his  integrity  was  never  ques- 
tioned, even  by  his  political  opponents. 


GARRETT  A.  HOBART,  one  of  the 
many  able  men  who  have  held  the 
hiHi  office  of  vice-president  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  June  3,  1S44,  in  Mon- 
mouth county.  New  Jersey,  and  in  i860  en- 
tered the  sophomore  class  at  Rutgers  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  graduated  in  1863.  at 
the  age  of  nineteen.  He  then  taught 
school  until  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
Socrates  Tuttle,  of  Paterson,  New  Jersey, 
with  whom  he  studied  law.  and  in  1869 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  immediately 
began  the  active  practice  of  his  profession 
in  the  office  of  the  above  named  gentleman. 
He  became  interested  in  political  life,  and 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  in  1865  held  his  first  office,  serving  as 
clerk  for  the  grand  jury.  He  was  also  city 
counsel  of  Paterson  in  1871,  and  in  May, 
was  elected  counsel  for  the  board  of 
chosen  freeholders.  He  entered  the  state 
legislature  in  1873,  and  was  re-elected  to 
the  assembly  in  1S74.  Mr.  Hobart  was 
made  speaker  of  the  assembly  in  1876,  and 
and  in  1879  was  elected  to  the  state  senate. 
After  serving  three  years  in  the  same,  he 
was  elected  president  of  that  body  in  1881, 


and  the  following  year  was  re-elected  to 
that  office.  He  was  a  delegate-af  large  to 
the  Republican  national  convention  >n  1876 
and  1SS0,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
national  committee  in  1884,  which  post  ion 
he  occupied  continuously  until  [896.  He 
was  then  nominated  for  vice-president  by 
the  Republican  national  convention,  am4 
was  elected  to  that  office  in  the  fall  of  1896 
on  the  ticket  with  William  McKinley. 


WILLIAM  MORRIS  STEWART,  noted 
as  a  political  leader  and  senator,  was 
born  in  Lyons,  Wayne  county,  New  York, 
August  9,  1827,  and  removed  with  his  par- 
ents while  still  a  small  child  to  Mesopota- 
mia township,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  He 
attended  the  Lyons  Union  school  and  Farm- 
ington  Academy,  where  he  obtained  his  ed- 
ucation. Later  he  taught  mathematics  in 
the  former  school,  while  yet  a  pupil,  and 
with  the  little  money  thus  earned  and  the 
assistance  of  James  C.  Smith,  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  New  York, 
he  entered  Yale  College.  He  remained 
there  until  the  winter  of  1849-50,  when,  at- 
tracted by  the  gold  discoveries  in  California 
he  wended  his  way  thither.  He  arrived  at 
San  Francisco  in  May,  1S50,  and  later  en- 
gaged in  mining  with  pick  and  shovel  in  Ne- 
vada county.  In  this  way  he  accumulated 
some  money,  and  in  the  spring  of  1852  he 
took  up  the  study  of  law  under  John  R. 
McConnell.  The  following  December  he 
was  appointed  district  attorney,  to  which 
office  he  was  chosen  at  the  general  election 
of  the  next  year.  In  1854  he  was  ap- 
pointed attorney-general  of  California,  and 
in  1S60  he  removed  to  Virginia  City.  Ne- 
vada, where  he  largely  engaged  in  early 
mining  litigation.  Mr.  Stewart  was  also  in- 
terested in  the  development  of  th<  "Corn- 
stock    lode,"    and    in    1861    was   chosen   a 


214 


COMPENDIUM   OF    BIOCRAPHT. 


member  of  the  territorial  council.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention in  1863,  and  was  elected  United 
States  senator  in  1864,  and  re-elected  in 
1869.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  in 
1875,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in 
Nevada,  California,  and  the  Pacific  coast 
generally.  He  was  thus  engaged  when  he 
was  elected  again  to  the  United  States  sen- 
ate as  a  Republican  in  1887  to  succeed  the 
late  James  G.  Fair,  a  Democrat,  and  took 
his  seat  March  4,  1887.  On  the  expiration 
of  his  term  he  was  again  re-elected  and  be- 
came one  of  the  leaders  of  his  party  in  con- 
gress. His  ability  as  an  orator,  and  the 
prominent  part  he  took  in  the  discussion  of 
public  questions,  gained  him  a  national  rep- 
utation. 

GEORGE  GRAHAM  VEST,  for  many 
years  a  prominent  member  of  the 
United  States  senate,  was  born  in  Frank- 
fort, Kentucky,  December  6,  1848.  He 
graduated  from  Center  College  in  1868,  and 
from  the  law  department  of  the  Transyl- 
vania University  of  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
in  1853.  In  the  same  year  he  removed  to 
Missouri  and  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. In  i860  he  was  an  elector  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  lower  house  of  the  Missouri  legislature 
in  1860-61.  He  was  elected  to  the  Con- 
federate congress,  serving  two  years  in  the 
lower  house  and  one  in  the  senate.  He 
then  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  and  in 
1879  was  elected  to  the  senate  of  the  United 
States  to  succeed  James  Shields.  He  was 
re-elected  in  1885,  and  again  in  1891  and 
1897.  His  many  years  of  service  in  the 
National  congress,  coupled  with  his  ability 
as  a  speaker  and  the  active  part  he  took  in 
the  discussion  of  public  questions,  gave  him 
a  wide  reputation. 


HANNIBAL  HAMLIN,  a  noted  American 
statesman,  whose  name  is  indissolubly 
connected  with  the  history  of  this  country, 
was  born  in  Paris,  Maine,  August  27,  1809. 
He  learned  the  printer's  trade  and  followed 
that  calling  for  several  years.  He  then 
studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  1833.  He  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
of  the  state  of  Maine,  where  he  was  several 
times  chosen  speaker  of  the  lower  house. 
He  was  elected  to  congress  by  the  Demo- 
crats in  1843,  and  re-elected  in  1845.  I" 
1848  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States 
senate  and  served  in  that  body  until  1861. 
He  was  elected  governor  of  Maine  in  1857 
on  the  Republican  ticket,  but  resigned  when 
re-elected  to  the  United  States  senate 
the  same  year.  He  was  elected  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  on  the  ticket  with 
Lincoln  in  i860,  and  inaugurated  in  March, 
1861.  In  1865  he  was  appointed  collector 
of  the  port  of  Boston.  Beginning  with 
1869  he  served  two  six-year  terms  in  the 
United  States  senate,  and  was  then  ap- 
pointed by  President  Garfield  as  minister  to 
Spain  in  1881.  His  death  occurred  July  4, 
1891. 

I  SHAM  G.  HARRIS,  famous  as  Confed- 
1  erate  war  governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
distinguished  by  his  twenty  years  of  service 
in  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Tennessee,  and 
educated  at  the  Academy  of  Winchester. 
He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  commenced  practice 
at  Paris,  Tennessee,  in  1841.  He  was 
elected  to  the  state  legislature  in  1847,  was 
a  candidate  for  presidential  elector  on  the 
Democratic  ticket  in  1848,  and  the  next 
year  was  elected  to  congress  from  his  dis- 
trict, and  reelected  in  1851.  In  1853  he 
was  renominated    by  the    Democrats  of  his 


COMPE.xnuw  of  biography. 


215 


district,  but  declined,  and  removed  to  Mem- 
phis, where  he  took  up  the  practice  of  law. 
He  was  a  presidential  elector-at-large  from 
Tennessee  in  1856,  and  was  elected  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  the  next  year,  and  again 
in  1S59,  and  in  1S61.  He  was  driven  from 
Nashville  by  the  advance  of  the  Union 
armies,  and  for  the  last  three  years  of  the 
war  acted  as  aid  upon  the  staff  of  the  com- 
manding general  of  the  Confederate  army 
of  Tennessee.  After  the  war  he  went  to 
Liverpool,  England,  where  he  became  a 
merchant,  but  returned  to  Memphis  in  1867, 
and  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In  1877 
he  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate, 
to  which  position  he  was  successively  re- 
elected until  his  death  in  1897. 


NELSON  DINGLE Y,  Jr.,  for  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century  one  of  the  leaders 
in  congress  and  framer  of  the  famous 
"  Dingley  tariff  bill,"  was  born  in  Durham, 
Maine,  in  1832.  His  father  as  well  as  all 
his  ancestors,  were  farmers,  merchants  and 
mechanics  and  of  English  descent.  Young 
Dingley  was  given  the  advantages  first  of 
the  common  schools  and  in  vacations  helped 
his  father  in  the  store  and  on  the  farm. 
When  twelve  years  of  age  he  attended  high 
school  and  at  seventeen  was  teaching  in  a 
country  school  district  and  preparing  him- 
self for  college.  The  following  year  he  en- 
tered Waterville  Academy  and  in  185  1  en- 
tered Colby  University.  After  a  year  and  a 
half  in  this  institution  he  entered  Dart- 
mouth College  and  was  graduated  in  1855 
with  high  rank  as  a  scholar,  debater  and 
writer.  He  next  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1856.  But  instead  of 
practicing  his  profession  he  purchased  the 
"  Lewistuwn  (Me.)  Journal,"  which  be- 
came famous  throughout  the  New  England 
ttates  as  a  leader  in  the  advocacy  of  Repub- 


lican principles.  About  the  same  time  Mr. 
Dingley  began  his  political  career,  although 
ever  after  continuing  at  the  head  of  the 
newspaper.  He  was  soon  elected  to  the 
state  legislature  and  afterward  to  the  lower 
house  of  congress,  where  he  became  a 
prominent  national  character.  He  also 
served  two  terms  as  governor  of  Maine. 


OLIVER  PERRY  MORTON,  a  distin- 
guished American  statesman,  was  born 
in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  August  4,  1823. 
His  early  education  was  by  private  teaching 
and  a  course  at  the  Wayne  County  Seminary. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  entered  the 
Miami  University  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  and  at 
the  end  of  two  years  quit  the  college,  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  John  New- 
man, of  Centerville,  Indiana,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1S47. 

Mr.  Morton  was  elected  judge  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  in  1852,  but  on  thi 
passage  of  the  "  Kansas- Nebraska  Bill  "  he 
severed  his  connection  with  that  party,  and 
soon  became  a  prominent  leader  of  the  Re- 
publicans. He  was  elected  governor  of  In- 
diana in  1 86 1,  and  as  war  governor  became 
well  known  throughout  the  country.  He 
received  a  paralytic  stroke  in  1865,  which 
partially  deprived  him  of  the  use  of  his 
limbs.  He  was  chosen  to  the  United  States 
senate  from  Indiana,  in  1867,  and  wielded 
great  influence  in  that  body  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  November  1,   1877. 


JOHN  B.  GORDON,  a  brilliant  Confeder- 
ate officer  and  noted  senator  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  Upson  county,  Georgia, 
February  6,  1832.  He  graduated  from  the 
State  University,  studied  law,  and  took  up 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  At  the  be- 
ginning of  the  war  he  entered  the  Confederate 
service  as  captain   of   infantry,  and   rapidly 


216 


COMPENDIUM   OF   BIOGRAPHT. 


rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general, 
commanding  one  wing  of  the  Confederate 
army  at  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1868  he 
was  Democratic  candidate  for  governor  of 
Georgia,  and  it  is  said  was  elected  by  a  large 
majority,  but  his  opponent  was  given  the 
office.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  national 
Democratic  conventions  in  1868  and  1872, 
and  a  presidential  elector  both  years.  In 
1873  he  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
senate.  In  1886  he  was  elected  governor 
of  Georgia,  and  re-elected  in  1888.  He 
was  again  elected  to  the  United  States 
senate  in  1890,  serving  until  1897,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  A.  S.  Clay.  He  was 
regarded  as  a  leader  of  the  southern  Democ- 
racy, and  noted  for  his  fiery  eloquence. 


STEPHEN  JOHNSON  FIELD,  an  illus- 
trious associate  justice  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States,  was  born  at 
Haddam,  Connecticut,  November  4,  [816, 
being  one  of  the  noted  sons  of  Rev.  D. 
D.  Field.  He  graduated  from  Williams 
College  in  1837.  took  up  the  study  of  law 
with  his  brother,  David  Dudley  Field,  be- 
coming his  partner  upon  admission  to  the 
bar.  He  went  to  California  in  1849,  and  at 
once  began  to  take  an  active  interest  in  the 
political  affairs  of  that  state.  He  was 
elected  alcalde  of  Marysville,  in  1850,  and 
in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  was  elected 
to  the  state  legislature.  In  1857  he  was 
elected  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state,  and  two  years  afterwards  became  its 
chief  justice.  In  1863  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln  as  associate  justice  of  the 
supreme  court  of  the  United  States.  During 
his  incumbency,  in  1873,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  governor  of  California  one  of  a  com- 
mission to  examine  the  codes  of  the  state 
and  for  the  preparation  of  amendments  to 
the  same  for  submission  to  the   legislature. 


In  1877  he  was  one  of  the  famous  electoral 
commission  of  fifteen  members,  and  voted 
as  one  of  the  seven  favoring  the  election  of 
Tilden  to  the  presidency.  In  1880  a  large 
portion  of  the  Democratic  party  favored  his 
nomination  as  candidate  for  the  presidency. 
He  retired  in  the  fall  of  1897,  having 
served  a  greater  number  of  years  on  the 
supreme  bench  than  any  of  his  associates  or 
predecessors.  Chief  Justice  Marshall  coining 
next  in  length  of  service. 


JOHN  T.  MORGAN,  whose  services  in 
the  United  States  senate  brought  him 
into  national  prominence,  was  born  in 
Athens,  Tennessee,  June  20,  1824.  At  the 
age  of  nine  years  he  emigrated  to  Alabama, 
where  he  made  his  permanent  home,  and 
where  he  received  an  academic  edui  at  ion. 
He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1845.  He  took  a 
leading  part  in  local  politics,  was  a  presi- 
dential  elector  in  i860,  casting  his  ballot 
for  Breckenridge  and  Lane,  and  111  [ 86 1 
was  a  delegate  to  the  state  convention  which 
passed  the  ordinance  of  secession.  In  May, 
of  the  same  year,  he  joined  the  Confederate 
army  as  a  private  in  Company  I,  Cahawba 
Rifles,  and  was  soon  after  made  major  and 
then  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Fifth  Regiment. 
In  1862  he  was  commissioned  colonel,  and 
soon  after  made  brigadier-general  and  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  a  brigade  in  Vir- 
ginia. He  resigned  to  join  his  old  regiment 
whose  colonel  had  been  killed.  He  was 
soon  afterward  again  made  brigadier-gen- 
eral and  given  command  of  the  brigade  that 
included  his  regiment. 

After  the  war  he    returned    to   the  prac- 
tice of  law,  and  continued  it  up  to  the  time 
of  his  election  to  the  United  States  senate,  iv 
1877.    He  was  a  presidential  elector  in  1876 
and  cast  his  vote  for  Tilden  and  Hendricl^s 


CoM/'/:\/>/lM  OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


217 


He  was  re-elected  to  the  senate  in  1883. 
and  again  in  18S9,  and  1895.  His  speeches 
and  the  measures  he  introduced,  marked 
as  they  were  by  an  intense  Americanism, 
brought   him   into  national  prommence. 


WILLIAM  McKINLEY.the  twenty-fifth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  at  Niles,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1844.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
ancestry,  and  received  his  early  education 
in  a  Methodist  academy  in  the  small  village 
of  Poland,  Ohio.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  Mr.  McKinley  was  teaching  school, 
earning  twenty-five  dollars  per  month.  As 
soon  as  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon  he  en- 
listed in  a  company  that  was  formed  in 
Poland,  which  was  inspected  and  mustered 
in  by  General  John  C.  Fremont,  who  at 
first  objected  to  Mr.  McKinley,  as  being  too 
young,  but  upon  examination  he  was  finally 
accepted.  Mr.  McKinley  was  seventeen 
when  the  war  broke  out  but  did  not  look  his 
age.  He  served  in  the  Twenty-third  Ohio 
Infantry  throughout  the  war,  was  promoted 
from  sergeant  to  captain,  for  good  conduct 
on  the  field,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
for  meritorious  services,  he  was  brevetted 
major.  After  leaving  the  army  Major  Mc- 
Kinley took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  1869  he  took 
his  initiation  into  politics,  being  elected  pros- 
ecuting attorney  of  his  county  as  a  Republi- 
can, although  thedistrict  was  usually  Demo- 
cratic. In  1 876  he  was  elected  to  congress, 
and  in  a  call  upon  the  President-elect,  Mr 
Hayes,  to  whom  he  went  for  advice  upon  the 
way  he  should  shape  his  career,  he  was 
told  that  to  achieve  fame  and  success  he 
must  take  one  special  line  and  stick  to  it. 
Mr.  McKinley  chose  tariff  legislation  and 
he  became  an  authority  in  regard  to  import 
duties.      He  was  a  member  of  congress  for 


many  years,  became  chairman  of  the  ways 
and  means  committee,  and  later  he  advo- 
cated the  famous  tariff  bill  that  bore  his 
name,  which  was  passed  in  1S90.  In  the 
next  election  the  Republican  party  was 
overwhelmingly  defeated  through  the  coun- 
try, and  the  Democrats  secured  more  than 
a  Iwo  thirds  majority  in  the  lower  house, 
and  also  had  control  of  the  senate.  Mr. 
McKinley  being  defeated  in  his  own  district 
by  a  small  majority.  He  was  elected  g ov- 
ernor  of  Ohio  in  1891  by  a  plurality  of 
twenty-one  thousand,  five  hundred  and 
eleven,  and  two  years  later  he  was  re-elected 
by  the  still  greater  plurality  of  eighty  thou- 
sand, nine  hundred  and  ninety-five.  He  was 
a  delegate-at-large  to  the  Minneapolis  Re-. 
publican  convention  in  1892,  and  was  in- 
structed to  support  the  nomination  of  Mr. 
Harrison.  He  was  chairman  of  the  con- 
vention, and  was  the  only  man  from  Ohio 
to  vote  for  Mr.  Harrison  upon  the  roll  call. 
In  November,  1892,  a  number  of  prominent 
politicians  gathered  in  New  York  to  discuss 
the  political  situation,  and  decided  that  the 
result  of  the  election  had  put  an  end  to  Mc- 
Kinley and  McKinleyism.  But  in  less  than 
four  years  from  that  date  Mr.  McKinley  was 
nominated  for  the  presidency  against  the 
combined  opposition  of  half  a  dozen  rival 
candidates.  Much  of  the  credit  for  his  suc- 
cess was  due  to  Mark  A.  Hanna,  of  Cleve- 
land, afterward  chair. lan  of  the  Republican 
national  committee.  At  the  election  which 
occurred  in  November.  Mr.  McKinley 

was  elected  president  of  the  United  States 
by  an  enormous  majority,  on  a  gold  stand- 
ard and  protective  tariff  platform.  He  was 
inaugurated  on  the  4th  of  March,  i 
and  called  a  special  session  of  congress  to 
which  was  submitted  a  bill  for  tariff  reform, 
which  was  passed  in  the  latter  part  of  July 
of  that  vear. 


218 


COMPENDIUM    OF    BIOGRAPHY. 


CINCINNATUS  HEINE  MILLER, 
known  in  the  literary  world  as  Joaquin 
Miller,  "  the  poet  of  the  Sierras,"  was  born 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1841.  When  only 
about  thirteen  years  of  age  he  ran  away 
from  home  and  went  to  the  mining  regions 
in  California  and  along  the  Pacific  coast. 
Some  time  afterward  he  was  taken  prisoner 
by  the  Modoc  Indians  and  lived  with  them 
for  five  years.  He  learned  their  language 
and  gained  great  influence  with  them,  fight- 
ing in  their  wars,  and  in  all  modes  of  living 
became  as  one  of  them.  In  1858  he  left 
the  Indians  and  went  to  San  Francisco, 
where  he  studied  law,  and  in  i860  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  Oregon.  In  1866  he 
was  elected  a  county  judge  in  Oregon  and 
served  four  years.  Early  in  the  seventies 
he  began  devoting  a  good  deal  of  time  to 
literary  pursuits,  and  about  1874  he  settled 
in  Washington,  D.  C.  He  wrote  many 
poems  and  dramas  that  attracted  consider- 
able attention  and  won  him  an  extended 
reputation.  Among  his  productions  may  be 
mentioned  "  Pacific  Poems,"  "  Songs  of  the 
Sierras,"  "Songs  of  the  Sun  Lands," 
"  Ships  in  the  Desert,"  "  Adrianne.a  Dream 
of  Italy,"  "  Danites, "  "Unwritten  History," 
"  First  Families  of  the  Sierras  "  (a  novel). 
"  One  Fair  Woman  "  1a  novel),  "Songs  of 
Italy,"  "  Shadows  of  Shasta,"  "The  Gold- 
Seekers  of  the  Sierras,"  and  a  number  of 
others. 

GEORGE  FREDERICK  ROOT,  a 
noted  music  publisher  and  composer, 
was  born  in  Sheffield,  Berkshire  county, 
Massachusetts,  on  August  30,  1820.  While 
working  on  his  father's  farm  he  found  time 
to  learn,  unaided,  several  musical  instru- 
ments, and  in  his  eighteenth  year  he  went 
to  Boston,  where  he  soon  found  employ- 
ment as  a   teacher  of   music.      From    1839 


until  1844  he  gave  instructions  in  music  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  city,  and  was  also 
director  of  music  in  two  churches.  Mr. 
Root  then  went  to  New  York  and  taught 
music  in  the  various  educational  institutions 
of  the  city.  He  went  to  Paris  in  1850  and 
spent  one  year  there  in  study,  and  on  his  re- 
turn he  published  his  first  song,  "Hazel 
Dell."  It  appeared  as  the  work  of  "  Wur- 
zel,"  which  was  the  German  equivalent  of 
his  name.  He  was  the  originator  of  the 
normal  musical  institutions,  and  when  the 
first  one  was  started  in  New  York  he 
was  one  of  the  faculty.  He  removed  to 
Chicago,  Illinois,  in  i860,  and  established 
the  firm  of  Root  &  Cady,  and  engaged  in 
the  publication  of  music.  He  received,  in 
1872,  the  degree  of  "  Doctor  of  Music" 
from  the  University  of  Chicago.  After  the 
war  the  firm  became  George  F.  Root  cS:  Co., 
of  Cincinnati  and  Chicago.  Mr.  Root  did 
much  to  elevate  the  standard  of  music  in  this 
country  by  his  compositions  and  work  as  a 
teacher.  Besides  his  numerous  songs  he 
wrote  a  great  deal  of  sacred  music  and  pub- 
lished many  collections  of  vocal  and  instru- 
mental music.  For  many  years  he  was  the 
most  popular  song  writer  in  America,  and 
was  one  of  the  greatest  song  writers  of  the 
war.  He  is  also  well-known  as  an  author, 
and  his  work  in  that  line  comprises:  ' '  Meth- 
ods for  the  Piano  and  Organ,"  "  Hand- 
book on  Harmony  Teaching,  "  and  innumer- 
able articles  for  the  musical  press.  Among 
his  many  and  most  popular  songs  of  the 
wartime  are:  "  Rosalie,  the  Prairie-flower," 
"  Battle  Cry  of  Freedom,"  "  Just  Before  the 
Battle,"  "  Tramp,  Tramp,  Tramp,  the  Boys 
are  Marching,"  "  The  Old  Folks  are  Gone," 
"A  Hundred  Years  Ago,"  "Old  Potomac 
Shore, "and  "  There's  Music  in  the  Air."  Mr. 
Root's  cantatas  include  "The  Flower  Queen" 
and  "The  Haymakers."     He  died  in  1896. 


